Since the latest in superyacht trends is to add a submersible to the tender garage, for proper underwater exploration, how about a novel take on the submarine? Gresham Yacht Design has an intriguing proposition in this sense.
Gresham Yacht Design is a UK-based company that, along the years, has delivered groundbreaking and outstanding maritime designs. With a tradition in innovation, Gresham is never shy of thinking outside the box if it means showing what can be done that hasn’t been done, or what can be improved in the industry. Sometimes, these propositions are just that, but others span actual applications.
The Hydrosphere has a future in this sense. It’s a concept for an elevator-like bubble that comes out through the hull of the superyacht, offering an experience comparable to that of using a submersible. In other words, you get to dive into the magical world underneath the vessel without getting yourself wet, in and out of gear, or having to employ an entirely different crew or pilot to man your submarine.
Photo: Vimeo / Gresham Yacht Design
The idea for The Hydrosphere seems to stem from a year-old sketch Gresham submitted as part of a design contest for Boat International. It was there that the concept was introduced, as an alternative to underwater exploration that presented certain advantages over the submarine.
It is now being further developed by the design company in the gorgeous video available at the bottom of the page. In a brief statement to the same media outlet, Gresham hints that the benefits of this purely theoretical (for now) concept could lead to real-life applications.
According to the description to the video, this concept came about out of a desire to continue “push[ing] the boundaries of what is possible above and below the waterline.” Gresham says: “While remaining firmly within the realities of engineering and the limitations of fabrication, the British studio has developed a breath-taking concept called Hydrosphere. This bold and exciting idea immerses an owner and their guests into their surrounding ocean environment through the hull of a vessel.”
Photo: Vimeo / Gresham Yacht Design
The Hydrosphere is a glass and metal bubble that deploys from a “secret” chamber in the hull of the superyacht. Protected by a thick and durable metal hatch, it deploys in “minutes,” which is considerably faster than what you’d need in order to get a submersible ready and launch it to water.
“The only other way to get this type of experience is to dive in a submersible. This takes time though – to get a sub ready to launch and into the water takes at least an hour, if not more,” Gresham tells Boat International.
Plus, you wouldn’t need a pilot to operate it, and you could seat up to seven guests in The Hydrosphere, in utmost comfort and luxury.
The floor of the bubble is glass, as are the surrounding walls, which means 360-degree views for everyone on board. Once you descend the spiral staircase, you get a plush couch and refreshments, which, you have to admit, is the farthest you can be from a submarine experience. That includes the bigger and more luxurious variants now on the market.
Photo: Vimeo / Gresham Yacht Design
The Hydrosphere is equipped with bright exterior lights, which turn on as the bubble deploys. It can be used either when the vessel is moored or in motion. Gresham imagines it could be operated at cruising speeds of up to 2 knots, which, granted, is not a lot, but it is comparable to the speed of a submarine. You’d still get a change of scenery. When the bubble is not in use, it retracts into the hull, for safekeeping.
It goes without saying that such an exploration bubble would involve considerable modifications to the hull, assuming a retrofit were even possible. Most likely, The Hydrosphere would come integrated with new vessels, which means you’d have to buy a superyacht to get it. And that is the least important condition for it to become real: hull design would have to undergo drastic changes to allow for it.
A submarine, at this point, is definitely the cheaper alternative.
Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News