DEEP is changing 21st century exploration

With a vision centered on developing 21st-century subsea habitats and the advanced technologies required to support them, Kirk guides the audience through the history of underwater habitats while drawing clear parallels to the evolution of scientific saturation diving. He connects past innovations to present-day capabilities, highlighting how decades of technical progress have made long-term human presence underwater not only possible, but practical. This historical context leads to an update on the DEEP Saturation Training Facility, which plays a critical role in preparing divers and scientists for extended missions in extreme subsea environments.

DEEP’s work actively supports a wide range of scientific and industrial applications, including mesophotic zone coral research, bottom trawling restoration, bioprospecting, and the monitoring and maintenance of critical underwater infrastructure. Across all these efforts, the guiding principle remains consistent. Keeping the human in the loop is central to DEEP’s core mission, ensuring that direct human observation, decision-making, and adaptability remain essential components of subsea exploration and problem solving.