The British company DEEP has unveiled a prototype of its new vehicle, Vanguard, which has been described as an “underwater human home”, allowing scientists to reside in the depths for long periods to conduct their environmental research and pursue marine studies directly.
The vehicle was announced during an event held in Miami, Florida, where the company confirmed that this innovation will enable researchers to remain underwater for up to a full week, instead of a few hours as is the case in traditional missions.
Norman Smith, the company’s chief technology officer and the project’s lead engineer, said, “There are vast areas of the world’s oceans that have not yet been explored at these depths, and making them available to scientists and divers will open new horizons for scientific and environmental research.”
“Vanguard” consists of three main sections, including a living room, a diving center, and a lower base, and provides a safe environment for four researchers inside a structure designed to withstand water pressure at a depth of up to 20 meters, while the company is working on developing versions capable of reaching a depth of 200 meters.
The vehicle will also include a floating structure on the surface to provide air, energy, and communication with the outside world, while its base will be fixed on the seabed to provide stability and protection from storms and waves.
DEEP hopes that this new technology will contribute to strengthening global efforts to protect marine ecosystems, and implement long-term projects such as restoring coral reefs and monitoring ocean biodiversity.
