Submarine Tourism

Kerala is one of the most tourist-oriented state in India... and so this is not surprise that now you can roam around in a submarine next time you visit Kerala...Here's what Sify had to say

Imagine a cruise in a submarine where one can view the breathtaking life under water and beauty of the sea bed. That is what God's Own Country plans to do to take its tourism to a new height.

The project, envisaging a direct experience for tourists of the underwater world, is awaiting clearance from the Director General of Shipping, according to promoters -- Pioneer Underwater Tours CEO K Bhaskaran and Kerala state Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC) Managing Director K N Sateesh.

Though permission from the Navy and Coastguard have already been received, clearance from the Director General of shipping is yet to come, they told PTI.

"We are awaiting government clearance for the past four months. The plan is to bring the submarine in November. The government has to frame rules to register the submarine under thr Indian flag," Bhaskaran said.

The submarine, costing about Rs 10 crore, is being built in Finland and is expected to be ready by October.

The company has already paid about 20 per cent of the cost and is planning to raise funds from overseas as Indian banks have shied away from the project, Bhaskaran said.

KSINC will take care of infrastructure facilities like providing boats for taking the passengers to and fro the jetty to the submarine and its maintenance and marketing,Sateesh said.

The marine leisure segment is the fastest growing segment of the travel industry as is evident from the success and growth of aquariums and marine parks, cruise ship industry and seaside destination resorts, Sateesh said.

Tourist submarines are entirely non-polluting with battery-powered electric thrusters that emit no hydrocarbons or other effluents. The submarines operate at low speeds and are extraordinarily manoeuverable so that they never come in contact with coral reefs or marine life, he said.

If the green signal is received from the DG, Shipping, the tourist submarine would be the first to operate in the country. A similar vessel is operating in the Maldives.

The submarine would operate to a maximum depth of 300 feet with 24 passengers and two crew members. External lighting, VHF, through water communications, underwater video and obstacle avoidance sonar systems would fitted on the vessel, Sateesh said.

A three-hour ride in the submarine would cost between Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000, which would include to and fro journey towards the craft.