In 1963, Jacques Cousteau realized his dream of living underwater with the Precontinent II project. Now, his grandson Fabien is taking that ambition to the next level with Proteus, a network of underwater stations that could forever change the way we study the oceans. But at what point is this ambitious project, which we have told for the first time in this article of July 2020?
The Proteus announcement
As mentioned, Fabien Cousteau first presented the idea of Proteus four years ago. With an ambitious goal: to be the "underwater version of the International Space Station". Back in the day, this advanced scientific research station and underwater habitat was conceived to accommodate a crew of 12 at a depth of 20 meters for extended periods.
In 2021, Cousteau carried out an expedition to the waters of Curaçao, in the Caribbean, to identify the ideal location for the first Proteus station. Thanks to the collaboration with the startups Map the Gaps and R2Sonic, the entire protected marine area where the structure is planned to be installed has been mapped. Construction should be completed by the end of the first half of 2024.
A global network
Curaçao, as planned, is just the beginning. Cousteau's goal is to create a network of Proteus stations around the world, with potential future sites already under consideration in Europe and the United States. This global vision could revolutionize marine research, allowing in-depth and continuous studies in different ocean ecosystems.
To realize this ambitious project, Cousteau is working to raise the necessary funds, estimated at approximately $135 million for the first three years. In addition to the support of his non-profit organization, The Fabien Cousteau Ocean Learning Center, Proteus has partnered with companies like Vionic and institutions like NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and the NUWC (Naval Undersea Warfare Center). All collaborations that promise to expand the research potential of Proteus, combining the knowledge of different institutes and organizations.
With NOAA's collaboration, the discoveries we can make – relating to climate refugia, super corals, life-saving drugs, microenvironmental data linked to climate events, and many others – will be truly transformational. We can't wait to share these stories with the world
fabien cousteau
Next steps
As announced by the Proteus team, further details on design, engineering and timing will be released later this year. The world looks forward to future developments, on the brink of a new era in marine exploration. This network of underwater stations could provide us with an unprecedented window into ocean ecosystems, helping us better understand the crucial role they play for life on Earth. In a world increasingly threatened by climate change, projects like Proteus are more important than ever to protect and preserve our blue planet. Happy diving, Fabien.
