TJ

Jeff

Underwater 'flying machine'

Mr Hawkes said that, unlike other submersibles, his deep sea craft could actually "fly underwater".

"Normal submersibles have ballast systems and are nothing more than sinkers. They just treat the ocean as a vertical elevator and they typically work on the bottom on a small footprint.

"This one, instead of being a crab you drop to the bottom, is like a dolphin. It will fly off and move through the ocean with grace. It looks like a big animal moving and can do barrel rolls with whales," explained Mr Hawkes.

The Super Falcon is the culmination of 20 years of work and four generations of experimental prototype winged submersibles.

The cost of going where few have gone before ranges from $5,000 (£3,300) to $15,000 (£9,900).

Expanding Earth