Maui Part 2 - My Adventure Down in a Submarine

Whilst I am on the theme of things marine, the day after seeing the Maui Ocean Centre, of all things to do to explore this lovely place - I went down to the bottom of the sea - down 130 feet! - in a submarine! I could not believe I was doing it, but it was enormous fun! 

The submarine was called ‘Atlantis' (of course!) and was 65 feet long - but definitely not yellow. We were driven on a boat out to it then climbed over a little bridge onto its deck then down a ladder into the bullet-shaped cabin, before it submerged.  

The view out of the thick windows was fairly obscure, but as we circled around, we saw quite a few different kinds of fish and of brown corals, an eel, a sunken ship and even a small shark that had been asleep on the sand. The ship has been sunk on purpose some years ago to create a breakwater, and already was encrusted with coral and other marine organisms. It was replica of an old sailing ships and was called the ‘Carthaginian’. Talk about historical names! 

Whilst we were down there, there was a sign to say how deep we were.  At our deepest point the enthusiastic young girl who was telling us what the different species were encouraged the couples on board to kiss each other. She reckoned it would be the deepest kiss they ever had. That produced a great ripple of laughter. 

Anyhow, it was certainly the next best thing to scuba diving, and we all came out delighted with and elated by our experience. 

At the waterfront, from where we caught a boat out to the submarine. 

The submarine pops up with its previous load of passengers. Our ship is in the distance.

The submarine was wedged securely between the boat shown and ours so we could safely step onto its deck. 

The submarine submerging with its next lot of passengers after us. Notice the landscape of Maui in the background. 

Going, going  . . 

Gone! 

Inside the submarine. Each of us shared a port-hole with the passenger next to us, so had to take turns with our cameras. . 

The shark woke up!

We got down just a little deeper than this, before I was able to photograph the readout.