Richard Branson Unveils Necker Nymph Submarine for Virgin Oceanic

Billionaire businessman and adventurer Richard Branson has unveiled his latest venture, a personal submarine to explore the greatest depths of the oceans. The submarine dubbed the Necker Nymph, will be piloted by Chris Welsh, and eventually Branson himself, as they use the vehicle to explore the ocean’s deepest trenches and set some records along the way.

Branson, one of the wealthiest men in the world, is the founder of Virgin Atlantic Airlines, Virgin Records, Virgin America Airlines, and recently as part of his ventures into commercializing space travel, Virgin Galactic. Branson himself has taken part in several attempts to circle the world in a balloon. This latest venture Virgin Oceanic, will almost certainly lead to eventual commercialization of deep sea travel/exploration.

The Necker Nymph was designed by Graham Hawkes who, along with pilot Chris Welsh, is one of Branson’s partners in the project.The first deep dive is slated for later this year when Welsh will take the Necker Nymph to the bottom of the Pacific in the Mariana Trench.