BAYLAB: a manned undersea instrument chamber

Summary form only given, substantially as follows. BAYLAB is a small, easily transportable undersea habitat. It differs from other existing systems by placing habitability for instruments and electronic devices as a higher priority than that of the human occupants. For this reason it is called a manned undersea instrument chamber (MUSIC). It was designed for use in the shallow waters of the Chesapeake Bay, hence the name “BAYLAB”. While it is a “saturation diving system”, most anticipated work will be conducted at depths where the internal pressure is such that decompression will not be required. At deeper depths, isobaric offgassing will be conducted inside the system, or surface decompression will be conducted in a decompression chamber aboard a barge. The very low energy requirements of the life support and lighting systems allow it to operate as a self-contained undersea habitat (SCUH) for 3-4 days between resupply, while maintaining a 24 hour reserve. It can also be supplied with power, gas, and fresh water by a very small umbilical from shore or an anchored vessel. It has an ambient pressure only, horizontal, cylindrical hull 3.9 meters (13 feet) long and 1.5 meters (5.5 feet) in diameter. While floating on the surface, with the diver hatch closed, an overhead hatch can be opened for exchange of equipment and personnel. While submerged, with the overhead hatch closed, divers can enter through a hatch in the end of the chamber rather than the bottom. A baffle in the entrance area, which the divers step over, prevents flooding of the chamber. This unique feature allows BAnAB to be positioned very close to the bottom, which is of significant benefit in an area with low underwater visibility. A transparent, humidity tight door separates the entrance area from the work area