FAQs

If you can’t find an answer to your question, please contact us.

What makes Honu so unique?

Experiencing the ocean onboard a Honu submersible is truly extraordinary. You’ll have unparalleled scenery and opportunity to go deeper into the ocean than almost anyone on Earth. Additionally, through our partnership with the Tetiaroa Society (a nonprofit organization based in French Polynesia and the United States), we work with world-leading scientists who are advancing our knowledge of the ocean ecosystems. By joining us aboard an expedition, you play a critical role in supporting the ocean science community’s goals to understand and protect these precious environments for future generations.

Because these depths of the ocean are almost never seen by people, you will be participating in a dive that will almost certainly yield new insights for science and conservation. Our submersibles carry a wide array of sensors, cameras, and microphones, enabling each dive to collect a lot of data that will be entered into our databases for analysis by our science team.

People who have adventured deep into the ocean aboard submersibles fall in love with the experience and often want to dive over and over. They return to the surface forever changed, having seen parts of the planet that can only be accessed in this way. This is truly a rare and unique opportunity… and we hope you’ll join us for it!

When will I be able to select my dates for the trip?

Our goal is to be ready to book specific dates for dives by the end of 2024.

What if my plans change and I can’t go on the date(s) that I select?

If you need to cancel completely, we will provide a full refund up to 60 days in advance of your scheduled dive. Within 60 days, we will provide a full refund if we’re able to fill your spot with another guest. Similarly, if you need to change your dive to another date, please do so at least 60 days in advance. If you need to make changes within 60 days, we will do our best to accommodate you based on availability.

How much will this cost?

We will announce pricing later this year. Our prices will be consistent with chartering a boat in French Polynesia, especially given the very unique and limited availability of submarine adventures.

Is my deposit refundable?

At this time, holding a seat for yourself is free. When we do contact you to place a deposit, it will be refundable up until closer to the day of your dive.

How do I integrate the submarine adventure into my trip to French Polynesia? What island should I visit and where should I stay? When can I book my hotels and flights?

Great questions. We recommend that guests stay at The Brando resort (accessible via charter flights on Air Tetiaroa), particularly if they’d like the submarine adventure to be part of a broader exploration of the ocean, including snorkeling, scuba diving, and kayaking with scientists and conservation leaders. You may also stay at the Intercontinental in Tahiti (or other hotels nearby), where you can board the boat that will take you to our dive sites. If you’re considering visiting Bora Bora, you will need to fly back to Tahiti.

Do I need to do anything to prepare for this trip?

No. However, just like how you enjoy a concert more if you know the songs, you’ll have a deeper appreciation of the undersea world if you prepare for it. We will offer optional materials for you to watch and read at home or at your hotel before your dive. For those who really want to dive deeper (pun intended), we will offer fun learning activities at The Brando in the days before your dive.

How do I know that this will be safe?

The HONU submersibles are built by DOER marine which has an impeccable track record working with manned submersibles. The submersibles are built according to the rigorous safety standards imposed by the classification society DNV. DNV is one of the leading classification societies in the world having certified thousands of maritime vehicles including manned underwater vehicles.

These sister submersibles are designed to dive together in order to maximize productivity per operational hour. This is analogous to the proven system of Scuba “buddy diving”. In addition to optimizing film and sampling opportunities, the submersibles support one another for safety and self-rescue in case of emergency..

What will we see on our dive?

Our dive plans will travel along stunning coral reefs and will vary in depth based on ocean conditions and the interests of those onboard. Beyond a certain depth, as sunlight fades, we will stay close to the undersea mountain and observe animals as we go. There are incredible undersea geological features. We will provide more details as we get closer to launch.

Will we see whales, dolphins, turtles, manta rays, etc.?

We may see turtles along the coral reefs. However, it’s very unlikely that we will see whales, dolphins, manta rays, etc. During humpback whale season in French Polynesia (July to November), it’s possible that we may hear their songs through our hydrophones.

How many people will be on the submarine?

Our submarines each have room for two guests in addition to the pilot. Since there will be two submarines diving together, we can accommodate groups of up to four people.

Will signing up today to hold a spot allow me to go on more than one dive? Can I dive multiple times in the same day?

Yes and yes! Every dive into the ocean will be a different experience. Even people who’ve been on dozens of dives still see new things each time. By holding a seat now, you’re reserving the right to book as many dives as you’d like for up to 12 months from when we open. We anticipate there will be two dives per day (including some night dives), depending on weather and ocean conditions. You can reserve spots on both of those or on different days.

Are there different options for dive plans?

Yes. We’re still working out the dive plans and will be able to give you more details on this when we contact you to schedule your trip. From our team’s extensive experience with other submarine adventures, we know that some guests enjoy going as deep as possible (up to 3,600 feet or 1,200 meters on our submarines) whereas others prefer to stay closer to the surface (within a few hundred feet) where coral reefs and biodiversity are more vibrant. Additionally, we also expect that some guests will be very interested in the details of the scientific research dives whereas others may be more excited about observing wildlife or learning about ocean conservation. When we schedule your dives with you, we’ll be sure to describe the different options.

How deep will we go?

Our submarines are rated to safely go down to 3,600 feet (1,200 meters). Some dives will go to our maximum depth whereas others will not go nearly as deep. We will work with you to ensure you’re on a dive that aligns with your interests.

How long is the trip? How should I plan my day?

We will have one or two dives per day, depending on the ocean conditions and dive plans. We anticipate the full experience will be about 5 hours, depending on which island you embark from and the dive site that day. You will spend about 3 to 4 hours underwater in the submarine. You will board our surface boat in either Tetiaroa or Tahiti, then travel to the dive site. Therefore, we recommend that you plan for this trip to be most of your day to accommodate schedule changes due to weather and ocean conditions.

Will you cancel trips due the weather or ocean conditions? Will I get my money back or be able to reschedule?

Since your safety is our absolute number one priority, we will cancel trips if our safety team determines that ocean conditions are too rough. We’ll do our best to notify you as far in advance as possible if we anticipate issues for the day of your dive. If we cancel your dive due to ocean conditions, we will attempt to reschedule you for another dive during your trip (we build a buffer into our schedules to allow for this). If you’re unable to go on another day, we will refund your money or give you a credit towards a future dive, whichever you prefer.

Who built your submersibles?

Honu submarines were custom-designed and built by DOER Marine, which was founded in 1992 by legendary ocean scientist and advocate, Dr. Sylvia Earle. Learn more about the submersibles.

What is the bathroom situation onboard the submarines?

There are no bathrooms aboard the Honu submersibles. It is up to each passenger to prepare accordingly and use the bathroom before the dive. In case of an emergency, “Travel John” and “Travel Jane” disposable urinals are available in each submersible.

Is it safe to fly the day before or after my dive?

Fly with complete peace of mind before or after your dive. Unlike with scuba diving, you cannot develop decompression sickness following a dive in one of our submersibles. So, you do not need to wait the typical 24 hours after diving before flying.

Why is this? The pressure inside of each submersible is kept at 1 atmosphere (the same as when you’re at the surface) during the whole dive. This alleviates any high pressure or decompression risks for the passengers. It also allows for flexibility in scheduling a dive as one can dive, then fly with no interval period.

Do you have any other locations outside of French Polynesia?

Not at this time. We are focused on launching in French Polynesia in late 2025. If you represent a business or government that would like to partner with us to bring Honu submarines to other locations, please contact us.

Where do I learn more about the scientific research and conservation work?

Honu is a program of Tetiaroa Society, a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization which has extensive scientific research and conservation programs in French Polynesia. Please visit TetiaroaSociety.org to learn more.

How do I donate or provide other support for your research and conservation?

You may send donations to support Honu through Tetiaroa Society, a U.S. 501(c)(3) organization. Donations by U.S. taxpayers are deductible to the full extent provided under law. If you are interested in supporting the Honu research and conservation program, or any of Tetiaroa Society's other projects, please visit our website to make a donation or to offer other forms of support.

I’m a scientist. Where do I learn more about submitting a research proposal?

Please see our Science page to learn more about submitting a research proposal.

The ocean is very sacred to many people, including Tahitians. Are you operating your business in ways that respect and honor these beliefs?

Yes, we are working closely with Indigenous leaders in Tahiti to operate our business and tours in ways that honor and respect local cultural beliefs. We will share more about our partnerships soon.