A SYSTEM, TOWED SUBMERSIBLE AND DOCKING STATION FOR TOWED UNDERWATER RECREATIONAL SIGHTSEEING

摘要

There is provided a system for towed underwater recreational sightseeing. The system comprises a towed submersible; a tow vessel; a docking station mechanically fastened to the tow vessel via a linkage, the docking station comprising a docking bay adapted for docking the submersible in use, the docking bay configurable between a docked configuration and a deployable configuration, wherein, in the docked configuration, the submersible is raised so as to be poised for boarding by passengers and wherein in the deployed configuration, the submersible is lowered for deployment in water; and a tow cable coupling the towed submersible and at least one of the docking station and tow vessel wherein, once the submersible has been deployed by the docking station in use, the tow cable is adapted for reeling out to locate the towed submersible a suitable distance from the docking station for the completion of a series of underwater manoeuvres under tow of the tow vessel and the reeling in after the completion of the underwater manoeuvres for docking of the docking bay.