Final Call

A Night on the Seabed

Proposals for an underwater research station with liveable habitat floats the idea of subaquatic tourism.

Just as the International Space Station paved the way for recreational space travel, a revolutionary research facility anchored to the seabed is set to open up new possibilities for subaquatic tourism.

The vision of aquanaut, ocean explorer and conservationist Fabien Cousteau, Proteus is the world’s largest and most advanced underwater scientific research station. Its primary purpose is to gain a better understanding of the ocean – discover new species of marine life, determine the effects of climate change and test advanced technologies for robotic exploration, for example – however the concept also shows just what’s possible down below the surface.

Proteus is envisioned to be more than four times the size of any previously known underwater habitat, and will feature state-ofthe-art labs, sleeping quarters, a living room, kitchen and dining areas. It will also include the first underwater greenhouse, allowing inhabitants to grow fresh plant life for food.

The initial concept was co-conceived by Yves Béhar, founder of innovative design agency Fuseproject. “Proteus’ design intent is to offer an effective, comfortable and attractive facility for researchers, and an exciting underwater structure that garners the same passion for ocean exploration as we have for space exploration,” he explains. “The spiral architecture houses social and work spaces as well as a communication studio and a submersible moon pool. Proteus is both practical and an icon that will change the way we experience ocean research.”

Cousteau describes the concept as a network of underwater habitats; so who knows, maybe it will forever change the way we holiday too.