World's 1st underwater habitat in decades to unlock secrets of oceans

The UK-based subsea engineering company DEEP has unveiled Vanguard, the world’s first new underwater habitat prototype in decades, designed to enable scientists to live and conduct research beneath the ocean surface for up to a week. Revealed in Miami on October 29, 2025, Vanguard supports up to four crew members and consists of three modular sections: a living chamber for daily activities, a diving center, and a seabed-anchored base that stabilizes the structure against waves and storms. The habitat operates at a depth of about 65 feet (20 meters), accessible with standard scuba gear, with plans underway to develop deeper-diving prototypes reaching 650 feet (200 meters). Vanguard aims to revolutionize marine science by allowing extended underwater stays, eliminating the need for frequent resurfacing, and enabling direct, real-time observation of fragile ecosystems. This capability could significantly advance coral reef restoration, climate monitoring, and even astronaut training. The habitat is the first of its kind to receive classification by Det