SEAmagine Hydrospace Corporation has entranced its customers with innovative, industry-leading submarines and submersibles that are out of this world. And now, with demand higher than ever, the company has adapted its designs to meet the increasing desire for bigger, bolder vessels. Co-Founder & Chairman Charles Kohnen shared insights into SEAmagine's innovative projects, discussed a pioneering marine research mission and more in this in-depth interview. Report by Imogen Ward.
The phenomena of submersibles continues to intrigue the world, drawing people in with the promise of revealing the hidden wonders of the deep blue sea.
SEAmagine Hydrospace Corporation
i s one of the top companies delivering on that promise, having already performed over 13,500 dives to date (more than all its competitors combined). The last 12 months have solidified this reputation, with SEAmagine introducing several new submersibles to the market.
“This past year, we have completed some great projects, and delivered the innovation that we are renowned for,” explained Co-Founder & Chairman Charles Kohnen. “There is an increasing demand, from both the scientific and the
leisure sectors for submersibles with a greater capacity, and we worked hard to make that possible.”
Exploring SEAmagine
SEAmagine was established in 1995 and has spent the last 29 years building an impeccable reputation for reliability, ingenuity and safety. Whether for leisure, tourism, scientific research, or search and recovery, the capabilities of SEAmagine’s submersibles are truly diverse.
The figures speak for themselves –some of SEAmagine’s clients have performed over 3,000 dives without lost time or technical faults. Whether small, large, shallow- or deep-ocean models, SEAmagine has developed a pioneering portfolio of world-class submersibles that
“The world has an innate fascination with the unknown, and we give professionals and the public the means to explore it”
everyone can enjoy. Additionally, each one can be semi-customized to accommodate the varying needs of clients quickly and efficiently.
The smallest option, Ocean Pearl – ideal for subsea or Coast Guard efforts – is a small but mighty two-person submersible. Capable of operating to a depth rating of between 100m-380m, the Ocean Pearl has an extremely low draft and rapid deployment.
On the other end of the scale, calling to the leisure and tourism industry, SEAmagine’s Aurora line, which offers a variety of sizes (accommodating three to nine passengers). Each model is renowned for its large spherical window, which helps ensure people enjoy the ultimate underwater experience.
SEAmagine designed the Aurora to easily reconfigure for unique depth and passenger requirements, which is one more way the company adapts to clients’ needs.
Underwater discovery
This year, the company completed yet another configuration of its Aurora offering, adapting an Aurora-90 model to seat five people.
“We have received a lot of requests for a higher capacity as underwater excursions become increasingly popular,” said Mr. Kohnen. “In response to that, we adapted the Aurora-90, adding a much bigger viewing sphere. ”
The company completed sea trials on this submersible in February of this year.
Another exciting development saw SEAmagine adapt its Aurora-80 for a large international marine research group. The spacious vessel – designed to carry three people to a depth of 1,300m – will be used for a five-year global marine exploration expedition focused on environmental assessment for protected marine preserves.
“Starting in the Pacific, the group will identify areas of interest for marine
preservation,” explained Mr. Kohnen. “Aiding them will be our fully equipped submersible, outfitted with a custom 8k pan and tilt camera, Schilling Orion manipulator, custom collection tray and equipment, and an eDNA (environmental DNA) sampling system.”
This is not the first time a SEAmagine submersible has been used for scientific research. In fact, this is a regular occurrence for the underwater expert. SEAmagine has even had the privilege of aiding scientific discoveries.
“Our clients have discovered new species using our equipment. One notable discovery was the first-ever sighting of a Prickly shark in French Polynesia, marking a significant scientific milestone for the region –it was like finding a zebra in Alaska,” commented Mr. Kohnen. “So, we are helping a large pool of clients drive their missions in research and discovery.
“On the flipside, we are seeing more clients from tourism and yachting using our submersibles for citizen science as well.”
Submersing together
Of course, these achievements would not have been possible without the continued loyalty of SEAmagine’s supply chain. Over the years, the company has established a resilient network of key suppliers – a large majority of which are locally based in California alongside SEAmagine.
“They have been working with us for many years and they have really become a part of our team,” said Mr. Kohnen. “On top of that, most of our production is done within an hour of the Los Angeles Basin, so we are very privileged to have such a strong and extensive manufacturing capability so close to our office. Without this amazing talent nearby, we could not be as flexible. ”
The company has worked diligently to develop these long-standing relationships with its suppliers – creating partnerships based on trust as it sought to develop the very best submersibles that exemplify a shared dedication to innovation, quality, and safety.
“There’s a lot more involved in the construction of a submersible than there is to a regular boat,” continued Mr. Kohnen. “There are so many important rules and regulations that we meet, and we can achieve that with the help of our suppliers.
“We are so grateful to every one of them. Blanson Ltd, who manufactures all our acrylic windows, has been a very helpful and strategic player. Innerspace Corporation has been instrumental, producing all our propulsion motors, as have JLP Manufacturing and JB Machine that have been helping us for many years with the machining and metal fabrication of custom parts and assemblies.”
Additionally, the company’s proximity to the Pacific Coast is hugely beneficial. SEAmagine can complete sea trials quickly and efficiently without having to leave the local area.
As the company looks to the future, Mr. Kohnen is confident that SEAmagine will have a prominent place for years to come: “There’s a long discussion to be had regarding the industry’s transition to unmanned vehicles. However, SEAmagine firmly believes that its technology will continue to play a vital role in the exploration, understanding, and stewardship of our oceans in the future.
“As we focus on the future, we intend to continue developing submersibles with expanded capabilities. The world has an innate fascination with the unknown, and we give professionals and the public the means to explore it.” n
