/sci/ - Science & Math

>>4472289

>Well, at least in 20 years it will be at most as expensive as a decent car.

You can already get a decent submersible for that, just not with such an insane crush depth.
http://www.uboatworx.nl/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GdpgP7oghU

>there will be quite a few spots where you won't run into 15k ft deep restaurants..

Nobody would build a restauraunt at such a depth. All existing undersea restauraunts (I know of only three) are on the Continental shelf in thirty feet of water or less. That's where all the really pretty stuff is.
http://www.youtube.com/embed/t6pYLtTjZAc

>>4225814

Even just a single sizable town on the continental shelf will be an astonishing accomplishment. From a tourism standpoint it makes sense to have someplace for the existing tour submarines to actually go and dock to. Restaurant, tanning salon, spa, gift shop, then you get back on the sub and go to shore. Meanwhile everyone who works there has a private residence and works the fish farm for additional income. I thnik the market could sustain two or three of these, and they'd really be an amazing experience to go and visit.

The mining and oil drilling stations will happen no matter what because of the sheer amount of profit to be had. The colonies will happen because of well funded enthusiasts and tourism dollars. What I'm less sure about is whether we'll get a deep sea hydrothermal research station built and deployed in my lifetime. I cannot overstate the value of such a tool to marine science.