In the most recent evolution of transportation technology, San Francisco based Uber Technologies has launched their latest innovation titled “scUber,” in which users can explore the Great Barrier Reef via the world’s first private submarine ridesharing service. With this new underwater opportunity, travelers visiting Queensland, Australia can now experience an hour-long submarine ride for two, as well as other amenities like scenic helicopter rides for the price of $3,000 AUD (roughly $2,060 USD).
Looking forward beyond the typical mode of automobile transportation, Uber has added marine travel to their ever growing list of creative ridesharing and transportation services, along with UberCopter in France and UberBoat in Croatia and India.
This scUber experience will be offered in Queensland, Australia from May 27 to June 18, 2019 for what Uber describes as a “once-in-a-lifetime experience [that] will provide riders with an unfiltered view of an extraordinary underwater world, rich and diverse in marine life.” Stretching across 2,300 kilometers (or about 1,430 miles), the Reef accounts for 10% of all coral reefs on Earth and is home to a diverse multitude of sea life like whales, sharks, manta rays, and turtles just to name a few. With the international prestige the Great Barrier Reef has, this recent development in aquatic adventures has ushered in an era of increased accessibility for tourists to safely visit the Reef, while also supporting efforts to preserve it.
As climate change continues to pose more threats to the survival of the Reef, the complex ecosystem that it holds is in danger of becoming extinct. Functioning as a source of sanctuary and nourishment for both humans and sea creatures alike, the death of the Great Barrier Reef could greatly impact the local Australian sea life, as well as standing as a precursor image for future extinctions of other natural wonders of the world. Because the Great Barrier Reef is more than just a fun tourist attraction, Uber has made sure that its presence there in Australia is more beneficial than detrimental to its conservation process.
In addition to the funds being generated through scUber users, Uber has donated another $100,000 AUD (about $70,000 USD) to Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef, an organization dedicated entirely to preserving the Reef and creating discourse on sustainability in general. The submarines used in this scUber experience will also be working to gather data for coral reef research on aquatic conservation.
Although scUber is primarily an experience for daring tourists to engage with, its creation is making great strides in maintaining essential parts of our ecosystem that would otherwise be left to fend for itself. Now, users will be able to enjoy their vacations while simultaneously contributing to important research and issues of environmental sustainability through an immersive aquatic adventure.
Images courtesy of: Tourism and Events Queensland
