Fly with the fishes aboard the private submarine
DESIGN Personal luxury goes very deep
A certified water sports trainer and coach, as well as an athlete who has represented the Maldives in windsurfing, Mr. Hussain Zahid has never ventured far from the water. In 1998, he founded Ocean Group Pvt Ltd, creating a platform on which people can discover and pursue their interest in water sports and diving. Through the years, Ocean Group has run some of the most innovative water sports, diving, and leisure programs, often in partnership with luxury resorts around Asia. The company is known for maintaining a sustainability and eco-tourism focus while delivering unique experiences. Ocean Group is also a distributor and service provider for major water sports and boating brands such as DeepFlight Super Falcon 3S Submarine. Most recently, it partnered with DeepFlight to launch the Super Falcon 3S, a pioneering submarine that enables passengers to experience underwater flight, at Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru in the Maldives. “The DeepFlight Super Falcon 3S is a battery-operated submarine; it runs on rechargeable lithium-iron-phosphate battery pack,” explains Mr. Zahid. In addition to the pilot, the three-cockpit vehicle can take two passengers, he say. Inside, the passengers can stretch out their legs, and sit comfortably under individual glass domes for a 360 views of their surroundings. The submarine can fly at different speeds and tilt for a glimpse of various underwater spectacles. Made of lightweight, high-strength composite materials, the submarine is certified by Lloyds Register for safety, and is equipped with state of the art technology. “It is positively buoyant,” explains Mr. Zahid, “and will automatically float to the surface in the unlikely event that it runs out of power.” DeepFlight Adventures excursions At Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru flies two passengers at once for about an hour underwater. Each passenger must weigh 265lbs (120kg) or under, and stand at 6.4ft. (1.9 metres) or under. Children aged seven and above can ride the submarine, provided they are at least 1.2-metres tall. Pre-book a DeepFlight Adventures excursion on www.oceangroup.mv.