Living under the sea: How close are we to permanent underwater habitats?
A bold underwater research project backed by an anonymous investor is aiming to push the boundaries of science and human habitation by building the world's first permanent settlement beneath the ocean's surface.
Known as the DEEP project, the multi-million-dollar initiative is based in the United Kingdom and plans to establish a network of subaquatic bases called 'sentinels.' These underwater habitats will allow scientists to live and work beneath the ocean for months at a time.
The project is headquartered in Gloucestershire, England, where a flooded former limestone quarry—now an 80-metre-deep lake—serves as a training site for scientists and a testing ground for submersibles.
'We need to recognize that the ocean is a critical component of our planet,' Wolford told CTV Your Morning in an interview Friday. 'It produces more than 50 per cent of the oxygen we breathe and plays a vital role in the carbon cycle. Yet, our understanding of it is still far too limited.'
According to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, only about 26 per cent of the world's oceans have been properly mapped. DEEP aims to change that by placing researchers in permanent ocean habitats, giving them the ability to observe marine ecosystems continuously—something Wolford compares to the impact of the International Space Station.
'What the ISS has done for science and innovation, we believe this project can do for our understanding of the ocean,' Wolford said. 'Space exploration is vital, but we have an alien world here on Earth — the ocean. Let's explore this one first before we leave our own planet.'
Wolford says the team is also studying how the human body adapts to long-term underwater living, drawing parallels to space exploration.
'What we're seeing in some cases are positive benefits, with improved health outcomes,' he said. 'The goal is to understand how our bodies evolve and adapt when exposed to new stresses.'
Wolford added that daily life in the settlements will blend routine with research.
'You'd wake up, check emails, sip coffee while watching fish swim past your window. Then suit up and dive for hours to collect samples. After lunch, you'd continue work in the lab. And at night, you'd relax like anyone else—maybe watch the latest episode of White Lotus,' he said, emphasizing that this daily routine supports a much larger goal.
'If we want to become a multi-planetary species, the ocean is where we start. It's our training ground, our discovery lab, and the next frontier right here on Earth.'
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