The ''Necker Nymph'' is a

submersible A submersible is an underwater vehicle which needs to be transported and supported by a larger ship, watercraft or dock, platform. This distinguishes submersibles from submarines, which are self-supporting and capable of prolonged independent ope ...

vehicle operated by Virgin Aquatic from the 32-metre yacht '' Necker Belle'', which is based at the Virgin Limited Edition resort Necker Island in the

British Virgin Islands The British Virgin Islands (BVI), officially the Virgin Islands, are a British Overseas Territories, British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean, to the east of Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands, US Virgin Islands and north-west ...

. The ''Necker Nymph'' is the initial example of the DeepFlight Merlin class of positively-buoyant open-cockpit

wet sub A wet sub is a type of underwater vehicle, either a submarine or a submersible, that does not provide a dry environment for its occupants. It is also described as an underwater vehicle where occupants are exposed to ambient environment during oper ...

s manufactured by Hawkes Ocean Technologies. It relies on hydrodynamic forces for anti-lift force. It is 4.5 metres long, capable of 360-degree "hydrobatic" manoeuvres, can dive up to 40 metres underwater, and seats one pilot and two passengers in an open cockpit (necessitating wearing scuba gear).Forbes.com, , Katie Evans, ''16 June 2010'' (accessed 25 July 2010) Occupants have a "windscreen" to protect them from the water's slipstream.

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* Virgin Limited Edition Personal submarines Wet subs Individual watercraft {{Submarine-stub