Underwater safaris, a pathway to marine conservation

The sea remains largely unknown to mankind. Although we have explored and mapped vast areas of the lunar surface and Mars, we have barely scratched the surface of the secrets that the ocean holds in its depths. Only a tiny fraction of the deep sea has been explored, contributing to the lack of awareness and concern for its conservation. More than half of the world's population lives on the coasts and it is expected to reach 75% in a few years, and more than 90% of international goods are transported by sea. The demand for fish for human consumption and animal feed is leading us to over-exploitation of the seas, and plastic is barely even mentioned. 

It has been people like Jacques Cousteau or great documentaries like the BBC series Blue Planet, that have brought the beauty of the seas to the general public, but there is little we can do through watching it on our televisions. Today the underwater world is reserved for scientists and divers. 

On June 19, 2023, the historic Treaty on the High Seas, sought to convert 30% of the sea into protected areas by 2030 to safeguard and protect marine ecosystems.

But the question now is, how can we effectively protect biodiversity and marine ecosystems without a sustainable economic model behind it? Without economics, there is no ecology.

Thousands of reserves and designated areas already exist to protect marine life and their ecosystems, a key first step in addressing these challenges. On the African continent, national parks and safaris have proven to be a successful model for wildlife and ecosystem conservation, so, what if we applied a similar approach under the sea, through underwater safaris where the Big Five were instead the sperm whale, killer whale, dolphin, sea lion, elephant seal, or narwhal? The creation of marine reserve areas of great beauty and biodiversity could usher in a new era in conservation and underwater tourism.

The Tubbataha National Marine Park is located in the Philippines and is an amazing example of an underwater paradise. This marine park is world-renowned for its exceptional biodiversity and coral reefs that are home to over 600 species of fish, more than 350 species of hard and soft coral, as well as various species of sharks, sea turtles, and manta rays. In 1993 Tubbataha was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO due to its biological importance. Currently, the level of protection is such that only divers and researchers can enjoy this marine site. There are no hotels, and you can only access it aboard dive boats.

For marine reserves to be effective, a sustainable economic model is needed to enable their long-term financing and management. Marine conservation is not free, and governments and organizations need resources to patrol, study, and protect these areas. This is where the idea of creating a luxury underwater tourism industry similar to African safaris comes into play.

Today, there are companies offering dives in areas of great underwater beauty in medium-capacity submarines, with prices ranging from $100 to $200 per person. With large windows, they allow their customers to see marine life from a unique vantage point and at a relatively reasonable cost in places such as Hawaii, Mexico, Australia, Vietnam, and even the Canary Islands.

They offer a wide range of dive sites, including the Canary Islands, Hawaii, Mexico, Australia, and Vietnam.

The role of submarines in tourism

For this vision to become a reality, submarines play a crucial role. Small tourist submarines, designed to offer comfort and safety to passengers, would allow people to explore the deep sea without the need to be experienced divers. These submersible vehicles, which are electric, offer panoramic windows that provide amazing views of coral reefs, tropical fish, sharks, and other sea creatures in their natural habitat.

Companies such as Triton or U-Boat Worx have already developed state-of-the-art submersibles that have been tested, certified, and licensed to carry passengers. These companies have already manufactured and sold a significant number of submersibles and are creating a new market. U-Boat Worx ventures to propose an underwater cruise concept that would allow us to visit large underwater national parks for several days autonomously on an underwater cruise.

The sea, a mysterious and largely unexplored territory, requires urgent protection due to the growing threat of overexploitation and degradation. The creation of marine reserves of great beauty and biodiversity, together with a sustainable economic model based on underwater tourism, may be the key to preserving these crucial areas. These reserves, like large underwater national parks, could be equipped with submarines in which you could spend the night on board, or simply make daily dives with naturalist guides.

Underwater tourism could not only provide a source of revenue for marine conservation, be a source of funding for the creation and protection of large marine national parks, and expand marine research projects, but would also educate, bring people closer, and raise awareness of the oceans. Like the safaris in Africa, underwater tourism could become a unique opportunity to protect the unknown while creating a sustainable alternative to marine exploitation.