Atlantis Submarine Ride in Hawaii (Lotsa Photos!)

[Schöneboom]

Surface, Surface!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3657/3396211631_7ea8b4eb94_o.jpg


The Atlantis IV: All-electric, 48 passenger capacity, air-conditioned, 3-inch thick plastic view ports.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3452/3396767006_9b0bccfe82_o.jpg


What looks like a conning tower is really a housing for the aft hatch.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3449/3395955079_be3c95b3f2_o.jpg


Babes on board! My kind of submarine! :DL

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3663/3396767546_8c4c14468d_o.jpg


Forget about going to the loo. There isn't one.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3425/3396048073_83f12a838d_o.jpg


Aircraft wreckage, deliberately placed as an artificial reef to attract sea life.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3471/3396021827_1ce1a0ef43_o.jpg


Mmm, shipwrecks!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3622/3396048167_79852c54a5_o.jpg

Was it worth it? Yes, though I'd much rather be the guy driving!

[UnderseaLcpl]

I envy you so much. How deep did it go? Where did it go? Details, please:DL

[ReallyDedPoet]

Nice pics, thanks :up:

[Schöneboom]

The boat takes you down to 110-120 feet (~ 35 meters); though it's "certified" for 150 ft., of course it can go much deeper (800 ft.) -- but it would be significantly darker, too. Top speed is 2.5 knots.

All we had to do was book online, then catch their shuttle bus which stops at the major hotels, then take their ferry Discovery a short distance off Waikiki (the photo gives you an idea of the distance). That's Diamond Head in the background:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3610/3397128038_ece7497bce_o.jpg

The main attractions were all placed there by the Atlantis company & University of Hawaii as artificial reefs, including the Navy tender YO-257 & the Korean fishing vessel, the St. Pedro. The area now teems with life, and we sighted rare sea turtles, both at the shipwrecks and on the surface.

[Kapt Z]

Yes! These little subs are great aren't they!:up:

My wife and I took a trip on one in Cozemel Mexico during our honeymoon cruise. I was wondering to myself as we boarded, 'Are we really going to see anything?" Boy did we! Sharks, sea turtles, fish and coral of all types. It was better than I ever expected. Easily the best shore excusion of the whole cruise.

Only one caution- It is tight in these things. Be warned if you are really claustrophobic. A woman started panicking and crying to get off when we were at around 90ft down. They got her calmed down, but we weren't sure what was going to happen there for a few minutes.

[Onkel Neal]

Nice pictures, thanks for sharing :rock:

[Torplexed]

Interesting pictures indeed. I could see how claustrophobia could become an issue with some though, with so many people in a cramped space. Do they have any emergency procedures they run you through in case something goes amiss?

[Schöneboom]

As a matter of fact, there are airliner-style life vests as well as miniature rebreathers stowed on board. However they did not demonstrate the equipment. I reckon that underwater evacuation of 48 people (of all ages & degrees of fitness) through 2 hatches would be "problematic" to say the least! :o About claustrophobia, the funny thing was that with everyone so engrossed in staring out the view ports, it was easy to ignore our total lack of mobility for an hour or so.

[AVGWarhawk]

Looks like fun. The passengers were packed in from the looks of it. I would hate to be the guy who had beans the night before! :o

[SteamWake]

Sardines in a can comes to mind.

I was wondering if they mentioned anything about clausterphobia :-?

How was the air quality? I know you said air conditioned but... wonder if they have any scrubbers. I know if I was in their and someone sneezed I might panic :rotfl:

How long did you stay down? How long did it take to dive?

The 'sail' that was for looks .. in one photo it was taken off, do they take this off before the dive?

What about weather, what if I book a trip and on the day I want to 'sail' the weather is prohibitive?

[Jimbuna]

That must have been one helluva experience.....your very lucky matey http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/thumbsup.gif

A wonder how the Nautilus experience in September will compare, different water environment etc http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/1817/thinkbigsw1yo4.gif

[Frame57]

I would hate to be on that thing if a few people had pickled eggs, chili, cabbage, beans the night before. :woot::woot:

[A Very Super Market]

Nice pics!

I went to Hawaii when I was 5. It wasn't too long ago, I guess, but the only thing I remember was a submarine ride. Absolutely nothing but that submarine ride. I can't remember if this is the same one, but it was only 9 years ago that I went.

[Schöneboom]

@ Steamwake:

Actually the "sail" was never removed; I guess the forward hatch (where the young woman is standing) could have given that impression -- the boat is very symmetrical that way. The sail surrounding the aft hatch is always open in front, but it has lots of vents in the back that somehow keep the water from tearing it clean off (even at 2 knots, I find that amazing).

About the air quality, it was remarkably fresh, though a bit on the chilly side, and I reckon people were practicing good self-control, too. Mind you, the actual dive lasts only about 1 hour; add on another 1/2 hr. for ferrying to/from the Hilton Hawaiian Village. The boat dives and surfaces very quickly (<30 sec. to fully submerge), but without steep angles. The vertical thrusters probably have a lot to do with that.

BTW, Atlantis set up Hawaii operations at Kona in 1988 & at Waikiki in 1989, and I don't think they've had any serious competition. Those subs cost millions.

More pix, of a shipwreck and an airplane (engine). I was pleasantly surprised that my camera focused this well, given the thick plastic window only inches away.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3635/3396859050_7ae381a233_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3469/3396021859_88a552362d_o.jpg