China’s new deep-sea submersible could be about to provide a way for non-billionaires to see 1,000 meters into the abyss

We’ve heard a lot about billionaires and deep-sea exploration in recent years, but this deep-sea submersible from China might give the rest of us the chance to head 1,000 meters deep.

At the China Ship Scientific Research Centre in Wuxi, engineers have been hard at work on a prototype set to enter operation within four years.

Capable of carrying four passengers at a time, this submersible would offer a panoramic view of the deep sea.

But how much would you be willing to pay for this kind of experience?

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There’s no shortage of aspiring water explorers these days

In this day and age, there’s seemingly no shortage of submersibles tailored to the tastes of their billionaire owners.

There’s the U-Boat Nemo, branded the ‘supercar of submarines’.

And then there’s the Triton 660/9 AVA, a submersible that comes decked out with surround sound and mood lighting.

As if those didn’t sound cool enough, you have the sQuba, an underwater car inspired by a James Bond film.

For as much time and energy we put into sending things up into space, it seems that we humans are just as invested in heading into the deepest depths.

But as you might expect, deep-sea voyages are on the pricier side of vacation activities.

After all, you don’t get to see the Titanic’s wreckage on a shoestring budget.

So what will set this offering from the China Ship Scientific Research Centre apart from the rest?

Would you take a ride in this deep-sea submersible?

It really comes down to the figure – no other tourist submersibles in China have offered this kind of depth, often being limited to 20 metres.

At depths of 1,000 metres, passengers will enter a region of total darkness known as the bathypelagic zone.

This comes with a lot of pressure – literally.

But with the 2023 Titan disaster at the front of everyone’s mind, there’s a need to ensure safety with this deep-sea submersible.

Will it bring the tourists flocking in?

Steven Zhao, the CEO of travel agency China Highlights, told South China Morning Post that it would appeal to a ‘niche group’.

“There should be a market for it. The key is to see the price and level of safety,” he said.

Specific ticket prices haven’t been finalized, but it’s expected to be in the thousands of dollars, if competitors’ figures are anything to go by.

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