Will Smith dives in Florida-built Triton submarine for documentary series about Earth

Recently, a good friend of mine suggested I watch Welcome to Earth on Disney Plus. The six-episode docuseries co-produced and hosted by actor Will Smith features an incredible and imaginative examination of our planet through many of our senses.

If you haven't yet seen it, it's worth the watch. And, as is often the case, what I found most fascinating about the series took place deep beneath the surface of the ocean.

Smith may be the superstar of the series, but in Episode 2 — Descent Into Darkness — his co-star is what captivated my attention. He, researcher Diva Amon and a pilot gently glide 3,300 feet deep along the edge of the Continental Shelf east of the Bahamas in a submersible built by Triton Submarines in Sebastian.

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Ring of Fire: Expedition explores Ring of Fire, World War II wrecks in Triton sub made in Sebastian

Make mine a Triton

When my youngest son was about 10, he used to play an automobile racing game on his PS4. In it, he amassed a crazy collection of the world's fastest and most luxurious automobiles.

He always would ask me, "Dad, if you could have any of these cars, and money was no object, which one would you want?"

Well, if money is no object ... the Bugatti Chiron, of course. I wouldn't mind zipping around in a $3 million car at a crisp 200 mph, not that anyone can drive on any road in Florida at that speed.

I wouldn't want a Gulfstream personal jet or expensive piece of rare jewelry. I might be interested in a custom 70-foot Jim Smith sportfishing boat, but not a Lurssen or Feadship megayacht.

One thing I would definitely want, however — again, if money was no object — is my very own Triton sub. I wouldn't be greedy, either. The three-seater that can descend to 3,000 feet would suffice.

The Unsung Star?

Watching Smith make his first descent into the deep blue yonder was fun. The way the segments were shot, the director did an amazing job of making the viewer feel as if you are in the acrylic bubble along for the ride.

Smith is clearly uncomfortable. You can tell he is used to having the safety net of protection from real stunts offered to a billion-dollar box office draw motion picture actor of his stature. He knows if something goes wrong, he could wind up fish food on the bottom of the ocean.

Smith seems to thoroughly enjoy his trip to a part of the planet where fewer people have visited than outer space. He even quips at one point, "I'm going to have to use one of these in a movie one day."

I hope.

Anyone who is half the fan I am of ocean-based nature shows will instantly recognize the true star of the episode: the sub. Since Triton began manufacturing its subs in Indian River County in 2007, the company has been a supporting actor in dozens of projects on television and in movies including:

• "Blue Planet" (2001-17)

• "Planet Earth" (2006-16)

• "Hunt for the Giant Squid" (2014)

• "Expedition: Deep Planet" (2020)

"Hunt for the Giant Squid" was one of my favorite oceanographic exploration shows. You may remember, the premise was to find a giant squid in the open sea off the coast of Japan and film one for the very first time alive in its natural habitat.

Three scientists "competed" for the chance to record the discovery by suggesting three different methods to capture the animal on film. The winner — spoiler alert — was the Treasure Coast's very own Edie Widder, CEO and founder of Ocean Research & Conservation Association in Vero Beach.

Widder, knowing the squid spends its entire life in the realm where sunlight doesn't penetrate the depths of the ocean, employed the use of a bioluminescent lure to draw in a giant squid. As if to rub it in, she repeated the discovery in the Gulf of Mexico' seven years later.

Megayacht Row

The Palm Beach Boat Show will be attended by Triton Submarines. The submersible company designs 20 models of submarines in four categories: leisure, commercial, professional and ultra-deep. The latter class can reach the absolute deepest spots of the seven seas, as proven by Dallas investor and explorer Victor Vescovo in 2019.

Triton just splashed an innovative model of submersible. The Triton 1650/7 is configurable for five to seven passengers. I should probably mention that these sleek, technologically advanced machines come with a matching price tag, which is understandable. What's that saying about if you have to ask the price, you probably cannot afford it.

Adjacent to Flagler Drive is Megayacht Row, where scores of pleasure craft are moored in marinas on Lake Worth Lagoon minutes from Palm Beach Inlet and one of the highest concentrations of wealth in America: Palm Beach island.

Palm Beach County boasts one of the largest groupings of these boats. There are 159 vessels registered in the county longer than 65 feet in length, according to 2021 Florida Department of Highway and Motor Vehicles data. Over 20 are longer than 110 feet.

Some people undoubtedly will realize the one accessory missing from their yacht is a recreational submarine to offer their guests.

On an outdoors columnist's salary, I know I won't ever be in the market to buy a submarine, but who knows, maybe one day I'll be a guest on a yacht with one at its disposal. A guy can dream, can't he?

Palm Beach Boat Show

• When: March 24-27

• Where: Along Flagler Drive in downtown West Palm Beach between 2nd Street and Trinity Place

• Admission: Starting at $29

• Information: pbboatshow.com.

Ed Killer is TCPalm's outdoors writer. Sign up for his and other weekly newsletters at profile.tcpalm.com/newsletters/manage. Friend Ed on Facebook at Ed Killer, follow him on Twitter @tcpalmekiller or email him at ed.killer@tcpalm.com.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Will Smith dives in Florida-built submarine in Welcome to Earth series