Richard Branson goes underwater - Virgin Oceanic

Not sure if this is good news or disturbing news - exploration vs exploitation - Here's the scoop:

Sir Richard Branson has unveiled his new toy - an underwater "plane" for a voyage to the bottom of the sea.

The Virgin Atlantic boss hopes the submarine with fighter jet technology will explore unchartered depths at 35,000ft.

The £415,000 carbon fibre prototype Necker Nymph will swoop 130ft under the surface but Sir Richard, 59, is building a stronger version to go deeper than any sub has ever been.

Richard Branson submarine Virgin Oceanic deep sea submarine Branson ... plans sea treks

Sir Richard said: "It is very similar to an airplane flying in the sea. You can literally do loop-the-loops."

It could eventually reach the Mariana Trench, believed to be the world's lowest spot in the Pacific Ocean.

US company Hawkes built the 15ft "winged" sub which has three 360-degree view cockpits and is steered like a plane with a joystick.

Film director James Cameron used one of their subs to look for underwater inspiration for his 3D blockbuster Avatar.

Sir Richard - who last month unveiled the world's first commercial spaceship - told The Sun the sub will be based at his private Necker Island.

He plans to use it to take holidaymakers on underwater trips.

He said: "We hope to have submarines dotted throughout the world.

"A pressurised submarine is nearly completed. But the real challenge is to explore what's going on at the bottom of the oceans."

Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2829637/Richard-Branson-unveils-Virgins-underwater-plane.html

Contributed by Tim Hochgrebe added 2010-01-30