Lanzarote: Real Submarine Dive with Hotel Pickup

The most unusual thing about this Lanzarote outing is simple: you are not looking through a glass-bottom boat. You are seated inside Sub Fun Tres, a real 106-ton Finnish submarine, traveling down to 30 meters below the sea. Large viewing ports bring fish, rays, barracuda, and old shipwrecks close to your seat.

I like the clear viewing ports and the calm, well-organized setup. I also like that you do not need to swim or even get wet, making this a smart choice for families and anyone who would rather admire the sea from a steady seat. The main drawback is the short one-hour program. Some of your time goes to boarding and leaving the submarine, so the underwater portion can feel over quickly.

At a glance

• 30 meters below the surface: Reach roughly 100 feet underwater while remaining in a cabin kept at normal atmospheric conditions.
• A real submarine: Ride aboard Sub Fun Tres, a 106-ton Finnish vessel built for this type of passenger experience.
• Fish and shipwrecks: Look for several wrecks and marine life such as rays, barracuda, and schools of fish.
• Personal viewing port: Each passenger has a seat beside a 60-centimeter window, plus a TV monitor for another angle.
• Pickup from selected resorts: Transfers are available from Playa Blanca, Costa Teguise, and Puerto del Carmen, depending on the departure.
• Puerto Calero afterward: You receive free time at the marina, though food and drinks are not included.

Why this submarine ride is different

Lanzarote offers plenty of ways to see the Atlantic, but most keep you on top of it. This experience takes you below the surface without asking you to snorkel, scuba dive, or cope with cold water. You simply take your assigned seat, look through the port beside you, and watch the seabed slide past.

That makes the outing appealing to a broad mix of people. A young child who cannot swim can still see the underwater world. An older passenger or someone with limited confidence in the water can enjoy the same setting without entering the sea. One passenger with a mobility issue received help getting on and off, although you should contact the operator directly if you need specific access arrangements.

The submarine cabin is air-conditioned and kept at normal atmospheric conditions. You are not in a wet, cold, or damp setting, and the experience is not intended to feel like a cramped underwater survival exercise. The large windows help, too. You look outward at the ocean rather than spending the hour staring at a tiny porthole.

Still, this is a working enclosed vessel, not an open-air boat. If confined spaces make you uneasy, the thought of being inside a submarine may be more troubling than the actual ride. The normal cabin pressure is reassuring, but it does not remove the enclosed feeling for everyone.

Reaching Puerto Calero by hotel pickup

The trip begins with a transfer to Puerto Calero Marina if your accommodation is in one of the covered resort areas. Pickup is offered for the 13:00 departure from Playa Blanca. From Costa Teguise and Puerto del Carmen, pickup is offered for the 12:00 departure. The operator arranges the exact meeting point and time by email after you provide your hotel name.

This detail matters because Puerto Calero is not equally convenient from every part of Lanzarote. A transfer saves you from arranging a taxi or working out local transport, and the air-conditioned coach makes the outing easier to fit into a family holiday schedule. The pickup service is not available outside the stated areas, so do not assume any Lanzarote hotel is covered.

The operator also offers as many as seven submarine departures per day, six days a week, though the available times depend on the date. Check the schedule before building your day around the activity. Pickup times are tied to particular departures, not freely chosen.

Give yourself enough time to reach the marina, check in, and board. The excursion is advertised as one hour including boarding and disembarking. If you are hoping to combine it with a long lunch, shopping, or another timed attraction, allow extra breathing room rather than treating the one-hour figure as one uninterrupted hour beneath the sea.

Boarding Sub Fun Tres

At the marina, you board Sub Fun Tres and receive a personal seat in the spacious cabin. The seating arrangement places you beside a 60-centimeter viewing port, about two feet across. That is a useful size for underwater viewing, especially when fish pass close to the submarine.

The cabin also has a TV monitor at each viewing port. This gives you another angle when the animal or wreck is not perfectly lined up with your window. A digital display provides continuous information about the submarine, while an audio guide explains the sights and the vehicle’s progress.

Audio commentary is available in Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, and Spanish. This is more than a small convenience. Underwater scenes can pass quickly, and clear explanations help you understand what you are seeing instead of simply watching a blue blur outside the glass.

The staff are part of the experience. The strongest reports describe friendly attendants, efficient service, and a relaxed boarding process. The guide’s explanations cover both marine life and the shipwrecks, with a touch of humor according to the experience provided by the crew. Specific guide names are not supplied, so you should not expect a named private guide assigned to your group.

Descending to 30 meters

Once the submarine leaves the surface, it reaches a maximum depth of about 30 meters, or 100 feet. That is deep enough to give you a real sense of entering another world, while the cabin remains dry and at normal atmospheric conditions.

The best part is the changing view through the window. You might see fish moving alongside the hull, rays passing over the seabed, or a barracuda among the other marine life. The exact sightings naturally depend on sea conditions and the animals in the area on that day, so no one can promise a particular species.

The wrecks are the other main attraction. Several passenger accounts describe seeing three shipwrecks, while the supplied information specifically highlights wrecks resting on the ocean floor. Their eerie shapes give the hour a focal point. Instead of looking only at open water, you have recognizable objects to study, with the audio commentary adding context.

Clear water makes a big difference here. In good conditions, you can see the outlines of the wrecks and watch fish swim around the submarine. The windows do the main work, but the monitor can help when the view outside your port is not the best one.

Do not expect a coral reef packed with color at every moment. This is a submarine observation ride in Lanzarote’s coastal waters, not a guaranteed wildlife encounter. The appeal comes from the combination of depth, wrecks, fish, and the unusual vessel itself. The experience remains worthwhile even during quieter stretches because the submarine is the attraction.

What the one-hour schedule feels like

The full hour includes boarding, the underwater portion, and disembarking. That is efficient, but it also explains the one recurring reservation: the experience may feel too short for the price if you want a long, leisurely look at every wreck.

Once seated, you should have time to watch the descent, take in the seabed, listen to the commentary, and search the water around your port. The activity is not a full-day excursion, which is useful when you want to leave room for Lanzarote’s volcanic sights, beaches, or a relaxed afternoon at your resort.

The schedule can work especially well for families. Children can stay focused on the windows and screens without committing to a long boat trip. Several families found the outing a highlight of their holiday, including one with a 13-year-old who especially enjoyed the wrecks and fish.

After the submarine ride, free time at Puerto Calero Marina is included. This gives you a chance to look around the waterfront before returning to your hotel. Food and drinks are not included, and one practical complaint was that the available time could feel tight for eating before or after the ride. If lunch matters to you, check the timing carefully and plan ahead.

Comfort, safety, and who can take part

The cabin is air-conditioned and maintained at normal atmospheric conditions. The supplied information says pregnant women and people with heart conditions or ear problems will not be affected by the cabin conditions. Even so, you should seek medical advice for your own situation if you have a health concern, and speak with the operator before booking if you are unsure.

Children under two cannot join because of the safety equipment carried onboard. Older children are welcome, and the family-friendly format does not require swimming ability. One account specifically described the outing as suitable for someone who cannot swim, which is an important distinction from snorkeling or boat trips that expect you to enter the water.

Boarding involves getting onto a submarine at the marina and later getting off again. Staff can assist passengers who need help, but no detailed accessibility specifications are supplied. If you use a wheelchair, have difficulty with steps, or need extra boarding support, ask Submarine Safaris SL before paying.

The air-conditioned cabin is a plus in Lanzarote’s warm climate. You do not need specialist clothing or equipment, and the activity includes the submarine ride itself plus an audio guide. Bring your usual holiday essentials, but do not expect food, drinks, or a full meal to be part of the package.

Is $74 a fair price?

At $74 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend an hour in Lanzarote. You are paying for a specialized vessel, trained crew, safety systems, reserved seating, commentary in several languages, hotel transfer in selected areas, and an experience that is difficult to copy with a standard boat trip.

I see the price as fair if the idea of a real submarine is central to your holiday. A glass-bottom boat may cost less, but it does not take you 30 meters below the water. A snorkeling trip may offer more freedom and more time in the sea, but it requires swimming ability and favorable conditions. This excursion trades active participation for comfort and an unusual viewpoint.

The value improves if you use the hotel transfer. Transport from Playa Blanca, Costa Teguise, or Puerto del Carmen removes a separate cost and simplifies the day. The included certificate is a small souvenir rather than a major financial benefit, but children often appreciate having a personalized record of the experience.

The value is weaker if you want a long wildlife session or a full half-day outing. The one-hour format is compact, and some of your time is spent getting aboard and leaving. Think of it as a memorable holiday activity, not a full marine expedition.

Best reasons to book it

I would choose this outing for a family looking for something different from beaches and volcanoes. It gives children a clear goal, the wrecks provide something specific to watch for, and the cabin avoids the usual complaints about getting wet, cold, or seasick on an open boat.

It also suits adults who enjoy unusual transport and want to see the Atlantic without swimming. The normal cabin conditions and personal viewing ports make it far less demanding than a water-sports activity.

The strongest features are:

• The submarine itself: A 106-ton Finnish vessel makes the ride memorable before you even see a fish.
• The wrecks: They add shape and atmosphere to the seabed and help hold your attention during the hour.
• The crew and commentary: Friendly service and multilingual audio make the trip easier to follow.
• The transport: Hotel pickup is useful if you are staying in one of the three covered resort areas.
• The certificate: A simple but pleasant keepsake, especially for children.

I would hesitate if you dislike enclosed spaces, need a long meal break around every activity, or expect guaranteed sightings of large marine animals. I would also check the schedule closely if you are staying outside Playa Blanca, Costa Teguise, or Puerto del Carmen, since the included transfer may not apply.

What to know before you reserve

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund, and a reserve-now, pay-later option is available. That is useful when your Lanzarote plans depend on weather or family schedules.

Send the provider your hotel name so the pickup can be arranged. You will receive the exact pickup point and time by email from Submarine Safaris. Do not wait until the last minute to check that message, especially if you are staying at a large resort with several possible meeting points.

The provider is Submarine Safaris SL. The vessel included is Sub Fun Tres. The activity operates six days a week, with up to seven departures a day, but the times shown for your date are the ones that matter.

Bring a little patience for the boarding process and a realistic view of the hour. The submarine ride is not a fast thrill attraction. Its pleasure comes from sitting quietly, watching the seabed, and realizing that fish and wrecks are passing outside your window while you remain completely dry.

Should you book the Lanzarote submarine ride?

Book it if you want a genuinely unusual hour, especially if your group includes children, non-swimmers, or anyone who prefers a dry and steady way to see marine life. The shipwrecks, clear water, multilingual commentary, and helpful transport create a well-rounded outing for the $74 price.

Skip it if your priority is extended time in the water, a long meal stop, or a guaranteed list of species. For most people, the submarine and the wrecks are the reason to go. Treat it as a distinctive short attraction at Puerto Calero, not as a full-day sea adventure, and you are more likely to feel the cost was worthwhile.

FAQ

How long does the submarine activity last?

The activity lasts one hour, including boarding and disembarking. Check the available starting times for your chosen date.

How deep does the submarine go?

Sub Fun Tres travels to a maximum depth of about 30 meters, or 100 feet.

What might I see underwater?

You can look for a variety of fish and other marine life, including rays and barracuda. The route also includes views of shipwrecks on the ocean floor.

Is hotel pickup included?

Pickup is available from Playa Blanca for the 13:00 departure, and from Costa Teguise and Puerto del Carmen for the 12:00 departure. The available pickup areas and times are limited.

What must I do to arrange hotel pickup?

Send the activity provider your hotel name. Submarine Safaris will then email you the pickup point and time.

Is the submarine suitable for children?

Children under two years old cannot take part because of the safety equipment onboard. Older children can join the activity.

What languages are available for the audio guide?

The audio guide is available in Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, and Spanish.