Diving means immersing yourself in a world of silence and mystery, where the only sign of the world you've left behind is the simple bubble escaping from your regulator. It’s a magical and deeply human experience. But did you know that more and more, a discreet guardian angel is accompanying you underwater? Artificial intelligence (AI) isn't just about futuristic robots and science fiction movies. It's making its way into diving gear, acting as a silent partner—an intelligent assistant—making underwater exploration safer and more exciting.
Imagine a second monitor, tirelessly vigilant, constantly tracking your health status. That’s the role AI plays in next-generation safety equipment.
Proactive monitoring: Smart dive computers go far beyond just calculating depth and time. Integrated sensors—even wearable devices—can analyze biometric data in real time, such as heart rate or oxygen levels. By detecting the slightest anomaly, AI can alert the diver to a potential risk before they even notice it themselves, helping to prevent dangerous situations like nitrogen narcosis, which impairs judgment at depth. Some dive computers can even assess your physical readiness before the dive, based on sleep quality or stress levels, helping you plan a safer dive.
A guardian angel against narcosis: Nitrogen narcosis, known for its euphoric or panic-inducing effects, is a real danger. It can make you forget a basic safety rule or lose track of time. This is where AI becomes a true guardian angel. By monitoring objective data like your physiology, it can send you an alert that's independent of your psychological state—bypassing the risks of human misjudgment.
Diving has always had its limits—depth, duration, or hazardous environments. Underwater robotics, powered by AI, is pushing those boundaries.
Robots for safety and rescue: Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) are already being used for missions too risky for human divers. Equipped with HD cameras and sonar, these robots can inspect wrecks or search for people in murky waters—without endangering lives. Imagine an ROV performing a preliminary inspection of a dive site and assessing real-time risks before the team even enters the water!
Autonomous personal cameramen: For recreational divers, AI can also be fun. Underwater drones like the iBubble evo act as real personal cameramen. They follow you, avoid obstacles, and film your dive from all angles, letting you focus on the beauty around you. Others, like those developed by Ifremer, can dive to 6,000 meters, analyze collected data live, and adjust their path to explore areas of interest without any human intervention.
The underwater world is a "GPS desert," where radio and Wi-Fi signals don't work. This can create a sense of isolation and stress—a major accident factor. Thankfully, technology is bridging that gap.
High-precision navigation: Acoustic localization systems like UWIS can use a GPS on the surface and triangulation to track divers’ positions underwater with meter-level precision. These technologies can track up to 100 divers simultaneously, providing an unprecedented level of group safety.
Clear communication: Underwater communication has always been a challenge, and hand signals aren't always enough. Devices like the Talky-Divy use AI to filter ambient noise and reconstruct voice in real time, allowing divers to talk clearly—even in noisy environments. Dive watches like the Garmin Descent Mk3i use technology that lets divers exchange predefined messages with their buddy, enhancing team coordination and safety.
AI isn't just about safety and comfort—it's also a powerful ally in ocean conservation.
Accelerated scientific exploration: Drones and AI are used by scientists to map the ocean floor and assess ecosystem health. In Quebec, an AI system was developed to automatically identify and count crustaceans and sea urchins from underwater photos. This kind of technology makes research faster, more reliable, and more affordable.
Fighting pollution: AI systems are also being developed to detect unwanted objects like lost containers or marine debris—turning pollution control into data science. AI takes over where humans are limited by time or depth.
The AI revolution isn't about replacing divers with machines—it’s about making them stronger, safer, and more capable. It’s a symbiosis where human and machine complement each other: AI excels at data analysis and monitoring, while divers contribute dexterity, creativity, and judgment.
By integrating these technologies, tomorrow’s divers will become augmented explorers—able to push their limits confidently while actively participating in preserving the world they love so much.
The underwater adventure is evolving—and AI is its new guiding light. Are you ready to dive into the future of diving?