Have you ever dreamed of exploring the underwater world but didn’t know how to start? And are you ready to explore the mysterious world of submarines? Visit the Europe submarine museum that offers a unique opportunity to dive into the depths and discover the life of submarine officers.
Through this Europe Blog serial, you will discover how to travel with your family, explore Europe and enjoy to the maximum. If you haven’t read other stories from this trip, start here.
Family Activity That Educates or Inspires Your Kids To Do More
If you’re looking for an educational and fun way to spend time with the family, consider visiting a submarine. Submarines are a unique way to experience life underwater, offering insight into the world of a different life that few people get to see.
“It is so important to introduce children to museums because museums open up a world of imagination and exploration. It is even more important to introduce children to museums at a young age because our youth is our future and museums broaden our knowledge of the world.”
— Jennifer Peters, Director of Exhibits and Education, Muncie Children’s Museum —
What Is Life Like As a Submarine Officer?
Instead of writing what is officially written about the life of a submarine officer. I would prefer to share real experiences with you. Read a few comments from honest officers about this mysterious lifestyle.
1st comment
‘People sometimes ask me what I miss about the Navy (and for me that means about submarines), and here’s how I answer:
I miss doing something well, that I was extensively trained to do.
After I was commissioned, I spent a year learning how to operate a nuclear reactor, which included six months of intensive academic instruction at Nuclear Power School and six months of hands on instruction at prototype.
I spent three months at Submarine School learning how the rest of the submarine worked.’
How You Become a Submarine Officer
On my submarine, I spent a year learning how every single system on the ship functioned, literally tracing every pipe and cable run and identifying every valve. Through an intensive eighteen-month mentoring program, I learned how to stand watches in the engine room and control room. During my last year on the sub, standing watch as Officer of the Deck, I was performing a job I had spent four years learning how to do, and I was pretty good at it.
The submarine and crew were a well-oiled machine, and I was the guy running it and keeping it oiled. It was a great feeling – I had the respect of my peers, my superior officers, and the rest of the crew, and I had a huge sense of accomplishment that came from my role in supporting the mission of the ship.
In comparison, everything I have done since has felt a bit like “let’s just sort of make it up as we go along.” Flying by the seat of your pants, and achieving amazing results, is also tremendously satisfying, but I do miss the combination of preparation and accomplishment that was part of my submarine experience.
And there’s something about the small size of submarine crews – about 120 people – that’s really special. Everybody knows everyone else, at a pretty personal level. It’s very tribal. I loved being out and about in a foreign port, and running into shipmates – it felt like a shared familial experience, and we all sort of watched out for one another.
– Dan Del Sobral Former Submariner at United States Navy (USN) (1988–1994) –
2nd comment
The life aboard a submarine varies drastically, depending on where the crewman was in his study/qualification cycle, the type of submarine, the submarine’s mission, and where in the mission the crew was, at the time. I’ll address each one, separately. But, first, some universal truths.
Isolation. Submarines, and submariners, are COMPLETELY isolated from the outside world when underway. The ONLY information they have is whatever the Navy upper echelon wants them to have. This includes news reports. In general, parts of one or more news wires are sent, as part of the normal “broadcast” every submarine receives.
One of the jokes Radiomen like to play on the crew, is to make fake stories and feed them to the crew. I was at sea the day the shuttle Challenger blew-up. We (the crew) were CERTAIN it was a joke, and didn’t believe it was real until the Captain made an announcement. We held a boat-wide moment of silence at that time.
What People Do Not Know About Life on a Submarine
Most civilians don’t understand this, especially those with family and friends serving on other ships. Those ships get regular mail, via aircraft, usually weekly. In fact, right after I got married, my wife thought I had abandoned her, because she didn’t hear from me for eight weeks.
When I wrote that I hadn’t received her letters, she called me a liar, because her sister was married to a Navy man, and HE got mail EVERY WEEK! He was an aircraft mechanic on a carrier. She didn’t believe me until I had her sister-brother-in-law explain that submariners hide for many weeks or months and NOBODY knows where they are!
The environment you need to adapt
Lack of motion. Most of the time, a submarine travels well below any storm motion. Imagine being in a windowless building that is three or four stories, 45 feet wide, and perhaps 450 feet long. It’s perfectly stable, tilts up or down occasionally, and sometimes rocks and rolls.
You work, live, and sleep in this building for several weeks with 120–150 other men (and a few women, now, on less than a dozen subs). Your only privacy is in your bunk, a coffin-shaped aluminum box with a curtain on one side, a thin unsprung mattress, a reading light, and a ventilation outlet. – Timothy Mauch – Former Submarine sonar Chief Petty Officer at United States Navy (USN) (1976–1991)
Book Your Tickets & Audio Guide
When you book your tickets, make sure to ask about any special offers or discounts that are available. You can often get deals for families or groups, so checking before you book is worth checking. When you arrive at the submarine, check out the educational materials available.
There will usually be leaflets or posters that give information about the different species of marine life that you’ll see on board. It’s also a good idea too. I prefer to use an audio guide, especially in a country where you don’t know the language.
My family and I were lucky to visit a submarine while on vacation. It was a fantastic experience, not only because of the excellent underwater boat that went through the war but also because of its educational value. We learned about how submarines are built and how they work. It was an unforgettable experience for all of us, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for something fun and educational to do with their family.
Benefits of Visiting Submarine Museum
Italy
Spain, Italy, Norway, and France are the most famous European submarine tour destinations. Each country offers a unique submarine tour experience with different activities and educational opportunities.
Spain
In Spain, you can take a guided tour of the Mediterranean Sea aboard a real-life submarine, where you can observe fish and other underwater creatures as they go about their daily lives. In Italy, you can take a deep sea dive and explore the wrecks of past ships while learning about marine life and ancient history.
Norway
At close range, you can witness some of Norway’s most remarkable marine life, such as whales, dolphins, seals, sharks, and more.
France
Finally, in France, there are hundreds of sunken vessels to explore and the breathtaking opportunity to feel the atmosphere of a submarine used in a war.
Family Bonding & Memories
No matter which destination you choose for your submarine tour, you will have an unforgettable experience that will stay with your family forever! Not only that, but taking a submarine tour is also a great way to bond with your family over shared experiences that will create lasting memories for years to come!
So if you’re looking for an adventure, why not plan a family visit to Europe and explore the wonders of submarine life?
Interesting Facts about Submarines
Can a shark break a submarine?
The fearless cookie cutters have even disabled the most dangerous ocean creature — the nuclear submarine. They can attack exposed areas like electrical cables, soft spots, and rubber sonar domes. Most of the time, submarines must return to the base to repair the damage.
Can a submarine go under a tsunami?
High tsunamis and/or pressure waves could affect the submarine. Most submarines can be in good shape at a depth of 400 m and take a lot of pressure created by the waves above them as high as 200–400 m, but not more than 1000m.
Do submarines ever hit each other?
‘The submarines HMS Vanguard of the Royal Navy and Le Triomphant of the French Navy collided in the Atlantic Ocean in the night between 3–4 February 2009. Both nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines sustained damage, but no injuries or radioactivity releases were reported.’
Can submarines get WIFI?
Submarines are sometimes equipped with devices that can connect to the internet. Some have higher data rates, but subs can only use it on the surface.
Do you feel waves in a submarine?
It’s the same conditions on the surface and under the water in the submarine because the inside of the submarine is maintained at normal atmospheric conditions. Therefore, your ears will NOT be affected even at the bottom of the ocean.
Can pregnant women go on the submarine?
Yes, it’s perfectly safe for pregnant women to go on a submarine as long as the doctor approves.
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