Sometimes you are surfing the internet and run across something so frigging gosh-darn awesome you slap yourself in the head and say “I wish I was doing that!” Well, I wish I was working on projects with Pat Regan at Vulcania Submarine.

Having stumbled across his site, linked from a scubaboard forum, I was amazed. Regan has built his own 1/10 sale WORKING replica of the Nautilus from Disney’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea with Kirk Douglas, James Mason and Peter Lorre. Most people I know would be super satisfied with their own working replica of the coolest submarine EVER — but Regan, no. He’s made replica diving suits and spear guns from the movie and that still isn’t enough — he didn’t just restore a diving helment from the 1954 film he restore and dove a helmet from the film!

It appears Mr. Regan splits his time between California, Hawaii and of course ‘Vulcania’ — the Island where Nemo kept his base. Photos show diving in Hawaii and Nautilus testing in Benicia, CA. He not only shares a chronicle of events and activities dating back to 2003, but even shares plans for his mock-up of the Nemo rifle. How cool!

I love scuba diving. Watching this movie as a kid helped inspire both my love of reading (I remember reading Verne over and over after seeing the film,) diving and photography. This stuff is just awesome. Really, Pat Regan — YOU ROCK.

Vulcania Submarine