Looks like NASA astronauts won’t be the only people lucky enough to live in an underwater habitat.
Florida International University, which runs the Aquarius underwater habitat in the Florida Keys where those astronauts recently spent a couple weeks learning how to live in a simulated space environment, is now offering civilians a chance to spend the night in the habitat and learn about saturation diving:
“This 5-day course will include extensive discussion on saturation diving theory and a practical application of skills in saturation diving. This class will also include practical training in saturation diving operations, equipment and procedures. The class culminates with an overnight stay at Aquarius – the world’s only undersea saturation diving facility.”
The course will run from October 17-21, 2016, and will be limited to 10 students. Tuition will cost US$1,000/895 Euros and includes the overnight stay at Aquarius. Otherwise, students will be responsible for paying for their housing and meals, but FIU has negotiated a group rate at a local hotel, and a bunch of restaurants are located within a seven-mile radius of the facility.
You’ll have to be 18 years old or older, be open-water scuba certified, cleared to dive by your physician and have medical insurance.
Roger Garcia, a retired US Navy Diving Medical Technician and Hospital Corpsman, will be teaching the course. He is currently the Operations Director for FIU’s Aquarius Reef Base and the Diving Safety Officer for the university.
To register foe the course, go to the FIU website at aquarius.fiu.edu.
