- Revolutionizing Underwater Habitats: Deep is testing Vanguard, a modular underwater habitat, in 2025 to enable extended marine research at depths of up to 200 meters, paving the way for the permanent Sentinel system by 2027.
- Advanced Technology for Ocean Exploration: Utilizing innovative 3D printing-welding techniques and helium-resistant engineering, Deep’s habitats are designed to support long-term underwater habitation with robust safety and energy systems.
- Expanding Marine Science Potential: The habitats will allow researchers to conduct weeks’ worth of work in days, significantly reducing decompression time and advancing our understanding of ocean ecosystems and their role in climate regulation.
In 2025, a groundbreaking underwater habitat project is set to begin testing in a former quarry on the Wales-England border. Spearheaded by the ocean-exploration organization Deep, this initiative aims to enable scientists to live and work at depths of up to 200 meters for extended periods. The project marks a significant leap forward in ocean science, as no new underwater habitats have been developed since 1987. Deep’s immediate goal is to create modular habitats that facilitate marine research, beginning with the Vanguard—a small, transportable habitat for short missions—and leading to the Sentinel, a larger, permanent underwater base slated for deployment by 2027.
Vanguard, the first step in this vision, is a compact, pressurized module capable of housing three people for up to a week. It will allow divers to work on the seabed for extended hours and return to the habitat for meals and rest, significantly reducing decompression time compared to traditional diving methods. The flexibility of Vanguard’s energy systems, including connections to onshore renewables, floating energy farms, or subsea battery systems, ensures it can function efficiently in various marine environments. This modular unit also includes essential safety features, such as 96 hours of backup life support in emergencies, housed in an adjacent seafloor pod.
Testing data from Vanguard will inform the design of Sentinel, a more advanced modular habitat system. Sentinel will consist of customizable pods with varying internal pressures, enabling tasks like sample analysis at bathymetric pressure alongside one-atmosphere chambers for docking and visitor accommodations. Designed to support six people for up to 28 days, Sentinel will include private living quarters, scientific equipment, and wet labs, eliminating the need to transport samples to surface labs. Resupply missions every 28 days will ensure the habitat remains operational for months or even years, depending on crew rotation schedules.
To achieve these ambitious goals, Deep relies on cutting-edge manufacturing techniques. Its Deep Manufacturing Labs combines 3D printing and welding in a process known as wire-arc additive manufacturing, enabling the production of robust pressure hulls for the habitats. The use of heat-tolerant steels and precise control over the additive process helps mitigate the risk of deformation during production. Advanced robotic systems, including the Hexbot setup with six synchronized arms, allow the creation of large, complex structures needed for long-term underwater habitation.
The project also addresses unique engineering challenges, such as managing helium’s high thermal conductivity and its effects on materials and electronics. Specialized materials resistant to mold, off-gassing, and high pressure are being developed, along with custom-designed PCBs and energy systems that function reliably in helium-rich, high-pressure environments. Despite these challenges, Deep’s innovative approach has garnered praise from experts and holds promise for transforming ocean exploration by enabling extended human presence beneath the waves.
