We have heard about the NASA studies that are trying to grow vegetables in space. But some have thought about starting by going underwater. Nemo's Garden is an innovative project based in Noli, Liguria, where some 600 crops from around the world, from tobacco to tangerines, have been grown.

This strange underwater garden is the brainchild of Sergio Gamberini, founder of diving equipment company Ocean Reef Group, who combined his passion for scuba diving and gardening. So in 2012 he created his first tiny biosphere and anchored it to the seafloor, where he began growing basil, which tasted just like the basil grown on land.

The following summer Gamberini expanded, building two 800-liter biospheres. In summer 2014, the project added a 2,000-liter biosphere and began growing salad greens. In 2015, Nemo's Garden expanded by adding more than 30 new crops. The biospheres turned into pressurized underwater observatories and began attracting tourists. Underwater gardeners began to keep the project running year-round, instead of closing for the summer. The use of renewable energy harnessed from the sun and fresh water obtained from seawater desalination make Nemo's Garden a self-sustainable system.

The microclimate and thermal conditions within the biospheres are optimal for plant growth and crop yields, not unlike a conventional greenhouse, but requires no additional energy sources.

Nemo's Garden also collaborates with Genoa University of Engineering, both to conduct studies with experts and to support student internships.

To date there are 6 biospheres in which 65 to 95 plants are housed on shelves placed inside, while the structures are anchored to the seabed by 28 chains to prevent their movement caused by sea currents.

Basil and salads grow well, but there are many others: mint, aloe vera, mushrooms, licorice, black cumin, lavender, stevia, and passion flower.

The main problem remains bad weather, which just as it affects crops on land, also affects crops underwater, ruining not only all the work, but also damaging Nemo's Garden facilities.

But how does Nemo's Garden work? These acrylic structures, similar to large balloons, contain about 2,000 liters of air and float at different depths, between 4 and 10 meters below the surface of the water.

Each biosphere has a grid of steps in which divers work. When a diver is in the biosphere, half of his or her body is out of the water.

Inside the biospheres, water condenses on the inner walls, dripping down to keep the plants watered, while the warm, nearly constant sea temperature between day and night creates ideal conditions for growth. At the center of Nemo's Garden is the Tree of Life, a metal structure nearly 4 meters high and 3 meters wide that weighs about half a ton. It symbolizes evolution and the struggle for innovation and technological progress, suggesting a momentum toward the future.

The Tree of Life also serves an important function, as it hides the cables running to each biosphere and allows the area to be monitored from above, checking light levels through a live camera feed.

Nemo's Garden can also be visited. Just contact the local Dive Enjoy company to inquire about a guided underwater tour.