Million-dollar underwater view

Inventor Hugh Fulton in his $1 million Q-Sub at the boat show yesterday. Photo / Greg Bowker

Boaties with a spare $1 million have something new to spend their money on - a recreational submarine which can dive to 120m.

The Q-Sub, invented by Aucklander Hugh Fulton, was launched at the New Zealand Boat Show in Auckland yesterday.

The 3.5-tonne steel submarine has room for a pilot and passenger, can travel up to 20 knots (35km/h) on the surface, dive to 120m and has large windows for underwater viewing, says boat show spokesman, Mike Rose.

It was designed to reduced seasickness and was easy to drive, Mr Rose said.

It has a computer to control its 11 electric motors and two 150hp surface engines, and can stay underwater for 72 hours.