DEEP has announced that its first underwater habitat, Vanguard, will be deployed to the Tennessee Reef in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
The site offers access to a diverse coral reef ecosystem within a controlled-access protected area, according to DEEP.
Vanguard’s ocean deployment is planned for the end of next month, weather permitting, and will be the first subsea human habitat off the US coastline in over 40 years.
Final deployment permits were granted in this month for installation within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
The habitat will be operated from DEEP Station Florida (DSF), a shoreside base in Marathon supporting habitat control, aquanaut training and emergency response.
Vanguard is designed to support up to four aquanauts living and working underwater, enabling sustained ocean research and conservation activity.
First unveiled in Miami in October 2025, Vanguard is now in the final stages of commissioning, including final outfitting, subsystem testing and integrated acceptance trials.
DEEP Chief Technology Officer Norman Smith said:
“Tennessee Reef provides Vanguard with a home in one of the world’s most important marine environments. We couldn’t be more excited to begin this next chapter. Seeing Vanguard deployed and ready to host aquanauts underwater will mark the start of a continuous human presence on the seafloor, in service of science, learning, and ocean stewardship.”
Vanguard is DEEP’s pilot subsea habitat and a stepping stone to Sentinel, the company’s flagship habitat program designed to support larger crews on longer underwater missions.
DEEP selected Tennessee Reef based on environmental, operational and research criteria. The reef lies within a controlled access conservation area of the sanctuary and is suited to long-term research experiments and seafloor equipment, while ensuring the safety of aquanaut excursions and local recreational activity.
The site provides proximity to coral reef systems and access to deeper surrounding waters of scientific interest. A suitable sand patch was identified for deployment, supported by benthic surveys confirming the placement area is free from living coral and other sensitive marine resources.
DEEP Station Florida will also serve as the aquanaut training facility and will house emergency hyperbaric medical equipment.
The habitat’s foundation installation depth will be 18 meters (59 ft), while its living depth will be 14 meters (46 ft).
Vanguard, comprised of a steel structure and acrylic windows, will be mounted on a foundational baseplate with a tethered surface support buoy.
For more info, check out DeeperBlue.com’s coverage of the Vanguard unveiling last year, or go to deep.com or follow @deepengineered on social media.
