The future of underwater exploration is about to take a leap forward, thanks to the ambitious ventures of British startup Deep. Set against the backdrop of an abandoned quarry on the border of Wales and England, this organization is working to establish permanent underwater habitats for scientific research, enabling scientists to live at depths reaching up to 200 meters for extended periods.
Kirk Krack, the human diver performance lead at Deep, emphasizes the pressing need for innovation, stating, "Aquarius Reef Base in St. Croix was the last installed habitat back in 1987, and there hasn’t been much ground broken in about 40 years." With Deep's initiatives, they aim to advance ocean science and engineering for the 21st century. This year marks significant progress as they prepare to launch and test their modular habitat, Vanguard, which will support saturation divers—those who work under conditions where their tissues become saturated with gases.
Vanguard is no ordinary underwater habitat; it's engineered for flexibility and efficiency. Designed to be transportable, this small, pressurized shelter can host three divers and facilitate rigorous scientific exploration. Scheduled to be tested early in 2025, Vanguard will act as the first step toward achieving their ultimate vision of long-term ocean habitation, exemplified by the Sentinel habitat expected to launch by 2027. Krack envisions, "By 2030, we hope to see a permanent human presence in the ocean,” which he believes is achievable through the advanced technologies they are developing.
The benefits of these underwater habitats are significant. Current saturation dives only allow for short bursts of work due to lengthy decompression times. With Vanguard, Deep anticipates accomplishing seven years' worth of research tasks within just 30 days, effectively tackling the barrier presented by the ocean’s complex depths. More than 90 percent of the ocean's biodiversity resides within 200 meters of the surface, with only about 20 percent of it explored. Understanding and protecting these ecosystems is becoming increasingly urgent.
To meet the infrastructural demands of underwater living, Deep is orchestrated to create not just habitats but also support systems and training programs for future researchers. The Vanguard habitat will initially operate at depths of around 100 meters and can be deployed for week-long missions. When situated near the shore, it can connect to local renewable energy sources, but it retains flexibility with options for alternative energy relies when farther out.
What is particularly impressive is how Deep intends to utilize advanced manufacturing technologies, combining traditional welding with robotic 3D printing techniques. Deep Manufacturing Labs has developed innovative methods to construct these pressure hulls with precision. According to Harry Thompson, the advanced manufacturing engineering lead, their method is groundbreaking: "We sit in a gray area between welding and additive process," focusing on creating strong, reliable structures capable of withstanding deep-sea pressures.
While the engineering challenges are formidable, the necessity of keeping researchers safe and content at such depths is equally pressing. For example, at the depths they aim to explore, breathing nitrogen poses risks, leading to the selection of helium as the primary breathing gas. Krack elaborates, discussing the need to maintain comfortable internal temperatures, which can create humid environments fostering mold growth. The Deep team's approach balances complex scientific, engineering, and health-related challenges.
On another front, China's scientific pursuits also reflect the importance of ocean research. Recently, the icebreaker Zhongshan Daxue Jidi set sail from Guangzhou to the Bohai Sea on a significant mission to investigate winter ice processes and their ecological effects. This is the first time such comprehensive research has been executed during winter within this region. Cheng Xiao, the dean of the School of Geospatial Engineering and Science at Sun Yat-sen University, leads the investigation with grand ambitions to model the dynamics of Bohai Sea ice.
During their 44-day expedition, the scientists will observe ice formation and dissipation, along with the interacting forces of the atmosphere and ocean on the ice. By establishing longitudinal and cross-sectional observation lines, they intend to study the seasonal ecosystem changes, examining how these dynamics align with the rapid shifts seen within the Arctic.
Cheng asserts the mission's significance, stating, "We aim to construct an ecological dynamics model of Bohai Sea ice to reveal the potential impact of sea ice on seasonal ecosystem changes." This deep-dive approach underlines the vast knowledge still to be attained about marine environments under the ice.
With 45 researchers from various universities engaged, this voyage is set to fill existing gaps in observational data. Chen Xianyao, marine physicist from the Ocean University of China, highlighted how sparse data has historically hindered scientific progress. He noted, "This voyage will effectively address the lack of observational data," showcasing the importance of such missions for broad oceanographic research.
Both Deep's underwater habitation efforts and China's icebreaker expeditions represent the growing recognition of ocean science as fundamental to comprehending and adapting to climate change. Through explorations both above and below the surface, the future holds promise for richer understandings of our marine environments. The questions surrounding the feasibility and impact of human habitation underwater remain but with technological advancements like Deep's habitats and China’s research cruises, humanity's relationship with the ocean is on the brink of transformation.