The ambition to explore and colonize new environments has always characterized human beings, and today someone is trying to bring this ambition to the depths of the sea. With the aim of establishing a “permanent human presence” underwater, the British company DEEP has presented a project to create modular underwater habitats. These structures, designed to withstand depths of up to 200 metres, could house people for up to 28 consecutive days, providing living spaces, common areas and research laboratories for scientists studying the marine environment. Or for tourists who don't want to risk just excursions inside dangerous boxes.
Sentinel: the new frontier of living
The space race continues to capture the global imagination, but if we look at home, the ocean, which covers more than 70% of the Earth's surface, remains by far one of the least explored (and understood) environments on our planet. DEEP dives into the depths of the sea, revealing a world of unexplored possibilities with an underwater habitat project. A sort of human "outpost" in the depths, called Sentinel. This customizable station offers living spaces, common areas and research laboratories. But it's not just a place to live: it's a platform for scientists who want to study the marine environment in more depth. Imagine being able to directly observe marine currents, study marine species in their natural habitat and analyze the dynamics of the marine ecosystem without the limitations of temporary diving. It's something I only read about in books as a child.
Underwater habitats: are we really there?
Steve Etherton, President of the European, Middle Eastern and African arm of DEEP, highlighted the importance of preserving and understanding the oceans. He said the oceans are central to many of the generational challenges the world is facing. They are essential for our survival, influencing climate, weather and even the air we breathe. However, despite their importance, they remain surprisingly unknown.
One of the most interesting aspects of the project is the sustainable approach taken by DEEP. The company plans to power the underwater modules with renewable energy, and connect them to a satellite communications buoy. Additionally, they are developing a large-scale bioreactor that will be able to process all waste, eliminating the need to regularly empty tanks.
Future projects and reality
Beyond its vision, DEEP is already putting its ideas into practice. The company plans to transform a flooded quarry in the UK, formerly known as the National Diving & Activity Centre, into a 600 meter long and 80 meter deep water facility for training, testing and research. I'll be honest: many futuristic projects of these gentlemen are destined to remain just ideas on paper for me. And for a long time. But these underwater environments might have a chance. Maybe not within the next 7 years, as they say in the company, but a little later.
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