TECH

Company offers submerged lodging for days at the bottom of the sea

It may look like a spaceship, but the Vanguard is actually a steel capsule that promises to take humanity to an almost unexplored territory: the depths of the ocean. Designed to house up to four people, the structure will allow for extended dives, transforming the way scientists study marine life.

The 12-meter-long by 3.7-meter-wide capsule is equipped with a habitable chamber, a diving center, and a foundation base. Inside, aquanauts will find individual bunks, a kitchen, a bathroom, and workspace, while the diving center allows them to exit to the ocean through the so-called "lunar pool."

A support buoy on the surface provides air, water, waste removal, electricity, and communication, ensuring that occupants can remain submerged for a week or more, conducting studies impossible with conventional diving methods.

"Beneath the ocean's surface lies a vast, largely unexplored frontier that has fascinated humanity for centuries," stated DEEP, the company responsible for the project. According to the company, Vanguard inaugurates a new era of underwater life and represents a major step towards a permanent human presence in the ocean.

Currently, the prototype is at a depth of 20 meters, but it was designed to operate comfortably at 50 meters. Its structure was developed to withstand underwater pressures and the effects of a Category 5 hurricane, ensuring maximum safety for its occupants.

Vanguard is DEEP’s pilot subsea human habitat, providing extended access to the ocean for research, conservation, and training. The habitat provides a dry living environment for four crew for medium-duration missions of seven or more days, without the need to resurface. Vanguard is a major milestone in achieving a permanent human presence under the ocean.

Vanguard will allow researchers to explore marine life at depth for hours on end, enabling real-time observations and advanced research in areas such as coral reef restoration, climate monitoring, and even astronaut training.

After testing and approval of all systems, the capsule will be fully deployed for training engineers and operational procedures. DEEP has not yet released the launch date or the definitive location, but promises to announce both by the end of the year.

In addition to Vanguard, the company is working on another ambitious project, the Sentinel base, a kind of "underwater hotel" planned for a depth of 200 meters off the coast of Wales, further expanding the horizon of submerged life.

mundophone