Kerala To Have Submarine Cruise

Kerala is all set to add yet another attraction, a tourist submarine. The first in the country, the submarine will operate to a maximum depth of 300 feet and will carry 24 passengers plus two crew members. Tourist will have to pay between Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 for a three hour ride in the submarine and the cost will include the to and fro journey to the submarine from the jetty. According to project promoters K Bhaskaran, CEO, Pioneer Underwater Tours and K N Sateesh, MD, Kerala State Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC), the project is awaiting clearance from the Director General of Shipping. The requisite permissions from the Navy and Coast Guard have already been obtained by the promoters for the submarine, which is being built in Finland at the cost of Rs 10 crore and will be completed by end of this month.

"We are awaiting government clearance for the past four months. The plan is to bring the submarine in November. The Government has to frame rules to register the submarine under Indian flag," stated Bhaskaran. According to Sateesh, KSINC will take care of infrastructure facilities like providing boats to ferry tourists to the submarine and back from the jetty and maintenance and marketing. He further added, "The marine leisure segment is the fastest growing segment of the travel industry as is evident from the success and growth of aquariums and marine parks, cruise ship industry and seaside destination resorts." The launch of the tourist submarine will add yet another unique feature to tourist attractions of the state and further boost tourism.