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Atlantis Submarines resumes Lahaina Harbor tours

A highlight of the submarine tour off Lahaina is the sunken Carthaginian, a 97-foot steel-hulled vessel that has been transformed into a thriving artificial reef for tropical fish and other marine life. Photo courtesy Atlantis Adventures

Atlantis Submarines Maui has resumed operations from Lahaina Harbor nearly three years after the August 2023 wildfire destroyed the company's submarine, support vessels and harbor facilities. The company announced Monday that it has restarted undersea tours five days a week from Lahaina Harbor, where it has operated since 1991. According to Atlantis, the fire destroyed its 48-passenger submarine, tugboat, offices, maintenance shop, ticket booth and other equipment needed to support daily operations. The company also furloughed its 32 employees following the disaster. "We never had any thought of giving up and have always felt that being able to restart the submarine tours at Lahaina Harbor would be viewed as another sign of hope that life is coming back to this iconic community," Atlantis Submarines Hawaii President and CEO Ronald Williams said in a statement. To resume operations, the company transported a 48-passenger battery-powered submarine from Oahu to Maui. Atlantis said 15 employees have returned to operate the tours, all of whom worked for the company before the wildfire. During the tours, visitors gradually descend to a depth of 130 feet, where they can see natural coral reefs, tropical fish and other marine life with an onboard tour guide inside the submarine. One highlight of the tour is the Carthaginian, a 97-foot steel-hulled floating whaling museum that was a popular tourist attraction until it became too degraded to be safe. In December 2005, the Carthaginian was sunk onto a barren sandy area in 95-feet of water, where it has evolved into an artificial reef. [caption id="attachment_1323055" align="alignnone" width="750"] The Atlantis Submarines Maui tour offers a unique view of tropical fish and marine life that are found off the coastline of Lahaina. Photo courtesy Atlantis Adventures[/caption] Atlantis said it has adjusted its operations to accommodate ongoing harbor reconstruction. The company currently offers three tours daily on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, with Tuesdays and Fridays reserved for recharging the submarine's batteries. Before the wildfire, Atlantis Submarines Maui had operated in Lahaina for more than three decades and carried more than 2.2 million passengers, according to the company. "Lahaina Harbor is a vital economic zone for all of Maui, but especially in West Maui where support for jobs and small businesses are needed for families to stay and thrive on the island," said Williams. "The harbor gives life back to the land and will help allow Lahaina and West Maui to continue growing and gaining strength in the years to come."

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