DeepFlight Merlin
3-seater wet sub diver propulsion vehicle From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
DeepFlight Merlin is a personal submarine by Hawkes Ocean Technologies, part of the DeepFlight line of submersibles. The positively buoyant[1] submersible was designed by Graham Hawkes.[2] The Merlin was the first winged open-cockpit submarine (a wet sub) available on the market,[2][3] and first three-man submarine in the "aero submarine" class,[4] representing a major advance in scuba diving technology.[5]
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders | Hawkes Ocean Technologies |
| Operators | Virgin Oceanic |
| Preceded by | DeepFlight Super Falcon |
| Completed | 1 |
| Active | 1 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Submarine |
| Displacement | 750 kg (1,650 lb) |
| Length | 4.6 m (15 ft) |
| Beam | 3.0 m (9.8 ft) |
| Speed | 5 knots |
| Capacity | 3 |
| Crew | 1 |
It travels up to 5 knots,[2] has an operating time of one hour,[2] and an open cockpit,[2] requiring the use of scuba gear by occupants,[2] and giving them 360-degree views of the space around them.[1] The sub carries three, two passengers and one pilot.[6] The occupants have "windshields" to protect them from the water stream.[7] It is capable of hydrobatic maneuvers[clarification needed] and 360-degree turns.[8] It weighs 750 kg, is 4.6 m long, 3.0 m wide, 1.2 m tall, and runs off battery power.[9] It is available as either a single-seater or two-seater.[9] The design work on the sub started in July 2009.[10]
Necker Nymph
The first example of the Merlin, the Necker Nymph, was sold to Richard Branson's Virgin Hotel Group.[11] It cost US$670,000[7] and is operated by Virgin Aquatic[12] from the 32-metre yacht Necker Belle,[13] which is based at the Virgin Limited Edition resort Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands.[14]
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