Downunder Submarines Ltd.’s yellow submarine was temporarily stuck on the seabed in South Sound on 11 Feb.
The sub grounded on an area of sandy bottom where there were no hard corals, so there was reportedly no damage to either the submarine or the marine environment.
Naomi Law, who lives in a condominium that looks out on the stretch of coast where the grounding occurred, she said it took at least two hours before the submarine crew was able to free the submarine from the shallows.
“It got stuck on the seabed and when they were trying to get off using their engines, they kicked up quite a lot of sediment before they were able get off again,” she said.
She added that this was the second time the submarine got stuck on the seabed in front of where she lives, “It also got stuck on 4 February,” she said.
“On that occasion, they managed to pull the support boat off the reef, and as they were heading off with the support boat in tow, the boat started to sink, so they turned back around. And then the sub got stuck on the bottom and the support boat drifted back in the current and ended up washing up on the beach just a little ways down from where we live,” she said.
Andrey Alexeenko, who manages the submarine operations, described the incident as relatively minor. “It was just a low tide,” he said, adding that they were able to move the submarine off once the tide changed.
Alexeenko said they were also able to pull the support boat off the beach on 12 Feb. “It will be dry docked and repaired. In the meantime, we’ll hire another boat.”
Downunder Submarines Ltd. has faced a series of setbacks and challenges over the past few months.
In late December, the VHF communications cable that trails behind the submarine was intentionally cut by a dive company owner James ‘Shaggy’ Thomson.
At the time, Thompson said he cut the cable when he became concerned about the safety of his boat and customers. “The submarine communications cable got tangled up in my engine and the submarine was dragging my boat,” he said, adding that he then cut the cable because he thought it might cause his boat to be dragged underwater.
In another incident, on 7 Jan., the submarine came up underneath and struck a 110-foot-long liveaboard dive boat, the Cayman Aggressor IV, but the collision caused only minor damage. Then, on 1 Feb., the company’s support vessel either dragged anchor or broke free of its mooring in South Sound during a nor’wester, and ended up stranded on the coral reef in South Sound.
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Three and allegedly four incidents in three months! This operation is dangerous!
Whichever Government agency is responsible for its operational certification and apprval needs to step in NOW and fully assess all aspects of its operations, with full acknowledgement of these incidents of record.
Alternately, they can wait until someone is killed or seriously injured, then face a major lawsuit and a costly investigation.
CIG usual style is “let’s wait until the horse has bolted”.
I agree whole heartedly and not sure what they waiting on to investigate this company or pull their operating license .
Well said Kerith. I couldn’t say this better myself. What is taking so long for the Ministry or Department of Tourism, or the T&BL/Dept. of Commerce & Investment, or the Port Authority to shut down this business and also verify their credentials!!?? Who is the Caymanian partner for this business, or have they been given a LCCL license??
The Authorities need to pull the Sun company’s operating license. Way too many incidents the last few months—they are putting both people & through Environment in jeopardy.
Agree with you 100%. Now this is something that the Government must say “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH”!! C’mon….take action. A blind person can see that we have a problem with this operator!
Too many incidents and clearly not responsible. Concerning for other boat operators and the environment. Any licence should be revoked immediately.
Not only that, they don’t pay their bills!