Hawaii Atlantis Submarine Adventure - which is best?

[sloopsailor]

We'll be in Hawaii on Royal Princess in a few months, visiting Maui, Kona, and overnighting in Honolulu. Each port has an Atlantis Submarine Adventure excursion. Does anyone have an opinion of which of the three is the best experience? 

 

Thank you for your advice. 

[cr8tiv1]

I have never been to one, but I believe the "submarine" is stationary.  You are taken out by boat/shuttle and you climb in.

 

My take?  Honolulu (Waikiki) won't have many fish.

 

There's not much to do in Kona unless you have a car or do a ship excursion (maybe this would be a good time to the excursion).

 

If you do the excursion in Lahaina, at least you won't have to wait in line for a water shuttle (which can be a long wait).

 

 

[Sea Hag]

We did a great submarine trip in Kona, but not the ship's excursion. We finished up whatever it was we were doing and just did a walk on, spur of the moment on the submarine. It was nearly empty, which was wonderful. I think I would have hated it if it were full. We saw lots of fish.

[cr8tiv1]

I found an article that requires me to make an amendment.  The submarine is not stationary.  I was half correct.  It is somehow secured enough out in the water so that you can climb in.  But I could not find anything that says it is also free floating.

 

https://www.marcofeng.com/usa/atlantis-submarine-tour-review-everything-to-know

 

 

[Astro Flyer]

Once we got a great kama’aina rate & took the submarine tour in Lahaina. It was interesting but having scuba dived many times in Maui the sub wasn’t as scenic for me. And once below about 40’ colors fade out without artificial lights. They take passengers by boat to the sub offshore to board it. Since I went they have submerged the old brig Carthaginian that was a fixture at the Lahaina Harbor in front of the Pioneer Inn.

 

https://atlantisadventures.com/maui/
 

Edited July 31, 2022 by Astro Flyer

[Astro Flyer]

14 minutes ago, cr8tiv1 said:

I found an article that requires me to make an amendment.  The submarine is not stationary.  I was half correct.  It is somehow secured enough out in the water so that you can climb in.  But I could not find anything that says it is also free floating.

 

https://www.marcofeng.com/usa/atlantis-submarine-tour-review-everything-to-know

 

 

It’s been over a decade but as I recall there was a floating dock to go from boat to sub.

[sloopsailor]

13 minutes ago, cr8tiv1 said:

I found an article that requires me to make an amendment.  The submarine is not stationary.  I was half correct.  It is somehow secured enough out in the water so that you can climb in.  But I could not find anything that says it is also free floating.

 

https://www.marcofeng.com/usa/atlantis-submarine-tour-review-everything-to-know

 

 

 

These submarines are self powered and actually move along the bottom like you would expect a submarine to do. It is not tied to anything, just floating like a boat would. It then begins to move forward while diving up to 150 deep. Watch this for a good idea what it actually is. 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjAPbTak_AM&t=42s

[Astro Flyer]

2 minutes ago, sloopsailor said:

 

These submarines are self powered and actually move along the bottom like you would expect a submarine to do. It is not tied to anything, just floating like a boat would. It then begins to move forward while diving up to 150 deep. Watch this for a good idea what it actually is. 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjAPbTak_AM&t=42s

As I recall it’s a fail safe system…it requires power to go underwater & if power fails it safely returns to the surface.

[cr8tiv1]

@sloopsailorThanks for the video.  I've been transported into the current time zone.  Now to decide where you want to do this submarine.  

 

I wasn't completely wrong, just off by several decades.

 

https://atlantisadventures.com/about-us/#:~:text=In 1986%2C Atlantis I began,exposition%2C Expo86%2C in Vancouver.

 

In November 1998, Atlantis expanded its operations beyond the submarine tours into semi-submersible and island tours. Semi-subs provide passengers with a view of the ocean from large windows placed opposite seats located below the ocean surface — however, the semi-submarine does not submerge and dive.

[Twosailors1t]

We stayed a week near Lahaina right on the water. Every morning I watched a tugboat pull the submarine out to the location where it submerged and then came back up and was towed back into port. Very amusing to me as a sailor.

[sloopsailor]

50 minutes ago, Twosailors1t said:

We stayed a week near Lahaina right on the water. Every morning I watched a tugboat pull the submarine out to the location where it submerged and then came back up and was towed back into port. Very amusing to me as a sailor.

 

Being that it's electric powered, they do that to save battery power. It takes a lot of power to push something that big under water.  Here is a webpage that describes a bit about these machines:

 

http://www.altfuels.org/misc/atlantis.shtml 

Edited July 31, 2022 by sloopsailor

[Brandy Aloha]

Aloha! In response to various questions, Atlantis Submarines in Hawaii offers submarine adventures in Waikiki, Kona and Lahaina. Each of Atlantis Hawaii's battery-powered & air-conditioned submarines dives over 100 feet below the sea to explore Hawaii's fascinating marine life and artificial reefs such as sunken ships. The experience is like scuba-diving without having to get wet and it's a fun way for guests of many ages to explore Hawaii beneath the sea. Atlantis Submarines Hawaii is owned by Atlantis Adventures and they have been operating Coast Guard approved submarines for over 35 years in Hawaii. Atlantis Adventures also offers sunset cocktail cruises and seasonal whale watch cruises on a 150' sleek, modern ship called Majestic by Atlantis Cruises. You can see all details at www.atlantisadventures.com

[terrajarret]

FWIW, if you are at all claustrophobic or prone to seasickness I'd skip it, and may skip it even if you weren't. I have family in Hawaii and this particular activity is something I often hear tourists disappointed with. It's cramped,often very warm, and it doesn't feel any more "spectacular" than a limited aquarium. With limited time, I'd consider a different excursion. 

[ghgeckos]

We took my mom and our kids,(when they were little),  on the submarine in Honolulu. It was good for the group at the time. 

[SDWalt]

Hi,

We did the sub in Waikiki last May.  You meet at the beach, take a boat to a stationary platform and transfer to the sub.  It was quite entertaining for a one time thing to do.  It's not like seeing underwater life like you do in photos; mostly a lot of gray, silver, etc.  All the fantastic colors you see in photos uses lighting to bring out the natural color of the sea life.  I think it is similar in all locations.

There's a manmade 'reef' created by sinking things, then the sea life populates the area.  Worth it once.