Yachts are the ultimate status symbol for tech billionaires. Now, a company called DeepFlight is taking luxury on the high seas to new depths, selling private submarines to the wealthy.
The new fifth generation model, the Dragon, costs $1.5 million.
The Dragon by DeepFlight is a two-man submarine that can be piloted with minimal training and requires no licensing. It can drop up to 400 feet underwater, unlocking access to stunning reefs, sealife, and shipwrecks. The Hot Wheels-looking vehicle lasts five to eight hours of use on one lithium battery charge.
Adam Wright, CEO of DeepFlight, tells Tech Insider (without a drop of sarcasm) the company expects buyers to dock the submarines on their private islands or hitch them to their yachts. The $1.5 million price tag includes shipment, installation, and training.
The 20-year-old company got its start developing submarine technology for defense contractors, but along the way, pivoted toward the recreation market. In addition to selling the submarines for private ownership, DeepFlight plans to partner with luxury resort chains around the world where guests can buy short submarine excursions.
So far, several titans of industry have gotten in on the action.
Dietrich Mateschitz, the founder of Red Bull, bought an older generation DeepFlight submarine for his family-owned island in Fiji. A resort there, Laucala Island, lets guests take it out for a spin, though this particular model was custom-made to fit Mateschitz' body.
Tom Perkins, an early executive at Hewlett-Packard and a legendary Valley venture capitalist, was the first customer to buy a DeepFlight submarine for private use, according to the company's website. "I took one look at it and instantly knew how it worked," Perkins told DeepFlight.
The Dragon's appeal is certainly its ease of use. Divers won't be reaching the deepest depths of the ocean, or traveling as fast as some rival submarines, but getting started is as easy as lowering into the cockpit and turning on the ignition. You get around using two joysticks, for lateral and longitudinal maneuvering, and don't need any competency with a compass.
Wright says the company has performed 2,000 dives in Dragon submarines, and only one person chickened out at the last minute.
Those afraid of drowning at sea, rest assured — the Dragon is "positively buoyant," meaning it floats in water. To lower, the user turns on an engine that electrically powers the vehicle downward. To return to the surface, the user only softens the engine's thrust. If in a technical malfunction the engine turns off, the submarine will naturally float to the top.
There's little good news if your fear is claustrophobia, however. I tested the Dragon out on dry land, and my five foot frame felt like a blimp sitting inside the submarine's cockpit. I couldn't imagine an adult man fitting comfortably inside.
Still, if you've got an extra $1.5 million lying around, the Dragon might be the treat-yourself purchase for you.
