A thrill-seeking parrot has racked up millions of views online after being taken for a spin underwater in a homemade “submarine”.
Bebe, a white-winged parakeet, plunged beneath the surface during a trip to the Bahamas in a one-of-a-kind vessel designed by his owner, Steven Lawyer.
The quirky craft – dubbed the Bebosphere – was put together using a plastic food container and a paintball air tank. It carried the bird around 3ft below sea level for roughly 15 minutes while Mr Lawyer snorkelled alongside in calm waters.
The stunt has sparked backlash from some viewers worried about the parrot’s safety. But Mr Lawyer insists Bebe was more than happy to take part.
“He went in willingly and he enjoyed it,” the 60-year-old blogger told The Washington Post. “He’d rather do that than, you know, sit back on shore in a cage or back in an Airbnb.”
According to Mr Lawyer, the setup had been “extensively tested” at home in a sink before the trip, with Bebe showing no signs of distress while submerged. The mini-sub was also fitted with valves to keep air circulating, along with a gauge to monitor oxygen levels and trigger an alert if they dropped too low.
Footage of the unusual voyage – which has clocked up around 4.3 million Instagram views – shows Bebe gently bobbing underwater as he takes in the scene around him.
The adventurous bird is no stranger to extreme outings. Mr Lawyer has previously taken him skiing, skydiving and on week-long cycling trips, and says paragliding could be next.
“I only take him on activities that we’ve eased our way into and that he is showing an interest in,” he added.
Away from his daredevil antics, Bebe has become something of a local celebrity, regularly stopping for selfies with passers-by.
Mr Lawyer said he bought the parakeet from a Florida pet shop in 2020 after being struck by his playful personality. At home, the bird often sleeps on his chest – and has even been known to try answering his phone.
