
Technology
The SportSub is pretty special. Most other subs are complex and expensive underwater life support systems, that are difficult to pilot and maintain. We’ve designed our SportSub to have to have the perfect combination of streamlined technology to keep you safe – while also being easy to fly, simple to maintain, and well priced. No other sub in the world has these technologies that come standard.
Keep reading to find out some of the features that make the SportSub so unique.
Frequently asked questions
general
Our submarines carry 3 people.
A range of combined passenger weights up to 600 pounds or 272 kg.
The SportSub is similar in size to that of a small airplane. It will fit a combined passenger weight of ~600lbs or 272kg (about three adults).
Our subs are rated for 130 feet (40 meters).
The length of the dive is dependent on depth and air supply, with a maximum dive time of about 2 hours.
swim entry system

Unlike a closed hatch system, SportSub passengers remain a part of the water environment. They swim through an entrance in the back of the sub and emerge in a comfortable breathable air pocket within the cockpit. Safely tucked inside the sub, each explorer has unobstructed views in all directions, including straight down. The dashboard and control panel are also above the water level and easily accessible. This system is unique and offers a surprising number of advantages over traditional lock-out systems. Once you try this awesome ambient pressure experience, you'll understand the beauty of the unique design!
This system is unique and offers a surprising number of advantages over traditional lock-out systems. Once you try this awesome ambient pressure experience, you'll understand the beauty of the unique design!
Find out some of the reasons here...
safety
The SportSub was designed and is built with safety as the number one priority. Safety systems include:
- Backup up air system
- Manual cockpit air system
- Loss of power surface system
- Lead drop weights
- Removable air tank with 3 breathing regulators
- Buoyancy control override and swim exit
The SportSub has many safety features and backup systems. If the operator runs out of air or has an air supply malfunction there is a complete redundant air supply system that can be engaged with the simple turn of a valve in the cockpit. Even if all air supplies are exhausted the SportSub can surface on electrically powered thrusters alone. If electrical energy is depleted, pressurized air can be added manually to cause a controlled ascent. There are two separate ballast tanks, in addition to the cockpit, where air can be added manually to increase the buoyancy. In the unthinkable event that electrical systems and both air supply systems fail simultaneously it is still possible to cause the SportSub to surface by manually dropping lead ballast bars. If all else fails, and a swimming ascent is required, a complete SCUBA breathing system is supplied for each occupant. These can be removed from the sub and carried while swimming to the surface.
Safety is a major consideration in every aspect of the SportSub design. Starting with a hull that isn’t required to contain enormous pressure makes this task a lot easier. No submersible is safe unless it is operated within its design limits by well trained pilots, but the ambient pressure principle is somewhat more forgiving of errors. The two principal safety advantages of the SportSub design over a One Atmosphere design are; the hull can never be crushed by external water pressure, and, occupants can readily escape from the SportSub by swimming out, then up to the surface.
Entry and exit from the SportSub is accomplished by swimming through the lower aft opening that remains open throughout the dive. Having to enter the sub by swimming into the cockpit is a nice way to help prevent passengers from taking a ride if they aren’t comfortable under water. This gives the operator some confidence that passengers will be capable of handling a worst case emergency situation.
SportSub controls

The SportSub has to maneuver in two dimensions while on the surface, and in three dimensions while submerged. It moves forward, backward, up, down, and can even hover and turn on the spot, a lot like the maneuverability of a helicopter.
All maneuvering is accomplished with only two thrusters, built into the dive planes. The thrusters are located so that their center of thrust is at the same height on the hull as its center of drag, so there is no tendency to nose up or down with changes in thrust. The hull design also ensures that the dive plane position is below the water line when the SportSub is high on the surface.
Each of the two horizontal thruster’s speed is continuously variable from full forward to full reverse thrust with a single joystick control.
The Auto Hover System works by taking pressure transducer readings, inputting them into our computer controlled depth system to automatically control the depth control motors.
The Auto Depth Control system uses three fixed position thrusters. All three depth control thrusters are computer controlled by the depth control system. There are two available modes of operation:
• Manual Mode
• Auto Hover Mode (Includes Auto Ascent/Descent Rate Control)
With Auto Depth Control engaged, whenever the vertical thrusters are not being operated manually, the computer takes control of the thrusters and uses them to hold the sub at its current depth. When the pilot wants to change depth, the thumb switch is used to ascend or descend. Once you have reached the depth you want, the pilot releases the thumb switch, and the computer again takes over and will maintain the new depth. Auto Rate Control is operational in this mode. The Auto Rate Control function or 'automatic ascent rate control and descent rate control', prevents the sub from ascending or descending too quickly (faster than 1 foot per second). This is a significant safety feature.
No – All of our subs come with an Auto Buoyancy Control that regulates your buoyancy.
This system is the true key to the success of the SportSub design. Without automatic buoyancy control, the pilot of an ambient pressure submersible would be too busy adjusting buoyancy to safely navigate and enjoy the dive experience. Dangerously fast descents and ascents could occur if the pilot ever lost control. The SportSub’s automatic buoyancy control system keeps buoyancy constant throughout a dive, regardless of depth.
The pilot initially sets neutral buoyancy manually, since it is different with each set of passengers because they have a different combined weight. Once neutral buoyancy is set, the system is switched to automatic and the electronic system takes over. As it senses compression, while the sub is descending, it adds air to the cockpit to maintain volume. When the sub is ascending it allows air to blow out of the cockpit rather than expand in volume. By maintaining a constant air pocket volume in the cockpit the sub’s buoyancy remains constant as pressure varies.
SportSubs can be configured to ride high on the surface, with the entire cockpit and upper hull above water, submerged at neutral buoyancy, or landed solidly on the bottom with enough weight to keep them there while the occupants exit for an extra-vehicular excursion. All of this can be accomplished with a range of combined passenger weights up to 600 pounds in the three-seat models.
Buoyancy adjustment is accomplished by flooding or blowing water ballast within three separate ballast tanks. Flood valves in the cockpit allow air to escape out the tops of each ballast tank while water floods in through their open bottoms. Blowing ballast reverses this procedure, requiring the flood valves to be closed while blow valves are opened to allow pressurized air to bubble into the tanks, rising to the top and forcing water out the open bottom. The forward ballast tank is the hollow, bottomless nose. The entire tail section, surrounding the main air supply tanks, is the aft ballast tank, and the cockpit itself is the third tank.
launch & recovery



Yes, our submarines are standard equipped with two stainless lifting eyes on the roof.
There are many ways to launch and recover our subs but the common ways are trailer, boat or boat lift.
cost & maintenance
An entry level SportSub starts at $93,000 USD.
You can find a complete list of standard features as well as additional features here.
Yes, our subs are easy to maintain and anyone with basic mechanical knowledge can perform maintenance.
Yes, through our service staff, or we can provide maintenance/service material for a local mechanic or yacht engineer.
No, because our submarines use ambient pressure hulls, there is no requirement for ABS or other expensive certification.
training



A SportSub is fairly easy to operate, and we offer comprehensive training in the operation of our subs.
Pilots must be certified open water divers to operate our submarines.
Yes we do, please see our pricing page for more information.
WORLDWIDE SUPPORT
Yes, insurance is available through Offshore Risk Management (Lloyd’s of London) LINK
Yes, we can ship your SportSub anywhere in the world by either ocean or air freight
Every country has it’s own regulations and you will need to check with your local authorities
When making inquiries, refer to the SportSub as an ‘autonomous diving bell’ or ‘scuba dive puller’
Yes, we have sold subs to people in almost every country in the world
Yes, we have a complete support system including daily, monthly, and annual checks and maintenance
Yes, we can provide dive site and operational inspections and recommendations.