New inflatable, underwater tent can help divers camp under sea

In order to help divers stay underwater easily for longer time, a firm has created a new underwater air-filled tent to let them camp in.

Researcher from New York University Winslow Burleson and National Geographic explorer Michael Lombardi created the ‘The Ocean Space Habitat’ (OSH) that makes it possible for divers to stay underwater longer than before, help them prevent harmful cases of decompression sickness, and may influence future off-world settlements.

The inflatable underwater tent is portable, can be brought deep beneath the surface and be anchored wherever it is needed, providing a comfortable place to stay while submerged deep under water. The fans powered by rechargeable batteries continuously scrub carbon dioxide from the air, hence giving divers access to about six hours of breathable air. There are also battery-run two built-in oxygen monitor displays, connected to dual galvanic oxygen sensors, reported Digital Trends.

Usually when scuba divers ascend after a dive, they need to periodically pause to adjust their blood pressure. This means staying suspended in the water, but with OSH, the divers will be able to remove their masks to breath naturally, replace tanks, eat a meal, and have a more comfortable experience, reported Futurism.

The team already tested the system and is now prepping for an overnight stay underwater. For the future, the team is working on developing new sizes and shapes that could even have a closed floor or room for a bed or scientific instruments. Other than that, the OSH can be used outside water too such as in military applications and during rescue operations.

Moreover, apart from being used as an underwater inflatable tent, the technology can also be used in outer space or on extraterrestrial settlements. “This technology puts a region of ocean space within reach for the masses that hasn’t been easily accessed,” Lombardi told Futurism. “This is the ticket to extend our range from temporary visitors to the beginnings of a more permanent presence on the seafloor.”