Micro, Mini, and Personal Submarines

By Earl Hunsinger

Just like the airplane, the submarine is a fairly recent invention (not counting Leonardo Da Vinci’s designs, which never made it off paper). And although they have not been as romanticized as airplanes, for many, submarines engender just as much fascination. Because of this, it is possible to by model kits for just about any submarine that has ever been built or imagined, including those from literature, such as Jules Verne’s Nautilus.

Radio controlled submarines allow you to explore the depths (or at least the shallows) without ever getting your feet wet. These come in a variety of sizes, capabilities, and price ranges. Micro subs are small enough to be used in a bathtub or large aquarium. Some of these cost less than twenty dollars and use regular batteries.

Larger radio controlled subs are designed to be used in pools, ponds, or lakes. Clear water is usually the best, for a variety of reasons. Not only do suspended particles limit visibility, they also limit radio reception. Water depth also limits reception, so usually it is best to keep well within the rated depth for your sub. Radio controlled subs can be generally classified according to their method of diving. Subs with dynamic diving systems force their way into deeper water. Their forward motion pushes water across their fins or hydroplanes, forcing them to submerge. This is similar to the way the air moving across an airplane’s wings provides lift. When the sub stops moving forward, its natural buoyancy causes it to float to the surface. This makes it harder to lose your sub, because if you lose radio contact in deep water, or the battery dies, it will probably just float to the surface. Of course, if it gets tangled in weeds or debris on the bottom of a pond or lake, you might have to get wet if you ever want to see it again.

Static diving systems work more like real (pardon me, full size) subs. Pumps or compressed gas is used to fill dive tanks with water to reduce the buoyancy and make the sub dive. These are then pumped out to increase buoyancy and allow it to surface.

Enthusiasts enjoy radio-controlled subs in numerous ways. Some race them or maneuver them through obstacle courses. Some equip them with cameras and go on missions of exploration. Some even buy subs that come equipped with torpedoes and stage mock sea battles.

Of course, if you’d like more of a front seat view of what your sub is doing, you can always consider extending your hobby to the next level by buying a personal submarine. Several companies make these in different price ranges (none of them are cheap). They can be purchased in everything from a single person submarine to one designed to give tours to groups of five or six people. Many personal submarines can submerge as far as is practical for a typical scuba diver (130 feet) and stay submerged for a couple of hours.

Like many others, you may be fascinated by the idea of exploring your local pond or lake (or perhaps just your tub or aquarium). Whatever your level of interest (and budget), micro, mini, and personal submarines make this possible.