Sub Sea Systems, Inc. (SSS), a company specialising in immersive, memorable and hands-on aquatic encounters that educate through entertainment, has shared details of the technology driving the world’s first underwater theme park ride, Aquaticar: Legend of the Glowing Guardian at Aquarabia, Qiddiya City.
On this ride, visitors descend nine feet into a lost underwater city, where they encounter mythical creatures, dynamic effects, and immersive storytelling with special sensors that trigger audio-visual surprises for an unforgettable adventure.
Manufactured by SSS, Aquaticar: Legend of the Glowing Guardian features a patented ride system with vehicles that are powered entirely by air.
Patented Bubble Engine
This installation at Aquarabia Qiddiya City marks the debut of Aquaticar, which brings the storytelling of theme park adventure rides to the waterpark environment. Just 40 minutes from Riyadh, Aquarabia is set to be the largest water theme park in the Middle East at 25 hectares, with 22 rides and experiences.
Aquaticar vehicles are powered by the patented Bubble Engine, which uses the uplift force from rising bubbles to turn a rotor and propel the vehicle forward.
As the car drives along the track, mechanical triggers release air beneath it, replenishing the breathing air in the passenger cabin and fuelling the engine.
The Aquarabia installation features 17 ride vehicles, which accommodate two passengers each. From mid-chest up, passengers are enclosed in the dry cabin. The rest of their body is in the water, immersed in the environment.
The Aquaticar system is equipped with a wide range of safety features. All passengers attend a safety briefing video presentation before their ride, and each car includes an on-board CCTV camera, monitored by staff in the ride control room, two-way communication, and an onboard Emergency Lift System (ELS) which inflates air bags to lift vehicles to the surface in case of an emergency.
The system as a whole features four levels of redundancy emergency air supply, including an onboard air cylinder that can be engaged by staff.
A sloped entry takes the cars down into the magical underwater world, complete with narration, music, and fantastical visuals. As the car travels through bubble 'curtrains', new scenes are revealed with extensive underwater theming. Most of the ride is located under a rockwork cover, which creates a dark-ride-like environment with unique lighting and visuals.
Special effects, music or narration are engaged using a shark fin antenna attached to each ride vehicle. This extends above the surface of the water and triggers the sensors. Finally, a conveyor returns cars to the surface at the end of the five-minute ride.
SSS recently announced the launch of Sub Sea Creative. This newly formed division focuses on conceptual design services for underwater theming and water-related immersive experiences.
