Uber is all about providing its passengers with unparalleled service. That’s why they recently launched “quiet mode” to appease riders who don’t want to chat with their drivers. They also aim to surprise passengers on the regular by doing things such as offering a free slice of pizza. But, the ride-sharing company just upped the ante. The company is offering the world’s first rideshare submarine at one of the world's greatest natural wonders, the Great Barrier Reef.
Yes, scUber, as they call it, will allow a limited number of riders to request a ride on a submarine through Australia’s underwater icon. The once-in-a-lifetime experience will be available from May 27 to June 18, starting on Heron Island, off the coast of Gladstone in the Southern Great Barrier Reef region. It will then move north to Quicksilver Cruises’ Agincourt Reef off the coast of Port Douglas in Tropical North Queensland.
The reason for the offering is that Uber partnered with Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef to support the ongoing preservation and sustainable protection of the delicate ecosystem. Plus, travelers really wanted to explore the biodiverse playground beyond scuba diving.
“In late 2018, consumer research identified that exploring the Great Barrier Reef in a submarine was the most desired future travel experience sought by visitors,” said Tourism and Events Queensland’s Chief Executive Officer, Leanne Coddington. “scUber makes this wish a reality and reaffirms Queensland tourism’s commitment to providing locals and visitors alike with truly remarkable ways to explore nature’s wonderland.”
The scUber experience will cost $3,000 AUD ($2,065 USD) for two riders and includes pickup from your location with the Uber app and a return scenic helicopter ride to either Heron Island (for riders requesting from Gladstone) or the Quicksilver Cruises pontoon off the coast of Port Douglas (for riders requesting from Cairns, Port Douglas, and Palm Cove). Of course, there’s a one hour ride in a scUber submarine, and a return trip back to your original pickup address with Uber.
In addition, they’re giving several travelers around the world the chance to win a scUber experience for two as part of a global travel competition.
“At Uber, we believe good things happen when people move—whether that’s by getting people from A to B in their city, or by making dreams come true experiencing the world’s greatest natural wonder, the Great Barrier Reef,” said Susan Anderson, Regional General Manager of Uber, Australia and New Zealand, in a statement. “We’re looking forward to seeing how visitors to the Great Barrier Reef embrace this new form of movement and become advocates of the Reef for years to come.”
