MARINE INNOVATION
co-founders, Patrick Lahey and Bruce Jones, had decades of
experience with submersibles behind them. They recognized
the advances in technology and the growth in the larger sizes of
yachts and the wealth in the world, and saw that convergence.”
Triton’s studies show that the market for the super-yachts
owned by the very rich is exploding globally. That means the
market for the $2 million to $3 million submersibles looks
rosy, Deppe says.
The super-yachts are pretty much defined by their length
and their no-holds-barred luxury, high price tags and ability
to have toys — watercraft, small boats, even helicopters — on
board. With the small size of a Triton sub, adding a submarine
TREASURE COAST BOATING 56
to the toy deck is not a big deal.
“The unbelievable viewing area, which is different from
other companies, provides an unobstructed view forward
and backward, and you don’t have to be inside of it when it is
launched, while it is dangling from a crane,” he says.
Passengers board from a rigid inflatable boat — inflatable
so it won’t damage the sub — after a support person makes
sure everything on the sub is OK. When a sub is chartered
and there’s a line of passengers waiting to go exploring, this
comes in handy because the sub doesn’t have to be lifted onto
the boat for boarding.
The subs are small, just 10 feet to 13 feet long, easily placed
on the back of a large yacht. If the yacht, commonly the superluxurious
yacht 100 feet long or longer, has a crane arm on the
back, the sub can quickly be deployed from there. If not, the
owner or Triton supplies a support boat with a crane arm.
The submersibles can have a manipulator arm, making
them capable of picking up things from the sea floor — including
the lobsters that the county commissioners joked
about before approving the employment grant in April. It
also has powerful headlights that make it possible to see at
depths where no surface light can reach.
Triton set up Triton Submarine Charters LLC last summer
and started chartering its subs in a variety of ways.
A Henry Cookson tour of the Antarctic in December with a
Triton aboard allowed guests to dive in comfort in the frigid
water. A slideshow of the tour featuring breathtaking scenery
and underwater views aboard a Triton is available at www.
tRitoN SUBmARiNES
tritonsubs.com under the Services/Charters link.
Anyone who wants to charter a Triton sub can do it in their
own customized way, Deppe says. The cost depends on what
the customer needs and wants.
“They can go for a few weeks or a year, and it’s completely
customizable by them or by us,” Deppe says. Triton doesn’t
choose the destination.
“Our owners have chartered their subs to salvage companies
and filmmakers and marine science organizations
already,” he says. “The folks who wanted to charter a sub to
find the giant squid sought out one of our vessels from someone
else.”
The giant squid expedition provided a publicity bonanza
for Triton. “We’ve had great feedback from that,” Deppe says.
“It really increased awareness of the Triton as a filming platform
in the ocean.”
With the possibility of upcoming mentions on the Weather
Channel, Discovery Channel and Travel Channel, Triton
and Vero Beach adventurers
in the years ahead.
taking a submarine
for a test drive.
SoUth FloRidA divE JoURNAl
the triton 36000, which can dive to
36,000 feet, is in the design and development
stage. it features a clamshell design
instead of a hatch at the top.
are likely to be on the minds of many adven
/tritonsubs.com
