DeepFlight Merlin

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 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]

References
  1. Design World, "DeepFlight Merlin 3-person Aero Submarine", 18 February 2010 (accessed 31 July 2010)
  2. ABC News, "Richard Branson's 'Underwater Plane' Is 1st of Its Kind", Ki Mae Heussner, 4 February 2010 (accessed 31 July 2010)
  3. Buzzle.com, "Virgin Goes from Air to Sea with Luxury Submarine Rides" Archived 10 February 2010 at the Wayback Machine, 6 February 2010 (accessed 2 August 2010)
  4. gather.com, "Necker Island & Virgin founder Richard Branson on Oprah Winfrey Show" Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine, 22 April 2010, Matt Clark (accessed 2 August 2010)
  5. Forbes, "Submarines For The Super-Rich", Joumana Saad, 11 May 2010 (accessed 2 August 2010)
  6. Deep Flight, Merlin Archived 22 July 2010 at the Wayback Machine press release, 1 February 2010 (accessed 31 July 2010)
  7. Popular Mechanics, "Richard Branson Dives Into Personal Submarines With Hawk", Cassie Rodenberg, 11 March 2010 (accessed 31 July 2010)
  8. SmartPlanet, "Richard Branson reveals $662K fighter jet-inspired submarine" Archived 11 February 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Andrew Nusca, 1 February 2010 (accessed 31 July 2010)
  9. gizmag, "Necker Nymph: underwater flying becomes Virgin territory" (accessed 31 July 2010)
  10. Outside Magazine, "Just Don’t Call It a Submarine", Thayer Walker, May 2010 (accessed 31 July 2010)
  11. Contra Costa Times, "San Anselmo's Hawkes sell submersible to billionaire Richard Branson" Archived 16 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Jim Welte, 2 February 2010 (accessed 31 July 2010)
  12. Time Magazine, "Virgin Founder Richard Branson", Dan Fletcher, 1 September 2009 (accessed 25 July 2010)
  13. SuperYachts.com, "Necker Nymph ‘Underwater Aircraft’ announced by Virgin Limited Edition" (accessed 25 July 2010)
  14. New York Daily News, "Richard Branson's latest toy? An underwater plane called 'Necker Nymph'", Catey Hill, Monday 1 February 2010 (accessed 25 July 2010)
  • DeepFlight, Merlin (official webpage)

See also
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