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Some billionaires might be building bunkers in Hawaii, but for the really, really rich, there is now a superyacht that turns into an underwater fortress.

An Austrian company wants to extend deep-dive delights to the world of superyachts, by building customised private submersibles that can descend 250 metres beneath the ocean surface and remain submerged for up to four weeks.

Migaloo has revealed its ambitious plans for what it claims will be the “world’s only private submersible superyacht,” offering “a not-yet-existing alternative to large privately owned surface vessels.”

This design, named M5, would measure 165.8 metres in length and 23 metres across at its widest point, with a range of around 15,000 kilometres and a speed of up to 20 knots when surfaced (or 12 knots when underwater).

Image: Migaloo

Putting the ‘super’ in superyacht, the M5’s ‘default design’ includes a helipad, a swimming pool and spa, a gym, an art gallery cinema, a party area with a DJ booth, along with plenty of spaces to lounge or dine.

The superyacht also has a a fully equipped MediBay onboard to ensure its owner doesn’t need Discovery and optional extras include a hot air balloon and an underwater shark-feeding station. This sounds very much like a Bond villain’s wet dream.

 

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“Owners are looking for privacy, security and protection for themselves, their guests and their valuables,” says CEO Christian Gumpold on Migaloo’s website. Customized security systems will be provided by US partner SAFE, promising “beyond military-grade protection” for what it’s calling a “private submersible fortress.”

Currently, there is no specific project price tag, due to all those juicy customization options, but the widely reported estimate for the Migaloo M5 is about $2 billion (R38 billion) for starters – and that’s before you consider maintenance.

Now we throw around words like ‘bonkers’ and ‘over the top’ all the time, but this is one billionaire’s toy that is undeniably over the top, bonkers, and utterly batshit crazy.

To emphasise this, and to illustrate the uber-exclusivity of this “underwater fortress”, the company even went as far as to create a guide to the ‘archetypes’ that they consider worthy of owning the M5 – ranging from ‘Owner Type 1’, who is into exploring, to ‘Owner Type 7’, who is all about sustainability.

The M5 uses proven technologies borrowed from existing motor yachts and submersibles, such as double-hull construction and multiple pressure hulls, which help on the safety and feasibility fronts. However, the question still remains as to who is deep-pocketed enough to buy this.

It’s not the first time Migaloo has hit headlines for floating its extraordinary visions. At the Monaco Yacht Show in 2015, it showcased plans for Kokomo Ailand, its 80-meter-tall private floating island (with waterfall) that you can sail. Dream big boys.

Told you: Over the top, bonkers, and utterly batshit crazy.

[source:cnn]