[imagesource: U-Boat Worx]

The new generation of superyachts on the market for first-time buyers are apparently geared towards those who “aren’t interested in material possessions”.

Of course, this is absolute rubbish. If you aren’t into material possessions, why are you buying a superyacht? It’s not your average ‘retail therapy’ buy.

Still, yacht makers are defending this position, saying that it’s no longer about owning a small(ish) mansion on the water.

It’s all about ‘experiences’, and I’m pretty sure that an experience out on the ocean doesn’t get better than taking a small submarine for a dive to explore the depths below.

Over to Forbes:

In July 2020, the Dutch submersible manufacturer U-Boat Worx announced its success at the highly respected international design competition, the Red Dot Design Awards.

The Nemo won a Red Dot Award for design excellence, as well as recognition as “best of the best” in the Mobility and Transportation category.

Along with its award-winning stylistic virtues, the Nemo can dive up to 100 meters, making it a big draw for yachts owners and yacht-charter guests alike.

Yep, Nemo is a small two-seater submarine that can be used by just about anyone following a 12-day training course offered to all purchasers, which naturally appeals to yacht makers looking to meet the ‘experience’ criteria that new buyers are looking for.

“Personal submarines are an exciting and impressive addition to any toy locker and have become increasingly stylish and more sought after, especially for owners desiring adventurous itineraries,” says Julia Simpson, Broker & Communications Manager at SuperYachtsMonaco, a boutique superyacht brokerage handling both charters and sales.

Image: U-Boat Worx

“Yachts that carry their own submarine tend to be explorer style – robust superyachts, built for long-distance cruising to untouched destinations. Owners who love to explore, but don’t want to compromise on the sporty lines of their sleek superyacht, are opting more and more for a support vessel solution, on which a submarine and other specialist toys and tenders can be carried in tandem with the superyacht mothership, rather than on-board,” says Simpson.

Nemo is a little different. It’s smaller and lighter than the average submersible vehicle.

At 5 feet tall and 5,510 pounds, the Nemo not only fits aboard a variety of ships (it’s essentially the same size as two jet-skis), but it also can be deployed from land and it can even be towed behind a car.

Image: U-Boat Worx

The Nemo’s completely transparent acrylic-sphere windows were built to ensure that its passengers can really take in the scenery.

“Destinations we’ve known people to explore with their subs include the Antarctic, where the submarine allows you to avoid frostbite and see some unique sea life up close and personal, including penguins, seals and species with what is known as polar gigantism, such as giant sea stars and spiders.

Image: U-Boat Worx

Or at the more tropical end of the scale, Tahiti is spectacular in its range of underwater flora and fauna including Blacktip reef sharks and Lemon sharks.”

U-Boat Worx has a video on its website showing one of their personal submarines in action, which you can check out here.

Submarine ownership is ordinarily a niche market, but the fact that Nemo can be launched from land expands its accessibility considerably, provided you can afford it.

The subs are built to order, with prices starting at roughly $1,2 million (around R21 million).

Okay, that pricepoint sends it right back into the ‘niche market’ category.

[source:forbes]