Why do you call this experience a dive and not a trip?
Our subs are not like the submersibles you see on TV or James Bond movies. With those, you are in a chamber that is closed and the air kept at normal surface air pressure while you plumb the depths. Our subs are open - the water is allowed to get in - in fact you sit up to your waist in water but the rest of you is in a bubble of fresh air, continually being refreshed by air from external dive tanks.
In any form of diving the water pressure increases as you descend and you have to make sure the pressure inside your ears and sinuses is the same as the pressure of the water. All divers, including those wearing a dive helmet have to be able to equalise or ‘pop their ears’ just as you have to do sometimes flying in a plane.
As the sub descends the air bubble in the submarine has to be kept at the same pressure as the water - otherwise the water would rise inside the sub - so just like any other diving you will have to compensate the pressure by ‘popping your ears’. That’s why we call it a dive.
Will I get wet?
Yes. The sub floats on the surface just ¾ metres off the beach while you duck below the water and swim into the cabin. This is nothing more than pushing down against a rail on the tail of the sub and popping up inside the cabin; very easy. The opening into the cabin is less than a ½ metre below the surface and it takes only a couple of seconds to do. The safety diver and the pilot will both be there to help you if needed. If you are not comfortable putting your head under water, you may not like this bit - but it would be a shame to miss out just for a few seconds in the water.
How do I breathe?
Normally!
As we have said, you sit up to your waist in water with the rest of your body in a bubble of constantly refreshed air - there is no need for any additional breathing apparatus.
Is there an age limit?
Yes. The minimum age for diving in Queensland is 12 years. Proof of age may be required. There is no maximum age limit.
The reason given for the age limit is it is thought that the sinuses are not fully developed in children until the age of 12 years. This could be a problem when equalising. (Popping your ears) when descending in the sub.
Is there a height or weight restriction?
If you and/or your partner can get in, we can take you for a dive. There is obviously the physical restraint of the size of the cabin and it could get a bit of a tight squeeze but it all adds to the fun.
What would prevent me from diving?
Because you are diving at ambient pressures - just like any other diving experience there are certain medical conditions that will prevent you from diving. See the list here
Other situations that will prevent you from diving are:
Not being able to equalise or ‘pop your ears’
Consuming alcohol or recreational drugs up to 8 hours before
Flying within 12 hours after diving
Pregnancy
Can I dive with a disability?
One of the great benefits of the submarine is that no swimming is required and it is therefore ideally suited for people with a disability that would prevent them from traditional scuba diving. One thing our crew enjoy about working with the subs is that it opens up their underwater world to those who perhaps would otherwise not be able to experience it. We will be pleased to allow a little extra time in the day’s schedule to ensure your dive can take place. In short, if you are able to get into the sub we are very happy to take you, assuming there are no medical conditions that normally prevent diving See the list here
Please do contact us in advance if you have any questions or comments about your booking. You can email us from here
How long is the dive?
Each dive is 20 minutes. The subs have enough air for two dives of 20 minutes + an emergency spare tank for a further 10 minutes.
Please not that you should allow about and hour in all for the dive as there is a bit of paperwork beforehand and a safety briefing. In the wet season, Nov - April, we recommend wearing ‘stinger suits’ just in case there are any jelly fish around. You will need to allow time to get changed into the suit.
Please arrive already wearing your swimmers and of course, don’t forget your towel!
There are many different types of submersible vessels in the world. Ours are one of the simpler types. They are constructed in fibreglass and are 3.5m long x 2.15m wide and 1.8m high.
The main feature is that they are not enclosed - you do not get in and have a hatch close behind you. They are always open and you swim in and out of them and you sit up to your waist in water.
How do you breathe and stay safe?
Imagine an upturned glass in a bowl of water - the air is trapped inside the glass and cannot escape as long as it is kept upside down and below the water line. The subs work on this same principle - a trapped bubble of air inside the sub. You sit up to your waist in water but the rest of you is in the large bubble of fresh air supplied by on board air tanks, so no scuba equipment, masks, or special clothing is needed – just you and your swimmers. So, even though you are diving underwater you are all able to talk to each other. Powerful motors propel the sub through the water and air is used to lower and raise the submarine.
Do I drive the submarine
No - definitely not.
The subs are driven by a fully qualified pilot. Because this is a dive the pilots are not only trained and qualified to pilot the subs but they are also fully certified dive instructors.
Every dive is accompanied by a safety diver swimming alongside.
How many people does a submarines hold?
3 people - the pilot and 2 passengers
How deep do they dive?
We rarely dive deeper than 8-10 meters although the subs are certified to safely descend to 40 metres. The waters in Welcome Bay at Fitzroy Island around the reefs we take you to are not more than 12 metres deep anyway.
There is more than enough to see at these shallow depths, any deeper and we start to lose light and colour.
How long can the they stay under water?
That depends on two factors - air and power. For air it is dependant on how many are in the submarine, how deep it goes and how many times it raises to the surface. Generally speaking if you go down to 10 metres and stay at that depth the air will last for around 1 hour. We do 2 dives of 20 minutes from one re-fill of air so there is always plenty of spare. The power is supplied by two batteries and is more than sufficient to last for a whole days diving.
How many of these submarines are in Australia?
Just our two!
What are the safety systems
Safety of course, is the number one priority. The subs are well equipped with several safety systems. They are listed on the ‘ Our Subs ’ page.
As well as all the electronic systems the pilot always maintains a slightly positive buoyancy so if all did fail then the subs would simply float to the surface. There are also 100 kg of loose lead weights that can be ‘ditched’ from the cabin if necessary.
Finally, every dive is accompanied at all times by a safety diver who swims alongside.
