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I have asked this question several times over the years, and found no
American agency which governs psubs. On the other hand, where you go with your
sub can make a difference. Some waters are protected by marine sanctuary laws
and even scuba diving is restricted. I know that Greece won't allow anyone to
dive in large parts of their waters. Mexico has some areas off limits, and
probably Florida as well. I read recently that Silvercrest Submarines had one of
their subs confiscated for diving near the Galapagos islands. I think they
leased it to some individuals and as I recall, the Silvercrest people were being
detained while the lessee was allowed to leave. I'm also guessing that if you
have a sub in the harbor, someone from the government is going to ask a lot of
questions. We need to make sure we have all the required safety equipment and
documentation available so we don't get our subs impounded.
I think that the recent emphasis on port security will make it more
difficult to enjoy a psub. Surely they would be great for smuggling drugs or
immigrants or something, and that's bound to make the authorities curious. These
are just some thoughts I've had. Perhaps some of the more experienced members
have some first hand experience with this and will share any advice or stories
they have. If I hear of anything along these lines, I'll post it.
Frank D.
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