DeepFlight Merlin is a personal submarine by Hawkes Ocean Technologies, part of the DeepFlight line of submersibles. The positively buoyantDesign World, "DeepFlight Merlin 3-person Aero Submarine", 18 February 2010 (retrieved 31 July 2010) submersible was designed by Graham Hawkes.ABC News, "Richard Branson's 'Underwater Plane' Is 1st of Its Kind", Ki Mae Heussner, 4 February 2010 (retrieved 31 July 2010) The Merlin was the first winged open-cockpit submarine (a wet sub) available on the market,Buzzle.com, , 6 February 2010 (retrieved 2 August 2010) and first three-man submarine in the "aero submarine" class,Gather.com, "Necker Island & Virgin founder Richard Branson on Oprah Winfrey Show" , 22 April 2010, Matt Clark (retrieved 2 August 2010) representing a major advance in scuba diving technology.Forbes, "Submarines For The Super-Rich", Joumana Saad, 11 May 2010 (retrieved 2 August 2010)
It travels up to 5 knots, has an operating time of one hour, and an open cockpit, requiring the use of scuba gear by occupants, and giving them 360-degree views of the space around them. The sub carries three, two passengers and one pilot.Deep Flight, Merlin press release, 1 February 2010 (retrieved 31 July 2010) The occupants have "windshields" to protect them from the water stream. It is capable of hydrobatic maneuvers and 360-degree turns.SmartPlanet, "Richard Branson reveals $662K fighter jet-inspired submarine" , Andrew Nusca, 1 February 2010 (retrieved 31 July 2010) It weighs 750 kg, is 4.6 m long, 3.0 m wide, 1.2 m tall, and runs off battery power.Gizmag, "Necker Nymph: underwater flying becomes Virgin territory" (retrieved 31 July 2010) It is available as either a single-seater or two-seater. The design work on the sub started in July 2009.Outside, "Just Don't Call It a Submarine", Thayer Walker, May 2010 (retrieved 31 July 2010)
Necker Nymph The first example of the Merlin, the Necker Nymph, was sold to Richard Branson's Virgin Hotel Group.Contra Costa Times, "San Anselmo's Hawkes sell submersible to billionaire Richard Branson" , Jim Welte, 2 February 2010 (retrieved 31 July 2010) It cost US$670,000Popular Mechanics, "Richard Branson Dives Into Personal Submarines With Hawk", Cassie Rodenberg, 11 March 2010 (retrieved 31 July 2010) and is operated by Virgin AquaticTime, "Virgin Founder Richard Branson", Dan Fletcher, 1 September 2009 (retrieved 25 July 2010) from the 32-metre yacht Necker Belle,SuperYachts.com, "Necker Nymph 'Underwater Aircraft' announced by Virgin Limited Edition" (retrieved 25 July 2010) which is based at the Virgin Limited Edition resort Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands.Daily News, "Richard Branson's latest toy? An underwater plane called 'Necker Nymph'", Catey Hill, 1 February 2010 (retrieved 25 July 2010)
References
External links DeepFlight, Merlin (official webpage)
See also Innespace Seabreacher