The recording of the “Seafloor Habitat 2.0 – Ignition Con” is edited and online, belated endorsed as an activity of the United Nations Ocean Decade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhfShKtI66A
Undersea Station: Data Processing
(Updated 15.01.2021 – complete re-edit of chapter; updated concept map) The Digital Data Processing of the station will be of major importance. Beside the conventional functions of the IT systems we should use the opportunity to establish a completely new approach concerning the User Interface (UI) and the system’s interaction with the aquanauts.
Habitat Entrance

(Updated 29.11.2020; re-edit of the hatches chapter) Surely one of the most complicated area of an underwater structure for human occupation is the habitat entrance. It is the local water-air interface, vulnerable to changes in pressure by tidal movements on the surface of the sea; its hatches have to bare potential pressure differences between the habitat interior and the surrounding water; no object that is only a little bigger than the greatest diameter of the entrance can be brought into the habitat. It is constantly wet and humid and the only gateway for medical assistance. We divided it into the following sections:
- Trunk
- Underwater Acess Space
- External Hatches
- Moonpool
- Wet Room
- Other General Considerations
Our extensive analysis and proposals are part of the design manual.
Internal Doors and Hatches
This section describes the necessary design of internal doors in an underwater habitat. Doors separate functional areas or modules of the habitat. This chapter was divided into the following sections:
- Types of hatch or door and its use
- Opening size and shape of hatch or doorway
- Operations
- Location
Our extensive analysis and proposals are part of the design manual.
Housekeeping
Housekeeping in an underwater habitat is a crucial part of habitability. It plays a primary role in maintaining the cleanliness of the habitat and thus the crew’s health and safety, which will consequently boost their morale, comfort, and productivity.
This chapter is divided into the following sections:
- General Considerations
- Habitat Specific Risk Areas
- Contamination Sources
- Housekeeping Tools
- Housekeeping Minimization through System Design
- Past and Present Housekeeping in On-Orbit Operations
Our extensive analysis and proposals are part of the design manual.
Entry image: Rlistmedia, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
ESA Qualification
We are very happy that our proposal of an European Underwater Research Center has been qualified today by ESA to be presented for discussion and vote. So there is a realistic chance for funding of a detailed feasibility process leading to the construction of the first module(s).
Recreation
(updated 15.09.2020: added adaptations from the NASA Human Integration Handbook) Recreation is an important consideration for maintaining high morale, psychological and physiological health in an underwater habitat, especially for long durations. This section provides guidelines for recreational activities.
Our extensive analysis and proposals are part of the design manual.
Stowage & Inventory Management
This section discusses design considerations for the layout and design of stowage systems inside an underwater habitat. It also provides the characteristics of a successful onboard inventory management system design. Such a system can track the quantity, location, and status (e.g., remaining useful life) of inventory items. The inventory management function is one of the primary elements of onboard information management.
This chapter is divided into the following sections:
- General Considerations
- Type & Locations
- Nonstandard Stowage
- Habitat Resupply
- Flexibility
- Central Storage vs. Distributed Storage
- Operability
- Accessibility
- Interference
- Labelling
- Inventory Management
Our extensive analysis and proposals are part of the design manual.
[Image: FORTEPAN / Lissák Tivadar / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]
Note: This article contains adaptations from the NASA Human Integration Handbook (HIDH), NASA/SP-2010-3407. Since supplementary transports are not comparable to spaceflight, many considerations do not apply to underwater operations and therefore had been skipped.
Mooring

This chapter collects information on mooring of an underwater station, potential difficulties and solutions. Continue reading “Mooring”
Undersea Station: Water Supply
(Updated 04.04.2023: link concerning average need of water for a human being updated) Even though our station is surrounded by water we can not use it for most of our needs. Therefore for some demands we have to establish a sweet water supply. The easiest way is to bring sweet water from the shore and to fill corresponding tanks. Well, what kind of water do we need?
This chapter is divided into the following sections:
- Drinking Water Supply for Consumption
- Tap Water; rigid and flexible tanks
- Raw Water Supply
- Pressure Maintenance
Our extensive analysis and proposals are part of the design manual.
Image by James Petts from London, England (Stream of water) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons