The first underwater research lab - "underwater home", with the pressure of the atmosphere in which equal the depth of immersion, appeared in the 60 years of the twentieth century. Currently, there are only underwater laboratory of «Aquarius» and a small underwater hotel «Jule» in Florida, USA. For a long stationary diving and scientific research, requiring lengthy decompression, the pressure chamber was built submersible (underwater laboratory) «SHELF», which can be installed to a depth of 30 meters. The laboratory is designed for 12 people. Dives can be made both in saturated and in unsaturated condition. Underwater laboratory can be used as an underwater hotel for divers. Underwater tourists, divers can carry out long underwater tours, night and deep dives. The underwater laboratory is also working platform for biomedical research long-stay divers under increased pressure and long-term isolation from the outside world. In the USA both train astronauts «Aquarius» e. The underwater lab provides an opportunity for long underwater archaeological excavations at depths exceeding 10 meters.
The difference between the underwater laboratory «SHELF» of the existing underwater laboratories and previously created projects, it is the mobility and the relative speed of production at the new unfurnished place. This is achieved by immersing towed underwater laboratory of the freeboard, the transport situation, to a certain depth, with the help of ballast anchors and variable liquid ballast and use of special diving pontoon or vessel security.
Underwater Laboratory (submersible pressure chamber) is a steel cylinder with a diameter 2.64 meters and a length of 16.5 meters, with end walls of the elliptical 20 mm thick. Durable housing is divided into three watertight compartments durable bulkheads and reinforced by ring frames. In the upper, central located lock chamber, a diameter of 1,4 m. and a height of 2,3 m. coamings and hatches with diameters of 700mm. At the bottom of the case is in transition coamings diameter 700mm. to exit to the open sea. Along the perimeter are 28 windows of transparent plastic with a diameter 350mm. Durable housing is designed for working pressure 5 kg/cm2. In the central compartment, which compartment, are - control stations, two sofas, desk with electric stove, refrigerators, electrical panels, pumps and ventilation system.
The two extreme compartments are four-(two) cabins with separate bathrooms. Cabins on the sides are equipped with sofa beds, folding the upper beds, desks, air conditioners, televisions and telephones.
Supplying electricity to the underwater laboratory, compressed air, fresh water, food made from the barge (ship) software or from the shore.
The cost of rent underwater laboratory, the hotel is, from 60 000 rubles per day. (from 2000 $ USA).