Atlantis Submarine Ride in Hawaii (Lotsa Photos!)

Schöneboom · 03-29-09, 06:40 PM

Surface, Surface!

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

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

Babes on board! My kind of submarine!

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

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

Mmm, shipwrecks!

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

UnderseaLcpl · 03-29-09, 06:50 PM

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

ReallyDedPoet · 03-29-09, 07:22 PM

Nice pics, thanks

Schöneboom · 03-29-09, 07:23 PM

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:

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 · 03-29-09, 08:26 PM

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

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 · 03-29-09, 10:29 PM

Nice pictures, thanks for sharing

Torplexed · 03-30-09, 12:43 AM

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 · 03-30-09, 01:12 AM

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!

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 · 03-30-09, 08:39 AM

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!

SteamWake · 03-30-09, 09:48 AM

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 · 03-30-09, 11:39 AM

That must have been one helluva experience.....your very lucky matey

A wonder how the Nautilus experience in September will compare, different water environment etc

Frame57 · 03-30-09, 11:52 AM

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

A Very Super Market · 03-30-09, 09:57 PM

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 · 03-30-09, 11:29 PM

@ 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.

03-29-09, 06:40 PM	#1
Schöneboom Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 651 Downloads: 36 Uploads: 0	Atlantis Submarine Ride in Hawaii (Lotsa Photos!) Surface, Surface! The Atlantis IV: All-electric, 48 passenger capacity, air-conditioned, 3-inch thick plastic view ports. What looks like a conning tower is really a housing for the aft hatch. Babes on board! My kind of submarine! Forget about going to the loo. There isn't one. Aircraft wreckage, deliberately placed as an artificial reef to attract sea life. Mmm, shipwrecks! Was it worth it? Yes, though I'd much rather be the guy driving! __________________ Dietrich Schöneboom, U-431 "Es wird klappen, Herr Kaleun. Ganz sicher."

03-29-09, 06:50 PM	#2
UnderseaLcpl Silent Hunter Join Date: May 2008 Location: Storming the beaches! Posts: 4,254 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I envy you so much. How deep did it go? Where did it go? Details, please __________________ I stole this sig from Task Force

03-29-09, 07:22 PM	#3
ReallyDedPoet Canadian Wolf Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Canada. The one and only, East Coast Posts: 10,884 Downloads: 946 Uploads: 5	Nice pics, thanks __________________ Back in the Day

03-29-09, 07:23 PM	#4
Schöneboom Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 651 Downloads: 36 Uploads: 0	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: 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. __________________ Dietrich Schöneboom, U-431 "Es wird klappen, Herr Kaleun. Ganz sicher." Last edited by Schöneboom; 03-29-09 at 08:17 PM.

03-29-09, 10:29 PM	#6
Onkel Neal Born to Run Silent Join Date: Jan 1997 Location: Cougar Trap, Texas Posts: 21,383 Downloads: 541 Uploads: 224	Nice pictures, thanks for sharing __________________ SUBSIM - 26 Years on the Web

03-29-09, 08:26 PM	#5
Kapt Z Grey Wolf Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: ...somewhere in the swamps of Jersey. Posts: 909 Downloads: 157 Uploads: 0	Yes! These little subs are great aren't they! 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.

03-30-09, 12:43 AM	#7
Torplexed Let's Sink Sumptin' ! Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 5,823 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	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?

03-30-09, 01:12 AM	#8
Schöneboom Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 651 Downloads: 36 Uploads: 0	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! 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. __________________ Dietrich Schöneboom, U-431 "Es wird klappen, Herr Kaleun. Ganz sicher."

03-30-09, 08:39 AM	#9
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,253 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	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!

03-30-09, 09:48 AM	#10
SteamWake Rear Admiral Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 13,224 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	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? __________________ Follow the progress of Mr. Mulligan : http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=147648

03-30-09, 11:39 AM	#11
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,473 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	That must have been one helluva experience.....your very lucky matey A wonder how the Nautilus experience in September will compare, different water environment etc __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

03-30-09, 11:52 AM	#12
Frame57 Sea Lord Join Date: May 2008 Location: 1300 feet on the crapper Posts: 1,860 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	I would hate to be on that thing if a few people had pickled eggs, chili, cabbage, beans the night before. __________________ "My Religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble minds." Albert Einstein

03-30-09, 09:57 PM	#13
A Very Super Market The Old Man Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Deep in the Wild Canadian suburbs. Posts: 1,468 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	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. __________________ The entire German garrison of Vanviken, right here in your thread!

03-30-09, 11:29 PM	#14
Schöneboom Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 651 Downloads: 36 Uploads: 0	@ 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. __________________ Dietrich Schöneboom, U-431 "Es wird klappen, Herr Kaleun. Ganz sicher." Last edited by Schöneboom; 03-30-09 at 11:56 PM.