Underwater cities in the real world were once a mainstay of popular science fiction. In the 1960s and 70s, they appeared in countless books, movies and TV shows. These days, it’s all about space stations instead.
Humankind never built a full underwater city (or did we?), but we have constructed a few small underwater habitats – places where humans can work, rest, eat, and sleep below the sea.
The most famous is probably SEALAB, built by the US Navy to advance the science of deep sea diving and rescue. Several versions were built in the 1960s, with one of the highlights being a call between a diver and US President Lyndon B Johnson. The diver was speaking from a helium-rich environment, which garbled his voice, and the call had to be abandoned.
Today, a handful of underwater labs still exist. MarineLab in Florida is the longest-running – it’s been operated continuously since 1984, and is used for both science and training. It’s located next to another structure called Jules’ Undersea Lodge, which has been converted into a luxury hotel, including a large movie selection and even the possibility to have pizza delivered by a diver. 10,000 overnight guests have visited in its 30 years of operation.
So, if you’re looking for some inspiration for your next Minecraft project, how about an underwater habitat? Just make sure to bring a conduit with you...
Deel dit verhaal