LR Classes a New Composite Personal Submarine

Lloyd’s Register announced Friday that it has classed its first ever personal composite submersible, the DeepFlight Super Falcon 3S. 

The first two Super Falcon 3S submarines will be shipped to the Maldives for the launch of tour operator DeepFlight Adventures, which will partner with luxury resorts to offer resort guests and tourists underwater flight experiences in the Super Falcon 3S submarines. Beginning this winter, trained pilots will take two guests at a time on underwater excursions directly from the hotel properties. DeepFlight has an existing, earlier-generation Super Falcon submarine already in tourism operation at Laucala Island Resort in Fiji.

Courtesy Sunday Times Travel, 2014

In addition to plan appraisal work, LR provided a survey of component parts in the UK and the USA, along with auditing of fabrication facilities. Prior to final assembly, the sub prototype and production hulls were pressure tested. Final trials and testing of the first of class unit are due to be completed in November 2017.

DeepFlight says that it has re-designed the concept of a personal submarine through the use of composite materials and by applying the dynamics of underwater flight. With their light weight and small footprint, DeepFlight submarines are designed with tourism and superyacht operations in mind.

“We are delighted to be working with Lloyd’s Register to class all DeepFlight submarines. We see our work with LR as a great leap forward in allowing us to innovate submarines to open the oceans for personal exploration,” said Adam Wright, CEO of DeepFlight.