Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Whooops!

["Karl Fuller" <fullerk@voyager.co.nz>]

----- Original Message -----
From: Dan J. Rice <dan.j.rice@sherwin.com>
To: <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
Sent: 15 January 2000 01:26
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Whooops!


>
>
> Hello All! Nice to be hearing from you again!
>
> About the time the list stopped working I had posed a question under the
subject
> "Time Share." Here it is again...
> _______________
> How many people are on this list anyway?  If we all chipped in to buy a
U.S.
> Subs 60 meter, how much would each of us have to come up with, and how
often
> would we get to use it? (based on week-long cruises at somewhere near full
> capacity,[including family or friend] with time out for periodic
maintenance.)
> _______________
>
> I had thought this question would provoke some response at least.  When I
heard
> nothing for days I began to wonder.  I know this list is about finding the
> perfect used propane tank, putting in some port holes, periscopes,
pressure
> gauges, dive planes, CO2 scrubbers, and maybe a seat, then heading for the
> Mariannes trench, but this might be a fun concept to kick around. (And if
a few
> of us can get a million from Regis Philbin it could even happen!)
>
> Dan

Hi from down under ! ( New Zealand )

Great idea Dan. I have been of the opinion recently that if I was to invest
so much to build or buy a sub, it would be preferable that it was a
commercially viable project.
It so happens that there is a group of people in NZ who are starting up a
tourist / science operation using a moderate sized US sub. The area of
operation is in the south of NZ in an area called Fiordland which is a huge
area of remote national park. The area is renowned for it's black coral
growing unusually near the surface. The reason for this is that the surface
fresh water has a light filtering effect that allows the coral to grow
closer to the surface.
Apparently they will charge about $500 NZ or $250 US per person for a trip.
They have had no problem raising the interest and funds !
Worst case, you and some friends get to share the costs of using a fine
re-sellable sub and best case, you have fun and make money as well :-)
Not a crazy idea, people are doing it, go for it !

Regards, Karl.