Submarine Safari

View my 'Submarine Safari' Photo Album

The main album this week is 'Submarine Safari'. I took the 470 to Golf del Sur and walked down to the marina though you can also catch the 483 too (both from either direction). The company also run their own bus service from hotels in the resorts. The submarine itself is powered by electric motors which mean that is is ecologically sound both in noise and contaminants. It is a really interesting experience, both from the dive to 20 meters and for the view of the sea life in the area. Did you know that going out off the coastal shelf the sea is as deep as El Teide is high but we don't go that deep! The staff at Submarine Safari are very knowledgeable and helpful and are going to send me some more specs about the sub which I will tell you later. It was actually built in Finland and is very expensive to run so the price of a ticket is very reasonable.

There is also a safety boat on the surface at all times and a diver in the water when the sub is stationary. I am going to add to this album over the months as we see if the different times of the year bring different species to photograph and changes of light give better photographs. When the sub dives the colour changes from red to black, apparently red is not visible underwater so that red lipstick becomes 'Gothic'!

Romina and Naomi supplied these details about the submarine:

She is called Sub Fun Cinco, was designed and constructed in Tampare, Finland, and is registered in Antwerp, Belgium. She is one of around 18 tourist submarines in the world today. Her dimensions are 18.5metres long, 6.5metres high, and 4 metres wide, with a total weight of 106 tonnes. The licensed operating depth is up to 60metres with passengers, and 100 metres with only crew members. She seats a total of 44 passengers, and 2 pilots. She runs on battery power, and is recharged every day. Her value is approx 3million euros.

My younger brother, who is a Naval Architect and Ship Scientist sent me a photograph of a model which shows the thrusters which control in 6 directions - forward, reverse, left, right, AND up and down. You can see the vertical control thrusters at the bow & stern poking through the deck. This means it drives itself underwater remaining slight positive buoyant - it there is a power failure it will bob to the surface rather than sink.

Submarine Safaris can be contacted at:

www.submarinesafaris.com

Tel: 922 736 629
Fax: 922 736 637

(You will need the dialing code from the UK)

A view out of the porthole is shown but is much better in when you are there. It is difficult to catch the marine life as it swims by but, hopefully, my technique will improve....

View my 'Submarine Safari' Photo Album

Woke up to some clanking yesterday morning, they were taming the beach though I am not sure how long it will last or will the rocks force their way to the surface again as they do when you try to cultivate that rough patch of your garden. Either way the tide was out when I woke up this morning an the bay looks as wild and untamed as ever. Added some photos to the 'Los Abrigos' album.

Carnival, the second biggest in the world starts next Friday in Santa Cruz so there may, or may not, be some photographs depending on how well I absorb the atmosphere! (There have been competitions all this week and next leading up to a week of revelry.)
Well that's it for this week – keep smiling through all that snow!