BoldMove has revealed its latest project: the beautiful reimagining of Expédition Nautibus, an exceptional underwater experience.
The ride takes place at The Grand Aquarium de Saint-Malo, unique in the world.
After an extensive refurbishment and retheming, the submarine adventure now offers visitors a more complete immersive experience, blending state-of-the-art technology with captivating storytelling.
By merging two attractions, The Abyssal Descender and Nautibus, Expédition Nautibus now offers a unified and immersive journey with a compelling storyline.
BoldMove creates a transformed experience
The BoldMove team led the transformation, introducing a brand-new storyline, immersive theming, and a totally re-engineered ride system, which had become obsolete.
The queue line and preshow areas have been entirely redesigned, setting the stage for an unforgettable journey into the mysterious depths of the ocean. The submarine vehicles have undergone a full technical overhaul, including complete rewiring and new automation systems with electrical cabinets.
It results in a highly improved dark ride, synchronising all components into a breath taking underwater experience. Visitors board the submarine vehicles and pass through different scenes in the water that they can enjoy through the window.
Sustainability at the core
BoldMove has sustainability as a core value. During the design process the team prioritised sustainability by repurposing existing elements. Every piece in the tank was carefully recuperated, refurbished, and reinstalled. Furniture was being re-used, including old radios and even plants from the tank. While adding new elements to enhance the experience – such as rocks, crates, columns, and frames. We also introduced a real hydroponic farm in the preshow.
Additionally, we refurbished the old submarines rather than replaced, extending their lifespan and reducing waste. This approach allowed the creation of a fresh and exciting experience in an environmentally friendly and responsible way.
Seamlessly integrating theming design and production
This ambitious renovation merged two previous attractions, Nautibus and Abyssal Descender, into a unified new experience. To achieve this, the entire queue line oversaw a strategically redesign to enhance the narrative and seamlessly connect both attractions.
Starting with a compelling storyline, the design team developed concept drawings and carefully selected materials, colours, and props for the detailed design to bring each room to life with precision and authenticity. Every element was meticulously crafted to ensure a high-quality, visually stunning result.
An Engineering Marvel
The technical renovation has completely modernized the electrical and automation systems, ensuring compliance with EN13814 standards. The integration of cutting-edge components not only improves the reliability of the attraction but also facilitates future maintenance.
The technical team managed the entire documentation, installed the new components, programmed and tested the automation systems, and choreographed the vehicle movements in alignment with the scenography. This extensive work led to the TÜV certification, guaranteeing an optimized control system for better attraction management.
“Three months was a real challenge! Especially in terms of sourcing materials – we had to coordinate with multiple suppliers,” said Sébastien Challard, Development Engineer.
“It was a true technical and logistical effort! I’m very proud to have orchestrated this aquatic ballet of submarines to create a sense of wonder for visitors!”
Legendary underwater journey
The adventure begins at Dr. Jean Kermalo’s historic family home, La Malouinière. Guests descend into the Emeraude submarine base, located 300 meters below sea level. The Emeraude submarine base boasts a distinctive retro-futuristic aesthetic, inspired by classic marine explorations.
Visitors will explore The Bridge, Living Spaces, and the Hangar, each designed to immerse them deeper into the world of deep-sea exploration. Here they board the Nautibus for an extraordinary deep-sea expedition. The journey leads through mystical caves, ancient ruins, and the legendary sunken city of Mor-Lenn. Along the way, visitors will discover lost civilizations, encounter the mysterious Guardian of Mor-Lenn through mesmerizing underwater glass projections.
“It was challenging to coordinate in a very short timeline and under harsh circumstances all creative design and theming production, engineering and AV elements. Our team and involved partners delivered amazing work with a high level of quality and dedication.” says Jérôme Delescaille, Architect-Design Manager of BoldMove Nation, who was in charge of the project.
“We are very happy with the final result and hope that many visitors will enjoy this unique expedition during many years to come.”
Images: BoldMove
