What you see here in the pictures might look like a UFO, but it’s a unique submersible by Florida-based company Triton that offers a 360-degree view of the underwater world. Called the Triton 660/9 AVA, it is the first completely transparent submersible by the company which has enough space to accommodate up to eight passengers. The submersible’s massive bubble-like cockpit makes it appear completely different than more conventional submarines, which usually have cylindrical hulls and large windows.
The bespoke shape of its cockpit is made possible by what Triton calls the Advanced Versatile Acrylics (AVA) technology. It offers three times the interior volume of traditional double-hull submersibles of similar size. The Triton 660/9 AVA is capable of diving up to 656 feet (200 meters) below the water’s surface; however, that’s not what makes it unique. The company’s official website claims it has been designed to offer “entertainment-focused underwater experiences.”
According to Triton, the unique submersible can be quickly reconfigured between dives to provide completely different experiences to its passengers. The variety of activities that the Triton 660/9 AVA can offer includes dining and cocktail dives, spa treatments, subsea gaming experiences, and even weddings. Yes, you read that right! Triton describes the sub as “the world’s most intimate place to tie the knot.” It is designed for 12 hours of continuous underwater operation. “These singular, expansive spaces afford you considerable flexibility to curate experiences hitherto unimaginable in a submersible, from cocktails and casinos to weddings and private dining,” the website reads.
Its unique characteristics make the Triton 660/9 AVA a perfect toy for thrill-seeking billionaires and their megayachts. Priced at $6.3 million, only billionaires will be able to afford such a toy. In fact, Triton claims that two units have already been ordered by individuals for their yachts. However, the first example of the submersible has been taken up by Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, a company dedicated to offering high-end luxury cruises. They have named the submersible Scenic Neptune and integrated it onboard their cruise ship, Scenic Eclipse II. Currently sailing in Australia, the vessel will = be conducting luxury cruises in the surrounding waters over the next two years, including Indonesia, New Zealand, the South Pacific, and East Antarctica.
