Colonize The Ocean

Fabien Cousteau's Proteus was pitched as an "ISS of the sea," so where does it stand today? In this episode of Colonize the Ocean, Brendon wraps up our series on what's happening with existing underwater habitat projects. Proteus grew out of Mission 31, Fabien's 31 days living at Aquarius in 2014. It was announced in 2020 as a modular, roughly 4,000 sq ft research habitat pla...

Researchers from Yunnan University have successfully engineered and tested perovskite solar cells capable of generating electricity at depths of up to 10 meters underwater . By utilizing a specialized polymer additive , these panels can efficiently charge lithium-ion batteries in just two hours, even while submerged in the ocean. This technological breakthrough significantly expands the potential...

In this episode of Colonize the Ocean , we’re diving into another intriguing underwater habitat concept suspended in state-of-the-art limbo: Habitat Waterford . Designed by Shaun Waterford out of Australia back in 2008 and famously featured in Popular Science circa 2010, this project had major momentum. With claims of a 70% completed prototype and ambitious plans to break world records with a 90-d...

The Conrad Maldives Rangali Island offers a premier luxury experience through The Muraka , a residence submerged five meters below the ocean surface. This high-end suite features a transparent acrylic dome that provides guests with panoramic views of wild marine life, including frequent sightings of blacktip reef sharks . While nightly rates can reach up to $50,000 , the resort ensures safety thro...

In this episode of Colonize the Ocean, Brendon Traxler continues the “What Happened To…” series with Planet Ocean Underwater Hotels — the veteran-owned, patented movable underwater hotel concept from Tony Webb. First public around 2011–2012 and patented in 2014 (U.S. Design Patent D736947), the plan is a modular luxury hotel of guestroom pods at about 30 feet, one atmosphere, with surface access —...

The DEMA Show 2026 is a premier trade-only event scheduled for November 3–6 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans . This milestone gathering celebrates the 50th anniversary of the global diving industry's most significant convention, featuring over 500 exhibitors and 250 educational sessions . Designed for professionals in the scuba diving, travel, and water sports sectors,...

Colonize the Ocean | Sept 21, 2026 | Aquanautic Adventures, Argoneta & Underwater Glamping Welcome back to Colonize the Ocean with Brendon Traxler. In this September 21, 2026 episode, Brendon looks at underwater habitats still sitting in limbo — projects that might happen, might not, and the ones he’s cheering on anyway. This week’s focus is Aquanautic Adventures from North Carolina startup Ar...

This technical report examines the historical evolution, material engineering, and future trajectory of human underwater habitats. It explores how construction has transitioned from early welded steel pressure vessels used in research to modern modular subsea systems designed for science and tourism. The text highlights the critical roles of acrylic for transparent viewing and the emerging potenti...

The Water Discus looked like a futuristic sci-fi villain lair, but it was pitched as a revolutionary, modular underwater hotel designed by naval architects at Poland's Gdańsk University of Technology. Featuring two stacked discs, deep-sea views, and detachable safety modules, it secured major contracts in Dubai and the Maldives between 2012 and 2015. So why was it never built? We break down th...

The Dutch firm Equinox Ocean Turbines is developing the Mobula , a radical tidal energy system that replaces traditional heavy gearboxes with small generators mounted directly on the blade tips . This unique configuration leverages the high speeds of the outer rotor to produce electricity efficiently, leaving the central hub completely empty of power-generating components. By eliminating central t...

🌊 What Happened to the H2OME Underwater House? 🏠 underwater habitats, luxury sea-living, and why ambitious ocean concepts often stay on the drawing board! In this episode of the Colonize the Ocean podcast, host Brendon Traxler breaks down the H2OME —a fascinating 3,600-sq-ft, two-story subaquatic luxury residence concept designed by Bruce Jones and U.S. Submarines. 📐 The Specs & Design: A 2...

In 1998, researchers initiated a study off the coast of Miami Beach to evaluate how different construction materials influenced the effectiveness of artificial reefs . Over a three-year period, divers monitored twelve structures built from limestone boulders , concrete-gravel , and a concrete-tire aggregate to compare their impact on marine life. The findings revealed that all three materials supp...

In this episode of Colonize the Ocean, Brendon Traxler dives into Vent Base Alpha—the hydrothermal vent-powered underwater habitat conceived by deep-sea pioneer Phil Nuytten. Planned as a one-atmosphere station thousands of feet down for research and mineral work, with modular tanks, a submersible bay, and vent-derived power, the project never left the drawing board after Nuytten’s passing in 2023...

This research brief examines the evolving landscape of underwater habitats , tracing their transition from experimental scientific outposts to a multifaceted industry. Future developments will likely favor modular, shallow-water structures that blend luxury hospitality with marine conservation, education, and advanced robotics. While high-end resorts and specialized laboratories like PROTEUS demon...

Episode Recap: Jacques Rougerie’s Underwater Village In this episode of the podcast, host Brendon Traxler continues his series tracking the history and fate of proposed underwater habitats, resorts, and research stations. Key Takeaways: The Concept: A deep dive into the Underwater Village (or Submarine Village), designed in 1973 by renowned French architect Jacques Rougerie. Target Audience: Marke...

Recent robotic inspections of the Hywind Scotland Pilot Park have revealed that floating wind turbines are serving as thriving artificial reefs . By exploring the submerged steel structures of five massive turbines, a submersible identified 121 unique species , including anemones, crustaceans, and rare corals. These findings suggest that offshore energy infrastructure provides a protected habitat...

Today, we’re continuing our "What Happened To?" series, taking a dive into the ambitious—and ultimately stalled—underwater hotel projects that captured the world's imagination. When you think of cutting-edge architecture and sheer, extravagant luxury, Dubai is usually at the top of the list. So it's no surprise that back in 2005, they announced what was set to be the world's...

The United States is currently developing nuclear-powered batteries designed to reside on the ocean floor and provide energy for underwater drone submarines . This initiative, led by the startup Zeno Power under a Department of Defense contract, repurposes strontium-90 —a radioactive byproduct—to create a long-lasting power grid for deep-sea sensors and autonomous vehicles. Unlike previous attempt...

In this August 10, 2026 episode of Colonize the Ocean , Brendon Traxler kicks off a mini-series on ambitious underwater habitats and resorts that never made it. He dives into the biggest name of them all: Poseidon Undersea Resorts , the project led by Bruce Jones of U.S. Submarines. The domain dates back to 2003 (over 20 years old), and the idea itself is even older—Jones had been floating concept...

The company DEEP recently launched an underwater habitat called Vanguard off the coast of Florida to facilitate long-term marine research and environmental monitoring. This innovative structure allows a four-person crew to live and work at depths of 56 feet , utilizing a process called saturation to extend dive times significantly. The facility features a living chamber , a dive center with a moon...

Brendon is back with another episode of Colonize the Ocean , still refining the setup and audio while juggling longer-format ideas. This time he zeros in on one of the biggest questions in the underwater habitat world right now: Deep is in the water. They’ve secured funding, built a habitat, and are actually operating. That was the spotlight Fabian Cousteau and Proteus had owned for years. So… wha...

🌊 Two Ocean Heroes Team Up to Save Our Blue Planet! In this inspiring story, legendary oceanographer Sylvia Earle — founder of Mission Blue — joins forces with young conservationist Titouan Bernicot of Coral Gardeners. While Sylvia’s team identifies the most critical marine ecosystems that need urgent protection, Titouan’s Coral Gardeners are on the front lines actively restoring damaged coral re...

In this episode Brendon gets real about design philosophy after receiving an email from the Middle East flagging an Instagram reel that AI-generated a video of Chinese underwater data centers using ASC’s own concepts. He reflects on the importance of holding back some designs—keeping alternate concepts, future habitat ideas, and unreleased work in reserve so you’re never left empty-handed if somet...

The provided text details the history and legacy of Sublimnos , Canada’s first freshwater underwater habitat launched in 1969 by explorer Joseph B. MacInnis. Situated in Lake Huron, this pioneering research station allowed scientists to live and work beneath the surface to study aquatic ecosystems and test the limits of human productivity underwater. The structure utilized a moon pool entry and sa...

In this episode, Brendon Traxler returns with an exciting update! After diving deep into underwater habitats, ocean engineering, and legal challenges, he shines a spotlight on Arkpad — a pioneering seasteading project he and ASC have personally invested in. Arkpad, headquartered in the Philippines, offers unique floating glamping experiences (think luxury floating tents!), fishing operations, and...