The Proteus Ocean Group, led by Fabien Cousteau – the first grandson of the famous French explorer Jaques Cousteau – is developing the project for an international underwater station called Proteus.
The project is expected to be completed by 2026. It will be the underwater equivalent of the International Space Station and its purpose will be to promote marine science, research and education.
The group plans to build the station about 20 meters deep off the coast of Curacao in the Caribbean.
This project is part of an agreement with the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
“This partnership has the potential to significantly expand our capabilities in ocean exploration,” Jeremy Weirich, director of NOAA Ocean Exploration, said in a statement.
“By living underwater for extended periods of time in this new marine laboratory, we will be able to unlock the mysteries of the ocean so we can better manage, use, protect and value its resources in a sustainable manner,” Weirich said.
The expert explained this in light of the fact that Proteus will serve as an underwater habitat where scientists and others can live underwater for long periods of time to study the marine environment. (With information from veryinteresante.es)