The UK-based Gloucestershire ocean technology firm, DEEP, is continuing progress on its mission to “make humans aquatic” through ongoing testing and research with its underwater vessels, Vanguard. Designed to be a “subsea human habitat,” Vanguard is being tested with the hopes of enabling scientists to continuously remain underwater whilst conducting research for days on end — intending for these habitats to be eventually capable of remaining submerged for at least a week to widely surpass current limitations of many expeditions restricted to a handful of hours.
Based at the former National Diving and Activity Centre in Tidenham, DEEP claims that this technology will remove the need to resurface and decompress between dive missions, and, according to chief technology officer and lead engineer of the project Norman Smith, will “open up a whole new realm of science” through its anticipated ability to explore currently unexplored oceanic depths.
When the prototype was initially revealed on September 24, 2025, at a hangar in Miami, Florida, it was capable of reaching approximately 20 meters (65 ft) underwater. Building off of these results, Vanguard’s first test mission is set to be launched in the Florida Keys at a depth of about 18 meters (59 ft). However, in the future, the company plans to go significantly deeper — working on prototypes that can get down to 200 meters (650 ft). The yellow vessel itself, meant to hold a crew of four, comprises three sections: a living chamber, a diving center, and the base. Measuring 12 meters (40 ft) long by 3.7 meters (12 ft) wide, the living chamber is designed as an area for scientists to eat, sleep, and work — designed to resist ocean water pressure to ensure safety. The diving center connects to the underwater base anchored to the seabed, which is used to protect the Vanguard vessel from waves and storms while sitting on the ocean floor. Additionally, the habitat will feature a structure meant to float on the surface of the water with the purpose of transporting compressed air, providing power, and making communication possible with the outside world.
As research and development continue, DEEP intends to use Vanguard for long-term conservation projects such as coral restoration through the gradual establishment of larger, modular habitats to be in oceans all over the world. Reflecting on this mission, DEEP Institute CEO Dennis Nelson emphasizes how “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.”
