Tribubble bongo

The Gungans of Naboo rely on unusual, bio-engineered submersibles called Bongos. They range from tiny, single-personcraft to the large Heyblibbers used for long journeys. Bongos are handcrafted, ensuring that each craft is unique from the rest. A bongo is built around an organic coral-like skeleton bred in special underwater fields by Gungan designers. This skeleton forms the bongo's hull and is strong, though prone to damage by sea monsters encountered in the watery depths of Naboo.

The hull is equipped with an electrical power plant, a guidance system and passenger seating. Most bongo designers are inspired by the creatures of the oceans surrounding them. As a result, many bongo resemble squid, sting ray or other sea creatures. The most commonly used propulsion system used by a bongo is several long, aft-mounted tentacles that rotate to drag push the bongo forward through the water. These tentacles are powered by an electromotive field motor. Bongos also have repulsorlifts for both entering and exiting specially designed bongo bays connected to most Gungan cities.

The bongo's passengers reside in small compartments covered by bubblelike canopies. These in reality are actually hydrostatic fields, similar to those use to create buildings in Gungan cities like Otoh Gunga. Hydrostatic fields are generated by channeling energy between two opposing poles. An access panel located under the cockpit bubble allows temporary repairs to the steering systems.For the bongo, energy travels between a positively charged prong jutting over the cockpit and several small, negatively charged receptors positioned around the passenger compartment. Once the field is activated, air and water are kept out. The most complex espect of the bongo is its buoyancy system. Sponglike hydrostatic chambers are spread out around the perimeter of the bongo. In order to dive, heavy oil is released into the hydrostatic chambers, changing density. When surfacing, these are purged of oil, forcing another density change. The oil is recycled throughout this system.

While the Gungans produce much of the technology needed for bongo creation, electronics and specialized equipment like metal cargo containers must be purchased from the Naboo. Gungan traders procure such items from the Naboo in exchange for foodstuffs and medicine. Bongos are incredibly versatile and can be built for many functions. Cargo bongos feature cargo holds instead of passenger modules while a Gungan Army transport bongo can carry about 5 armed passengers. Monobubble racing bongos have also been produced and Bongo technology has even enabled the Gungans to construct starships, which they used to colonise the Naboo moon Ohma-D'un. In the Phantom Menace, Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi piloted a tribubble cargo bongo through Naboo's core.