Conshelfprosjektene

The Conshelf projects were a series of pioneering underwater habitats developed by COMEX, a French company specializing in underwater engineering. These projects aimed to test the feasibility of long-term human habitation and work in the subsea environment, primarily for oil and gas exploration and production.

Conshelf I, launched in 1962, was the first experimental underwater living facility. It consisted of a single cylindrical chamber placed on the seabed off the coast of Marseille, France, at a depth of about 10 meters. Two divers spent a week inside, demonstrating that humans could live and breathe underwater for extended periods.

Conshelf II, undertaken in 1963, was significantly more ambitious. It involved a larger, more complex village situated in the Red Sea near Port Sudan. This habitat included a main dwelling chamber, a laboratory, and a submersible decompression chamber. Several teams of divers lived and worked for weeks at depths of up to 100 meters, conducting scientific experiments and simulating underwater construction tasks. The project also featured a "Starfish House," a smaller habitat located at a shallower depth.

Conshelf III, carried out in 1965 in the Mediterranean Sea, further pushed the boundaries. It involved a larger habitat designed to accommodate six men at a depth of 100 meters for several weeks. The project focused on simulating the conditions of commercial saturation diving operations, including the use of specialized equipment and procedures for offshore industries.

The Conshelf projects, while facing technical challenges, were crucial in advancing the understanding of human physiological and psychological responses to living and working underwater. They provided invaluable data and experience that laid the groundwork for future subsea operations and the development of advanced diving technologies.