The Aquaraiders subtheme started and ended in 1997 and was the descendent of the Aquanauts and Aquasharks subthemes when these were discontinued. The Aquaraiders where an alternate villain faction that competed with both the Aquanauts and Aquasharks and consisted of three vessels in black with green accents and trans-neon green window pieces. The ships had accessories that looked like drills and grinders and had an exotic look for submarines.
1997 LEGO Sets
In 1997, the LEGO Group faced significant challenges as it grappled with a changing toy market and internal organizational shifts. While the company introduced its first-ever licensed theme, "Star Wars," laying the groundwork for one of its most successful and enduring lines, it also experienced a dip in sales for the first time since its inception. The LEGO Group recognized the need to innovate and diversify its product offerings beyond traditional brick sets, leading to endeavors in new areas like software and video games, with the launch of LEGO Island, its first PC game. This year marked a period of introspection and transformation for the iconic toy company.