Imagine living underwater, not just for a few hours on a dive, but for months!
Yes, you heard it right! A UK-based company, “DEEP,” is working on developing underwater living spaces where humans could live for extended periods.
According to Euro News, the company suggests that these habitats could serve multiple purposes, including marine research, underwater tourism, and even security operations.
The underwater habitat named “Vanguard” is 12 meters long and 7.5 meters wide, designed to support up to three people at a depth of 100 meters underwater.
Reports state that it is intended as a testing platform for a more advanced and larger underwater habitat, called “Sentinel,” which is set to launch in two years.
Sean Wolpert, the president of DEEP, said in a statement, “We took a step back and recognized that the ocean, and particularly beneath the surface of the ocean, was one of the last remaining blind spots for humanity.”
“We can see deep into space, we can see near space, and we can observe anything in our airspace, on land and on the surface of the ocean, but the one area where we felt there was a large disconnect, not only in that tangible way but also in a personal way, was between humanity and the ocean,” he added.
Vanguard is designed for short-term missions and professional divers, while Sentinel will support up to six people for up to 28 days at a depth of 200 meters.
Sentinel will feature specialized amenities such as wet and dry labs and a moon pool, and its construction involves a process called wire-arc additive manufacturing, carried out by six 3.5-meter tall robots.
This design will enable researchers to collect and analyze seabed samples in real-time without the need to return to the surface.
Although the exact location for the use of Vanguard has not been decided, DEEP is in discussions with potential clients.
