Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] A system could help humans live underwater the modular habitat design by DEEP will allow humans to live long term underwater at depths of hundreds of meters.
[00:00:11] Deep, an ocean technology company in the UK that acquired a quarry dive center near Bristol for its campus and research hub, revealed its mission to enable humans to live underwater.
[00:00:24] A central element of the company's plan is an underwater habitat called the Sentinel system, which will allow people to live and work at depths of 200 meters for up to a month, CNN reported on September 17. The Sentinel system consists of interlinked modules that can be used for various purposes, from collecting chemical data from the ocean to excavating historical shipwrecks. The adaptable habitat can be configured into different shapes, making it suitable for missions involving six people, comparable to a large scale research station, according to Deep.
[00:01:02] The company hopes that its habitat could become a catalyst for permanent human settlements underwater, similar to how the International Space Station has allowed humans to live and work in space since 2000.
[00:01:16] Last week, Deep unveiled a smaller version of its underwater habitat, which will be used to develop systems for the Sentinel Vanguard. The 12 by 7.5 meter habitat can accommodate three people for a week underwater.
[00:01:30] This pilot habitat will be ready to be submerged at Deep's campus in the UK by early 2025.
[00:01:37] It could serve critical functions in rapid deployments, such as during the search for survivors in the Superyacht sinking off Sicily in August. According to Deep's president, with the yacht sunk to a depth of 50 meters, divers could only stay underwater for about 12 minutes before surfacing. Instead, a habitat placed on the seabed near the wreck could serve as a base for divers. Currently, the only active underwater laboratory is operated by Florida International University, hosting researchers studying coral or astronauts training in extreme environments.
[00:02:13] If all goes according to plan, Sentinel will be ready by 2027. Wolpert hopes to deploy the system at multiple locations worldwide, but DEEP acknowledges it faces significant challenges to achieve this ambitious goal.
[00:02:28] The Sentinel modules will be 3D printed by six robots using reinforced steel with a superalloy containing nickel called inconel, which can withstand extreme conditions and is also used in parts of the space shuttle and SpaceX rockets. Depending on the operational pressure, the system can be accessed by either submarines or divers through an entrance at the base. A floating buoy on the surface will ensure satellite communication via Starlink, while the habitat will utilize renewable energy sour like wind turbines and solar panels on the water's surface.
[00:03:04] Deep is in discussions with organizations and governments worldwide. Customers can rent, buy or share space in the Sentinel System based on their needs. Beyond creating jobs and new ocean related investments. Other potential uses include monitoring and repairing critical underwater infrastructure, tourism, space travel training, coral restoration, naval diving training, and medical research.
[00:03:30] Once missions are complete, the habitat can be redeployed to a new location.
