There will come a time in a person's life when they want to celebrate an event in style. May it be weddings, birthdays, or just something worth celebrating, like someone's retirement, we want it to be as fun as possible.
Although celebrating them underwater and inviting more than a handful of guests would have seemed impossible a few years ago, a submarine company will soon turn the idea of an underwater festivity into reality.
Dutch submersible manufacturer U-Boat Worx announced it has recently revealed a new submarine class capable of bringing large-scale events like weddings 650 feet below sea level.
U-Boat Worx also added it's currently reviewing opportunities with entrepreneurs and hospitality groups to select the most suitable locations.
U-Boat Worx's UWEP Submarine for Parties!
U-Boat Worx mentioned in its announcement that the new submarine class, the "Under Water Entertainment Platform" (UWEP), is a fully autonomous submersible capable of carrying up to 120 guests (excluding crew and staff) 650 feet (200m) below sea level.
At a speed of three knots, guests aboard the UWEP can see and have the time to appreciate what's outside the vehicle, thanks to its 14 windows.
Exterior lights will also add another source of illumination and an extra dimension, whether to night-time diving or deep-sea dining.
The vehicle runs exclusively on a 1.2-mWh battery and can operate non-stop for 18 to 24 hours, according to the company's UWEP page. It is also airconditioned and fully pressurized, which does away with the need for decompression to avoid divers sickness, more commonly known as "the bends."
The party submarine's 150sqm configurable floor space allows guests to move around as they would on a cruise ship. And because it's configurable, it can be turned into an underwater restaurant, subsea gym, and even a deep-sea casino, depending on the operator's needs.
Weddings in submarines aren't unheard of. In fact, some companies offer that experience online, such as Mauritius Attractions. However, the crampiness of a regular submarine means that only a limited number of guests could attend the wedding.
Thanks to the versatility of the UWEP's floorplan, U-Boat Worx claims it can host product presentations, parties, weddings, conferences, or any other stage-based performance underwater.
As for safety features, the UWEP comes equipped with maximum depth protection (MDP) feature that prevents the submarine's pilot from going deeper than its maximum operating depth. Should the pilot insist on going further than 650 feet, the MDP will automatically take the vehicle back to maximum depth.
Another safety feature that the UWEP has is a deadman's switch (DMS). Should the pilot fail to acknowledge the DMS every 10 minutes, it will initiate an emergency ascent procedure which will take the UWEP to sea level.
Gizmodo reports that the UWEP also has an emergency power system that keeps critical submarine systems powered and running for four days, which can keep guests safe until search and rescue parties arrive.
UWEP Pricing And Potential Use
At the moment, U-Boat Worx is targeting pioneering entrepreneurs and leading hospitality groups to purchase the UWEP for underwater cruises and events. As such, even if the company didn't disclose the UWEP's price, it could very well have a price tag in the millions, at least.
However, New Atlas mentioned that U-Boat Worx would be selling a similar submersible, albeit with shorter and small dimensions. This submersible has two-thirds of the UWEP's floor space, which should be enough for 80 guests, crew, and staff.
