Habitat Entrance

The moonpool of habitat Hydrolab
Moonpool of Hydrolab

(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.

Aquanaut Decompression

NEEMO Diver under Aquarius HabitatTo stay in an underwater habitat longer than 12 hours means to stay under saturated conditions, which requires an aquanaut decompression sequence of at least several hours. This decompression procedure is very critical: if any aquanaut gets into an emergency situation, there is no way to take him out of the chamber before the sequence is finished. If the procedure is badly designed there is no way to bring a paramedic into the chamber. For the period of several hours the aquanaut would be alone with his companion. Contact us for access to the full article.

Diving Bell ‘Medusa’

© CalamarPark.comTogether with the popular MARES Diving Center of IWM of Dieter Heinz in Antalya/Turkey we decided in 2006 to construct a simple diving bell for touristic purposes in a depth of appr. 9m. This diving bell would serve as an advertisement carrier, sales tool and later as a decompression stop bell if successfully positioned. It should last for at least two years being removed during six winter months. As a design we wanted the construction to follow the shape of a jelly fish and to look a bit futuristic. After agreeing and drawing the final design we calculated costs of 1000 € which included the umbrella, the skeleton, the counterweights and the working force. Continue reading “Diving Bell ‘Medusa’”

Pressure Experiment

© CalamarPark.comThe pressure difference in passenger planes is easily understandable if you take a soft and empty plastic bottle, close it at the highest position of your flight (in the upper part of the image) and watch again while landing. You will see that the pressure makes the bottle shrink (in the lower part of the image). Continue reading “Pressure Experiment”