I haven't played SHIII for close to six months & there's a keyboard move that sets the view outside the sub. I used this to watch my submerging & or surfacing just for the enjoyment of watching. Be damned now if I can recall that key movement. I can't seem to find it in the manual or keycard but it's there somewhere but I just can't find it. Any ideas? Please!
FWIW,
Good Hunting!

Either < or > for follow next or previous vessel (starting with your sub) or F12 for Free view.

Thanks JP! < or > is the ticket!
FWIW,
Good Hunting!

It's also one of the GUI things on the left you can click on with the mouse . . . I think it's the bottom one (it's the same as F12).

No, F12 is different. It too gives an outside view but the one with < or > is different, more like a camera view.
FWIW,
Good Hunting!

Oops!