If you've decided to undertake the impressive task of building your very own homemade submarine, then the first thing you need to do is develop detailed plans. But how do you pick your plans? The first thing you need to do is figure out exactly what type of plans are best suited for your needs.

The Different Submarine Types

The following are the different type of submarines that you can consider building. Each has its own merits and drawbacks, so don't rule any of them out until you've analyzed each type of homemade submarine.

The Wet Submarine - the wet sub is a great submarine for beginners, and for divers who just want a free ticket down to the bottom. Individuals inside a wet submarine still have to wear scuba gear in order to breathe. However, once the submarine is down at the bottom, the individuals can park it and leave the vessel to explore with their own scuba devices.

Semi-Dry Submarine - This sub is just like the name implies - part wet and part dry. Water fills the submarine up to a certain point, usually about at chest level, but a pocket of air is trapped in the top of submarine as it dives. This allows the occupants to talk and breathe. Of course, fresh air must be pumped into the submarine and carbon dioxide scrubbed from the air.

Dry Ambient Submarine - The dry ambient submarine is the next step up from the semi-dry sub. The dry ambient sub is essentially a working submarine just like a full scale model, except the individuals feel the same atmospheric pressure of the surround water, the same way a scuba diver would. The hole that drains the water is moved from chest level down below the feet so that the occupant can stay dry, and more weight is added to help it sink.

One Atmospheric Sub - the one atmospheric submarine, or 1 ATM sub, is the most complex and most commonly undertaken homemade submarine. The one atmospheric sub maintains a constant air pressure as it dives, allowing the submarine to dive to much greater depths than other homemade submarines. Complex 1 ATM subs can reach depths of 350 feet.

These are some common types of homemade submarines. In each case, you will have the option of creating your own plans, gleaning from plans posted on the Internet, or purchasing professionally engineered plans that have been tested. But before you do that, you need to choose the submarine that's right for you. Good luck.