Underwater tests begin to 'make humans aquatic'

Underwater tests begin to 'make humans aquatic'22 minutes agoJules HyamWest of EnglandDEEPDEEP's leaders are hoping to help humans to remain underwater for days at a time without using a submarine A company aiming to "make humans aquatic" has launched its first underwater test mission.DEEP, a Gloucestershire ocean technology firm, has developed a modular habitat system to allow research crews to operate on the ocean floor for weeks at a time.Currently, divers can stay underwater for up to about six hours, depending on their equipment and conditions.Dennis Nelson, DEEP Institute CEO, said: "DEEP is effectively looking to make humans aquatic. The habitats are time machines. What we are trying to do is to expand our understanding of what is going on in the oceans."New habitat will allow humans to remain underwater for weeksHe added: "Between 50% and 80% of all of the oxygen in our atmosphere actually comes from the oceans, the photosynthesis that's happening there. "It's one of the two lungs, we have the forests, and we have the oceans, and the oceans are underappreciated and are under-researched."DEEP, based at the former National Diving and Activity Centre in Tidenham, said the new Vanguard habitat will remove the need to resurface and decompress in between individual dive missions.Its systems and technology are being tested in America's Florida Keys at a depth of about 60 metres (196 ft)."Vanguard is real, what we are doing is real, and it is within touching distance. It's the type of thing you can be proud to tell your kids about," said Nelson.Nelson said the ocean is underappreciated and under-researchedThe team said they are also building the world's most advanced immersion diving training facility. The closed bell chamber facility - a hyperbaric training environment where commercial divers learn to operate at pressure - is only the second such training base in the world. "There's only one other closed bell training facility in the world today, as it stands, and that's in Tasmania," said dive manager Mark Hamilton. "So it made absolute sense for DEEP to develop its own closed bell training facility."Follow GREE Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.More on this storyStep forward for underwater research siteFormer dive centre to become underwater research hubTest run planned for 3D-printed under water spaceGloucestershire