As humanity sets its sights on Mars and the Moon, one UK startup is diving in a different direction—beneath the ocean’s surface. DEEP is pioneering a future where underwater living becomes not just possible, but essential. With plans for submerged habitats, global underwater settlements, and even childbirth beneath the sea by 2050, the company is redefining what it means to call Earth home.
As the world races to space, a UK startup is diving into Earth’s depths, betting big on a future beneath the waves.
While much of the world is focused on sending humans to Mars or building colonies on the Moon, a UK-based startup is exploring a bold new direction: underwater living. DEEP, a trailblazing company, is challenging the assumption that space is humanity’s final frontier. Instead, they are turning attention to the vast, uncharted oceans that cover more than 70% of our planet.
DEEP believes that underwater living is not only possible but crucial for the future of exploration, science, and human survival. Their long-term vision? To witness the world’s first childbirth beneath the sea by 2050.
This ambitious journey began making international headlines after a recent milestone—when a biomedical engineer completed a 100-day stay submerged in a controlled subsea habitat. The experiment has reignited interest in the possibilities of long-term underwater living, a topic not seriously explored since the Cold War era.
“Living underwater isn’t just a sci-fi fantasy anymore,” a DEEP spokesperson said. “With the right technology and adaptation, underwater living can become a reality.”
Vanguard: The First Step Toward Underwater Life
The first step in DEEP’s mission begins this year with Vanguard, a 3D-printed metal home made to work 325 feet underwater, in the ocean’s “sunlight zone.” This small 300-square-foot space will hold up to three divers for short science trips, helping test how people can live under the sea for longer periods.
But Vanguard is only the start. DEEP’s next buildings, called Sentinels, are made for long-term underwater living. These larger homes will sit about 656 feet deep in the ocean’s “twilight zone” and will have six bedrooms, a kitchen, bathrooms, and a science lab—basically full homes underwater.
By 2035, DEEP plans to build ten underwater neighborhoods around the world. And by 2050, they hope to make history with the first human birth under the sea—starting a new chapter in how and where people can live.
Underwater Living: A Reimagined Cold War Dream
The idea of underwater living isn’t completely new. Back in the 1950s and ’60s, projects like the US Navy’s Sealab and Jacques Cousteau’s Conshelf tried to explore what it would be like to live under the sea for long periods. But those efforts didn’t last beyond 28 days because of money problems and limits in technology.
Now, DEEP believes it’s the right time to try again. With better technology, smart systems powered by AI, stronger materials, and a better understanding of the human body, the challenges that stopped earlier underwater living projects can now be solved.
Still, living underwater has its risks. Less sunlight can affect sleep and mood. The heavy pressure deep in the ocean can put stress on the heart and lungs. And going to the surface too quickly can cause a serious condition called “the bends,” caused by bubbles forming in the blood.
Even with these challenges, more scientists are starting to agree with DEEP’s idea: underwater living could be just as important for our future as space travel. The ocean is still full of secrets and may help us learn more about protecting our planet, discovering new life, and finding better ways to live.
As technology improves, DEEP is leading the way into this deep blue future. Whether we end up living in space or under the sea first, one thing is clear—underwater living is becoming more real every day.
