Uber launches into the submarines

Have you ever dreamed of exploring the seabed aboard a submarine just like the hero of a spy or anticipation movie? It’s possible now! With the new Uber service, you can rent a submarine with a driver!

This is a world first, after taxis, electric scooters and bikes, Uber tackles a new sector. The Californian multinational has just launched a submarine rental service to explore the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

Twenty dives will take place between 27 May and 18 June near the island of Heron off the coast of Gladstone, in the southern part of the Great Barrier Reef. From June 9, it is off the coast of Port Douglas that some lucky will reach the seabed. If the operation is successful, it will be extended.

On board the “Scuber” you can admire the fish, turtles, manta rays and other sharks that inhabit this submerged part of the globe, where about 75% of the world’s biodiversity is concentrated. It’s an absolutely amazing experience! Erica, the submarine’s American pilot, who for ten years had been transporting researchers or film crews, considers the “Scuber” “like an aquarium” “Except that you are inside!”

A technological gem

With a capacity of two people, the submersible, totally electric, is able to descend to 150 meters deep and navigate for four consecutive hours. One is, moreover, surprised to note that it is directed with a simple joystick similar to a Playstation, whose joysticks are used to advance, move back, up and down. The hardest thing for Erica is to get used to “the distortion caused by the bubble, which tends to magnify what is outside.”

An excursion at a price of 2000 euros

It takes 3000 Australian dollars or nearly 2000 euros for this equipment. This remains, nevertheless, rather reasonable, given the service provided. It includes an hour-long submarine tour, a round-trip helicopter flight over majestic scenery and a half-day on-site experience to continue your snorkeling exploration. It is also possible to win a trip for two to Australia and a dive aboard the submarine if you are gifted for the proper use and choice of words.

A winner will be designated in each of these countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, New Zealand and Australia. To enter this contest, you must go to the official website of the company and explain in 25 words why you think you deserve to admire the extraordinary Great Barrier Reef aboard the scUber.

The reef in danger

The most significant threat to the future of the Great Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is global warming. Under the effect of water that stays too hot for too long, the corals expel their zooxanthellae responsible for photosynthesis and lose their color. They expose their white skeletons, and end up dying for lack of nutrients. Overfishing and pollution also endanger the reef. Uber decided to donate all proceeds from this operation to the organization “Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef”. It is a structure that aims to protect and conserve coral reefs around the world, using technology and a collaborative approach.