Build idea: Underwater base

I was thinking about how to do this, but I'm not sure how you could make it keep the water out and still be able to get in and out.

I could make a 4x4 sized chamber surrounded by two doors and manually remove the water whenever I leave but that seems like a chore.

 

Two doors, some drains, and you're golden.

Drains are made with the wiring station, and they act as empty background blocks. Say goodbye to unwanted water.

 

Oh neat, I didn't know about the drains. That certainly makes it a lot easier.

 

Don't forget something around the doors and drains. But yeah, I can see that kind of thing being made. Maybe make it look like the base belonged to a hero of sorts. Heh, just an idea.

 

Only one problem (and one reason I'd like a real pump in the game):
Eventually the lake around the base will dry up.

 

You should go to the screenshots section and get some ideas

 

Not in Ocean biomes.

 

I was going to build a base underneath a poison ocean, but drains don't work on oceanesque planets due to other water blocks infinitely spawning more water (which is how they stay... oceans.)
At least, it didn't work in the unstable. Haven't tried in stable yet.

 

I tried it myself. It works if you replace all the water with normal blocks, then remove THOSE blocks. I'll be working on one soon.

 

Drains are not mandatory, if you make something like the picture below, and don't open the two doors at the same time, your base won't flood:



You can wire the doors to step platforms and they will open automatically as you move. I found out that a distance of 10 blocks between them will be enough to have the first door close before you open the other one.

But drains make things much more interesting. I've tried several different ways to enter my bases, including a vertical entrance. You can do all kinds of things, like forcing one door to stay closed as long as the other is open or make them open (or close) automatically with liquid sensors. Like @SivCorp said, check the screenshots section. You won't be disappointed.

That is right, fill an area with blocks and when you remove them there will be no more water coming in even if you don't have background walls (as long as the area is isolated from the rest of the water, of course).

 

Yes, that's possible. But it isn't as convenient as being able to drain the water out at will, rather than having to block up the city then re-mine it.