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Once-in-a-lifetime Uber trip takes riders to Great Barrier Reef

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HERON ISLAND, Australia — This Uber driver won’t offer you a bottle of water and won’t take you home.

That’s fine though: You’re about to go on the ride of your life.

To explore the Great Barrier Reef.

On a two-passenger submarine.

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The once-in-a-lifetime, unique rideshare, the first of its kind in the world, is being offered until June 18 by Tourism and Events Queensland in partnership with Uber, and can be booked through the rideshare app.

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Launched here on May 23, the sub has moved north to Agincourt Reef off Port Douglas for the remainder of the availability.

Here’s what I can say after having had the opportunity to ride the scUber this week on the Wistari Reef, a few kilometres off the shore of Heron Island: Imagine sitting in the middle of an aquarium with ocean life, specifically any of the hundreds of fish species that call the reef home, teeming around you. And let’s not forget the encounters from the other side of the submarine glass that are bound to come with sharks, rays and turtles.

A turtle swims past the scUber as it explores marine life at the Great Barrier Reef off Australia. (Supplied)
A turtle swims past the scUber as it explores marine life at the Great Barrier Reef off Australia. (Supplied)

It’s a view of 180 degrees in the sub, and throughout the hour-long trip, there is no concern of getting wet. If you’re not among those who enjoy snorkelling or don’t have a diving licence — or even if you do — there’s really nothing to match the unconventional experience.

In a word, it’s mesmerizing.

The aim of the ride is to bring positive attention back to the reef, while at the same time giving riders a chance to see it in a way that previously was not possible. Part of the goal as well is to showcase the reef in such a manner that will increase interest across the globe.

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Recent consumer research has shown that exploring the Great Barrier Reef via submarine is the most desired experience wanted by visitors to the area.

“ScUber makes this wish a reality and reaffirms Queensland tourism’s commitment to providing locals and visitors alike with truly remarkable ways to explore nature’s wonderland,” Tourism and Events Queensland CEO Leanne Coddington said. “We’re thrilled to partner with Uber to showcase the beauty of the reef through this innovative experience.”

There’s a wealth of marine life to be observed aboard the scUber rideshare at the Great Barrier Reef. (Supplied)
There’s a wealth of marine life to be observed aboard the scUber rideshare at the Great Barrier Reef. (Supplied)

As much as we were curious to see what species we could spot while riding the scUber, the reef fish were just as inquisitive. In a sense, we were the ones in the aquarium as angelfish, parrotfish and surgeonfish, while rays skimmed past, were among those to swim over for a closer inspection of the submersible.

The density of the glass on the sub make the marine life appear smaller, but closer. You might forget that there is a separation between the inside of the sub and what’s happening on the reef around it, the clarity being as sharp as it is.

There’s also the opportunity to have an up-close look, without being intrusive, at the coral species that comprise the reef.

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As for our driver, it’s not quite the correct title for this scUber ride. Using a PlayStation 4 controller to guide the sub, our pilot, Erika Bergman, expertly comes within mere feet of the coral structures without actually touching any of them. The manoeuvrability on her part is as impressive as the overall ride itself. All the while, Bergman, who has piloted subs for 11 years, is happy to explain how the sub works, and it’s not lost on us that communicating directly and easily with others while below the surface is part of what makes the ride that much more enjoyable.

The scUber experience at the Great Barrier Reef is available until June 18. (Supplied)
The scUber experience at the Great Barrier Reef is available until June 18. (Supplied)

And did we mention how quiet the ride is? Passengers also can act as extra sets of eyes as the sub travels a leisurely pace at a depth usually of between 10-30 metres.

The interior of the sub is not big, but it’s comfortable (and air-conditioned). Entrance and exit is through a hatch on top of the sub.

And the battery-powered sub just happens to be supplied by a Vancouver-based company, Aquatica Submarines.

Rides per person cost $1,500 AUD (approximately C$1,400).

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For those lucky enough to have a chance to ride the scUber, a boat ride to the scUber off the coast of Port Douglas also is included in the package, as well as a return trip to the original address of pickup via Uber.

As well as the scUber experience, Uber has entered into a partnership with Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef to focus on several initiatives including the Reef Tracks program and the Great Reef Census, through financial and resource investments.

For further information on the scUber ride, visit scuberqueensland.com.

tkoshan@postmedia.com

twitter.com/koshtorontosun

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