Vanguard, set to become the first new subsea habitat in nearly 40 years, will be moved to the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary early next year. Teams of four scientists will live and work in this underwater facility for up to a week, conducting various missions such as reef restoration, species surveys, underwater archaeology, and astronaut training. One notable feature of Vanguard is a module referred to as the “wet porch,” which has a permanently open floor that does not flood, thanks to its air pressure matching that of the surrounding water.
The pressurized environment of Vanguard allows divers to operate at a maximum depth of 50 meters without the lengthy decompression stops typically required for such depths. Standard scuba divers can only spend a few minutes on the seafloor at this depth and may only dive a couple of times daily. However, aquanauts in Vanguard can remain submerged for extended hours and only need to decompress after their entire stay, potentially expanding the scope and duration of oceanic research.
Subsea habitats have historical roots, dating back to the first created by Jacques Cousteau in 1962. While larger habitats emerged in the following decades, Vanguard includes modern technology such as a tethered connection to the surface for air and water supply, alongside sustainable energy sources. The design has been tested against severe hurricanes expected in Florida over the next 20 years, with provisions to support its occupants for at least 72 hours in case of emergencies.
Vanguard will also be the first subsea habitat to receive a classification from DNV, an independent agency that inspects marine vessels. The primary objective of Vanguard is not only to facilitate scientific research but also to test technologies for its successor, an advanced modular habitat called Sentinel, expected to launch in 2027. Sentinel aims to accommodate larger crews and deeper deployments than Vanguard.
Source: https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/11/07/1127682/vanguard-deep-subsea-habitat-launch/