Sentinel™

DEEP’s Sentinel subsea habitat system radically expands human access to the ocean. Sentinel fills a technology gap unserved by diving or submersible methods, allowing people to live and work underwater for longer periods and unlock new discoveries.
3D manufacturing
Complex geometries, made simple
DEEP uses Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) to create the structures we need efficiently. WAAM allows us, for instance, to put more material specifically in areas that will experience the most force when underwater. Using this technique requires less material to meet performance demands, resulting in quicker production and reduced waste.
Modular sections
Endless adaptability
Sentinel is customisable and flexible, using modular components that can be configured in an infinite variety of ways. As a result, it can accommodate both short-term and semi-permanent deployments anywhere on the continental shelf.
Panoramic viewports
Take in the sights
There’s no point sending people to the bottom of the ocean and not letting them see the majesty of what’s around them. Not only does this make Sentinel an amazing place to live, it encourages ‘incidental science’ – those serendipitous discoveries that occur only as a result of sustained observation, and spotting what no one else has seen before.
Inside Sentinel
Render of the inside of the Sentinel's lounge area in the water
Render of the inside of the Sentinel's laboratory in the water
Render of the inside of the Sentinel's diving area in the water
Render of the inside of the Sentinel's sleeping room in the water
Sentinel features
Render of the exterios structure of Sentinel
Adaptive design
Modular design gives flexibility
The Sentinel System uses standardised components created with 3D manufacturing techniques. Components can be employed utilised for different purposes and put together in an endless variety of configurations. This modularity makes Sentinel much more efficient to manufacture, build, and maintain than a bespoke habitat would be, and much less wasteful of materials.
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Render of the inside of the Sentinel's sleeping room in the water
Thriving subsea
Comfortable living environment
We’ve designed Sentinel to be a lovely place to live and work, one that helps people perform at their best. This means a great night’s sleep, delicious and nutritious food, and a warm and pleasant living environment that doesn’t feel cramped. A comfortable habitat is a productive habitat.
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Black and gray map with neon green location points
Sustainable efficiency
Reuseable and redeployable
Sentinels come with a service life of 20 years. During that time they can be deployed, picked up, and re-deployed to different locations around the world. This allows Sentinel owners and operators to work on multiple projects, including many smaller ones for which traditional habitats would not have been viable.
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Render/Drawing of over water support vessel
Uniquely autonomous
No need for costly support vessels
Until now, subsea habitats have relied on Dive Support Vessels stationed on the surface. Not only are these expensive financially, they can impose a high environmental cost and make operations vulnerable to the weather. Sentinel’s power systems are based on a micro-grid architecture and are designed to work with DEEP’s renewable power and satellite communications buoy. DEEP’s Research team is developing a large-scale bio-reactor to treat all waste, removing the need for emptying tanks.
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Render of Sentinel System with 6 connected pods
Infinitely customisable
Tailored to your project
The Sentinel System is as suited to short-term, six-crew deployments as it is to 50-crew, multi-nation, semi-permanent research stations. And thanks to the modular design, operators can reconfigure, repurpose, and relocate components between – and even during – missions, all without the need to take them up to the surface.
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Image of diver in the water weraing diving suit taken from behind a coral
Pressure adapted
A choice of habitat pressure
Sentinel is designed for operation at ambient pressure (matching the surrounding water) or one atmosphere (the average pressure at sea level). Ambient operation allows for the use of Sentinel’s two moon pools for diving excursions, making it perfect for long-term missions by qualified divers. One-atmosphere operation enables short visits to Sentinel via submarine transfer, ideal for academics or media professionals without diving qualifications.
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