Richard Branson Unveils The Virgin Necker Nymph Underwater Plane

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Space was apparently not the final frontier for Virgin chief Richard Branson.  The serial entrepreneur and conqueror of worlds has officially unveiled his next project, the Virgin Necker Nymph underwater plane that carries three passengers to depths of 130 feet under the sea.

Richard Branson’s latest passion project, the Virgin Necker Nymph is a sea-faring prototype that uses downward “lift” from the wings and jet style technology to push it to depths of up to 130 feet.  Branson hopes to later develop craft that can sink to depths of 35,000ft, but the Necker Nymph is the first stage of his underwater exploration.  The Virgin Necker Nymph will be available for rent for $25,000 a week, but must be rented in concert with Virgin’s Necker Belle luxury catamaran on Necker Island for $88,000.

The Virgin Necker Nymph uses an open-cockpit design that will require its pilot and passengers to wear SCUBA gear while in use.  The vehicle is piloted like a jet, using a joystick controller as it speeds through the water, searching out sunken craft and swimming alongside whales and dolphins.

Branson’s Necker Nymph craft is still in prototype stages, but should begin to take shape in the months to come.  We’re just wondering what’s next for Virgin after exploring the underwater frontier…