Personal submarine maker U-Boat Worx has commenced development work on its C-Explorer 5 submersible. Designed to send four passengers and one pilot to depths of up to 100 meters (328 ft.), the latest member of the company’s C-Explorer line of submersibles features a full 360-degree acrylic pressure hull to give everyone on board clear views of the underwater sights.
Described by U-Boat Worx as the “world’s first underwater limosine,” the C-Explorer 5 is designed to give guests on your latest megayacht the opportunity to explore the ocean depths in air-conditioned comfort.
The C-Explorer 5 uses much of the same technology used in U-Boat Worx’s C-Quester line. Powered by a 42 kWh lithium ion battery its four 5 kW electric motors (two for horizontal propulsion and two for vertical) can propel the craft to speeds of up to 4 knots on the surface and 2.5 knots underwater. With a maximum payload of 550 kg (1,212 lb.) it can remain beneath the waves for up to eight hours.
With a price tag of 966,000 euro (approx. US$1.27 million) U-Boat Worx is also targeting the C-Explorer 5 at tour operators as well as the über-rich. The Dutch company recently teamed up with Fort Lauderdale-based Brownies Yacht Diver to bring both its C-Quester and C-Explorer lines to the U.S.