What do counter-terrorism operatives do in their spare time? If we’re talking about Scott Cassell, he builds submarines out of spare and recycled parts.
The US explorer recently completed construction of a 1.5 ton vessel he named The Great White.
The submarine launched off the coast of Tioman Island in Malaysia and can reach depths up to 500 feet.
Scott Cassell spent years building the submarine with help from his close friend and engineer Scott Read.
The homemade recycled parts submarine features three external cameras and offers 72-hour life-support while running solely on electricity.
Scott decided to make the submarine mostly out of spare parts after he discovered a rusting Kittredge K-250 submersible discarded in a California back garden in 2007.
The recycled submarine isn’t just a passion project; it is being used to teach people the values of protecting the ocean through Cassell’s company Undersea Voyage Project.
So how much does it cost to build a submarine out of mostly recycled parts? Scott spent about $45,000.
The submarine is 14.2 feet long and passed its maiden voyage with no problems.
So what’s next for Scott Cassell? He plans to raise more awareness about the coral triangle which encapsulates waters in Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor Leste.
Scott is worried about over-fishing and great white shark hunting in the area and hopes to draw more awareness to the plight of coral reefs.
Here’s a video of Cassell taking his homemade submarine out for a spin:
Forgetting about his company’s mission for a moment, would you feel safe enough to be submerged in a submarine made from recycled parts?
