underwater

$3.5 Million Hyper-Sub: Powerboat Meets Submarine

Filed under: Gadgets, Yachts & Sailing, Sports

After several years in the making, you may soon be able to finally get your hands on the world's first powerboat-submarine hybrid – if you've got $3.5 million to spare, that is. The James Bond-worthy Hyper-Sub from Marion HSPD (Hyper-Submersible Powerboat Design) is finally gearing up for production in time to capture the growing market for luxury submersibles that can be launched from one's superyacht. The latest oligarch's plaything is the first small craft built with the horsepower, sea-worthiness, and range to allow operation on the open ocean, which also functions as a self-charging, autonomous submarine. On the powerboat side, it's a heavy-duty, 31-ft. surface-cruiser with an enclosed cabin. Powered by twin 440 hp inboard diesels for a total output of 880 hp, the Hyper-Sub has a maximum surface speed of 40 knots and a maximum surface range of 500 miles. In dive mode the Hyper-Sub can plunge up to 250 feet, and offers umbilical SCUBA support. With seating for up to four passengers plus a pilot, the craft's 180-degree acrylic canopy provides panoramic undersea views. With an elegant woodgrain interior, leather seating, onboard GPS, auto-pilot and a satellite phone, it's also a pretty luxurious ride.

[via JamesList]

Tags: diving, Hyper-Sub, James Bond, leather, powerboat, SCUBA, submarine, Submersible, superyacht, underwater

$2.7 Million Nautilus VAS, the World's First Luxury Submarine

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets, Yachts & Sailing

Nautilus Submarines & Diving Systems is offering what it calls the world's first luxury submarine, the Nautilus VAS. The retro-futuristic craft with its lines out of a James Bond film features a bathroom, full size stairs (versus a ladder), minibar, digital entertainment system and standing room ceiling height. The Nautilus uses large flat, distortion-free optics which translates into crystal clear vision for passengers of the VAS, whereas most submersibles use curved domes or viewports which distort the natural beauty of the undersea world and can also create a degree of vertigo and/or nausea. The VAS is also the only private submarine offering the option of a Diver Lockout which allows you to exit and re-enter the submersible while underwater. The Mk III version carries five passengers, can do up to 6 knots and is available in lime green.

[via JamesList]

Tags: diving, James Bond, luxury sub, luxury submarine, nautilus vas, ocean, submarine, underwater, worlds first luxury submarine

The Plans For Egypt's Underwater Museum

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

The city of Alexandria in Egypt already has a beautiful modern Library but the plans for an underwater museum are even more ambition. Alexandria, one of the great centers of learning in the ancient world, was hit by an tsunami in the year 365. Subsequent earthquake susbsidence meant that many of the city's greatest archaeological treasures are under water. Since 1994 excavations by divers have revealed sphinxes, granite blocks and what are believed to be pieces of the Pharos of Alexandria lighthouse, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

The plans for the new museum designed by architect Jacques Rougerie call for an immersed fiberglass tunnel that would allow a dry place to view underwater monuments. The museum comes with a hefty price tag. it could cost up to $140 million. The Egyptian government has hoped that private organizations and companies might be willing to finance the operation. The goal, according to the Guardian, is to have construction start at the beginning of next year. Given the global economy and the general malaise when it comes to massively ambitious building projects currently, this seems like a lofty goal. And even if the money does miraculously appear the museum's builders will face all sorts of challenges including how to secure good viewing spots in the tunnel and keep the tunnel safe and dry.

Egypt has long sought to find a way to bring more tourists to Alexandria. The beautiful Bibliotheca Alexandrina attracts some visitors but the library on its own does not have the same pull that a library and a museum might. But some have already complained about the funds used to maintain the library and so money for a new building project seems extravagant especially when it could be used for social programs and for maintaining some of the city's existing structures.

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Tags: alexandria, museum, underwater

The Strangest Hotels in the World

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Believe it or not, staying in posh hotel after posh hotel can get old. After awhile they all start to look the same and you may find yourself longing for something different.

Different you say? How different??? Because you can go as "different" as you want, and most of the time you can do it without giving up the designer linens and room service. You can stay underwater off the coast of Florida, in a treehouse in the Carribean with your own private beach, or how about something cooler like the frozen glamour of Sweden's ICEHOTEL? If that's a little too extreme for you there's always the fun themes at the Pitcher Inn and Spa, or the strangely angular rooms in the Kube Hotel.

See the entire list in this slideshow...so where do you want to go first? I'll take me a treehouse in Nairobi.

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Tags: accomodations, hotel, hotels, lodge, lodges, logding, odd, oddball, room, rooms, strange, strangest, travel, traveling, treehouse, treehouses, underwater

UnderSea Resort

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates, Luxury Travel & Hotels

We've been seeing more and more floating or underwater hotel plans. The latest plan, complete with a loud, aquatic-themed website is from the Cala Corporation which plans a $400 million resort three miles from the Miami coastline. This behemoth will have a large casino, spa, restaurants and bars and 600 suites. Other features include a golf driving range, helicopter service to and from the resort and a 50,000 square-foot space that will be an undersea aquarium observatory space. The pricing certainly seems ambitious. The website lists prices starting at $2.5 million for residences on the resort.

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Tags: undersea, underwater, underwater hotel