A niche business

DeepFlight has two main markets: tourism and the superwealthy, who want submarines as playthings on their luxury yachts. Prices for private two- and three-seater subs are in the range of US$1.5 million to $2 million, and the company has sold seven so far.

Among DeepFlight's customers is business magnate Richard Branson, who bought a customized three-seat submarine to use off his private Necker Island. "Submarines are a growing trend among wealthy people, but still very much a niche business," says Wright. "One of our main priorities was to develop the technology to make a smaller and lighter submarine, the Dragon. This opened the door to a wider variety of clientele - you can now own a sub without having to own a 100- to 200-million-dollar yacht."

Can private owners drive their own submarines or do they need trained pilots? "Our private submersibles are very easy to operate," says Wright. "You have a throttle on one side to control the speed and a joystick on the other side to control the heading. It's just like a flying an airplane. And to 'land' the sub, all you do is turn it off and it floats back to the surface."

DeepFlight Adventures has chosen the Maldives - a popular destination with Chinese holidaymakers - to develop its submarine tourism business.

The country's reefs and wildlife make it one of the top dive destinations, and DeepFlight Adventures wanted to send a strong conservation message by exposing people to the waters around the archipelago.

Wright says submarine adventures are slated to commence in the fourth quarter of 2017, with expeditions lasting from 45 minutes to an hour and a half, at prices starting from US$549 per person. The company has a partnership with Ocean Group, which offers watersport activities at resorts on the islands.

With its striking looks and nimble undersea performance, what car would Wright compare the Super Falcon 3S to? "It's a bit difficult to compare it to a car - we try to compare it more to an aircraft," he says. "But if you did have to compare it to a car, I would say ... the Batmobile." Designed for the underwater superhero market, presumably.