Luxury Submarine Adventure To Discover Roman Shipwrecks In Sicily: Deep Sea Thrills

By Jim Dobson, Contributor

The not-for-profit Aurora Trust Foundation has partnered with SubSea Explorers, a marine archeology expedition company and U-Boat Worx, a Dutch manufacturer of submersibles. They are offering a first-of-its-kind program for adventurous individuals to take part in an undersea archeological expedition off the coast of Sicily, not as a tourist, but as an exploration crew member working from inside a private submersible.

The program features eight 1-week missions, beginning June 20 and running through August 21. During each mission, the adventurers will be part of a 3-person crew using a state-of-the-art, air-conditioned submersible to view, document and photograph ancient Roman shipwrecks that sank 2,000 years ago.

This deep-sea adventure will take you in a three-person, state-of-the-art air-conditioned mini sub to explore recently discovered ancient shipwrecks in the company of a noted archeologist and a professional sub pilot. You will live aboard a luxury yacht or villa, depending on your program choice; you will enjoy gourmet Mediterranean foods and learn about the culture and history of these exotic ancient places – not as a tourist, but as a participating crew member.

These archeological wonders had been part of an undisturbed watery graveyard of shipwrecks around the Italian Aeolian Islands. Thanks to modern technology and perseverance, the Aurora Trust Foundation has discovered three Roman shipwrecks near the island of Panarea, part of the Aeolian Islands’ volcanic arc.

“This is a real bucket-list adventure,” said Ian Koblick, co-founder of the Aurora Trust Foundation. “You will become an authentic explorer and one of the first persons in 2,000 years to lay eyes on these ancient Roman shipwrecks.”

Participants will each undergo three missions in the C-Explorer 3 that is built with 360-degree views that make you feel like you are inside an aquarium. They will work alongside a marine archeologist and the submersible pilot to try to uncover some of the mysteries of these newly discovered wrecks, whose wooden structures have long since deteriorated but whose amphora/cargo are remarkably intact. Under supervision of the Sicilian government, some artifacts will be removed from the sea floor to be curated and displayed in regional exhibits.

Not for the average tourist, this luxury $20,000 per person adventure includes accommodations in an island villa leased to accommodate the participants. It will be located on the island where the sub is based. Guests will be met at the airport by a designated driver and driven to the ferry boat that will transport them to their destination island where they will be met by their host. Transportation is not included. All food and beverages, including wine and beer, will be included. Most meals will be served in local gourmet restaurants. Lunches will be served on board the support vessel. Breakfast will be served at the villa or hotel.

“This type of program hasn’t been done before because the local governments have wanted to keep their ancient shipwreck locations very private so people don’t disturb them,” Koblick said. “Through our exploration efforts during the past 10 years we have built close relationships with governments and individuals which enable us to provide this unprecedented opportunity.”