Monaco Yacht Show displays expensive toys and gadgets for superyacht owners

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DeepFlight is unveiling the latest generation of its personal submarine, which has an operating depth of 400ft
Built to order at £500,000 ($770,000), the Marine Edition Mono can be customised to match a superyacht’s colour
Texas-based FunAir’s adjustable yacht slide reaches a height of 15ft and retails for just under $7,000 (£4,500)

Published: 03:11 EST, 23 September 2015 | Updated: 04:30 EST, 24 September 2015

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While the stars will be multimillion-pound superyachts with helipads and swimming pools, this year’s Monaco Yacht Show features the ultimate must-have gadgets and toys for billionaire owners.

With 500 exhibitors in attendance and plenty of cash on hand at the industry’s most prestigious event, there are plenty of new accessories to keep owners and their guests entertained.

They can splash on submarines that allow for underwater exploration, inflatable slides and a £500,000 nautical-themed sports car that comes with a container built just for superyachts and the conditions at sea.

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DeepFlight is unveiling the latest generation of its Dragon personal submarine at this year's Monaco Yacht Show

The $1.5million (£975,000) Dragon has fixed positive buoyancy, meaning it will always naturally float back to the surface

With an operating depth of 400ft, the two-person sub is so easy to use that users can safely pilot one without lengthy training

Most superyachts have an assortment of water sports gear – from diving equipment to kayaks – but only a select few are carrying submersibles.

One of the most popular models is the Dragon by DeepFlight, which is unveiling the latest generation this week.

With an operating depth of 400ft, the two-person, electric submarine is so easy to use, according to DeepFlight, that users can safely pilot one without lengthy training.

Billed as the most compact and lightweight submarine on the market, the $1.5million (£975,000) Dragon has fixed positive buoyancy, meaning it will always naturally float back to the surface.

The 16.5-ft long submersible can fit into existing superyacht garages or deck areas, launches easily from a vessel or shore, and has a battery that allows for up to six hours of diving on one charge.

It is the first DeepFlight craft that has the ability to hover, and has a payload of 507lbs and air weight of just under 4,000lbs.

Graham Hawkes, founder and chief technology officer at DeepFlight, said: ‘The big leap forward with our newest model, the Dragon, is its ease of operation.

‘Whether you are a superyacht owner or a resort guest, there is no need for a specially trained pilot. You can take the controls and explore under the waves.’

A Bell 429 helicopter is perched on the helipad on board the Voyager superyacht at the Monaco Yacht Show in historic Port Hercule

The Bell 429 is a popular choice for owners thanks to its speed and spacious seating area that can accommodate seven passengers

Voyager, 61.26m (201ft) expedition yacht, is being displayed at the Monaco Yacht Show with a helicopter on its helipad

While personal submarines offer a wow factor, the ultimate accessory is a private helicopter that whisks owners and their guests from the airport to their superyacht, allowing them to bypass a long drive to a marina or tailbacks.

When Monaco Yacht Show visitors check out the superyacht Voyager, from Ocean Independence, they will notice a Bell 429 helicopter on board.

That model, manufactured by Bell Helicopter, is a popular choice for yacht owners thanks to its speed (150 knots, 172mph), spacious seating area that can accommodate seven passengers plus a pilot, and the ability to reconfigure the interior.

But it's a pricey investment for any owner, as the Bell 429 is priced from $6.3million (£4.1million).

Benjamin Maltby, of MatrixLloyd, a leading authority on superyacht deals, told MailOnline Travel: ‘The most impressive toy has to be a helicopter – especially if it has its own hangar and on-board refuelling facilities.

‘Helicopters are monstrously expensive to buy, maintain and operate, and they need their own pilot, who also needs accommodation, food, plus a handsome salary.’

At £500,000, the Marine Edition Mono has special parts that allow it to be lifted on and off a superyacht using a crane

Built to order at £500,000 ($770,000), the Marine Edition Mono can be customised to match a superyacht’s colour scheme

Liverpool-based Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) has designed one of the most exclusive must-haves – a seaworthy version of its ultra-high-performance Mono sports car – but it doesn’t come cheap.

Built to order at £500,000 ($770,000), the Marine Edition Mono can be customised to match a superyacht’s colour scheme, and comes with a climate-controlled container that protects it from the elements when it is stowed on board a vessel as it sails to exotic destinations.

Weighing just under 1,300lbs, the single-seat car has anti-corrosive components and a special coating to protect it from rusting while at sea while it is transported, and has special parts that allow it to be lifted on and off a superyacht using a crane, said BAC, which has partnered with yacht brokerage firm Camper & Nicholsons International.

When it’s on the road, the car has a top speed of 170mph and the ability to go 0-60mph in less than three seconds, and the original holds the current Top Gear lap record for a production car, with a time of 1:14.3.

Texas-based FunAir offers giant inflatable slides that allow superyacht passengers to slide from the top deck to the sea

FunAir is a sponsor of the Monaco Yacht Show's captain and crew lounge, where it is launching its floating island

For those who are looking to make a splash, they can outfit their superyachts with giant inflatable slides that allow thrillseekers to zip from the top deck to the surface of the sea.

FunAir’s adjustable yacht slide reaches a height of 15ft and retails for just under $7,000 (£4,500).

It hooks over the main deck railing or second-storey dock and fits railing heights as high as 18ft from the surface of the water.

At this year’s Monaco Yacht Show, the Texas-based company is a sponsor of the captain and crew lounge, where it is launching its floating island, which sells for just under $10,000 (£6,500) or fully configured with six removable sun loungers for just under $16,000 (£10,400).

It allows at least three occupants to float comfortably on the ocean as they sit in ergonomically-designed chaise loungers, which can be removed and used on the beach.

The inflatable island also comes with side tables and a dipping pool, and docks for personal watercraft.