Aquaform

Aquaforms are a genetic redesign, originally developed by GenDiver in the 2080s as part of the Athena Project but commercially available ever since.

At the time of their creation, postnatal genetic redesign was impossible; first-generation adult aquaforms were not technically genies but heavily biomodded baseline humans. Because the Athena Project would not be able to replicate this on Poseidon, GenDiver edited all of its biomods into the colonists' X-chromosomal DNA; an aquaform father's daughters, and all of an aquaform mother's children, will be aquaforms themselves even if the other parent is a baseline human.

Relative to baseline humans, all aquaforms possess a number of features:

• Slightly elongated feet
• Long webbed toes and partly-webbed fingers for improved swimming efficiency
• Nictitating eye membranes
• Self-sealing nostrils
• The ability to tolerate, drink, and metabolize seawater
• A GenDiver-proprietary fat layer, allowing them to tolerate temperatures as low as 5°C without being visible in official art

In addition, all aquaforms are one of two distinct subvariants, with further biomods of their own.

Diving Reflex Analogs

Diving Reflex Analogs, usually called divers, have improved blood oxygenation and collapsible respiratory systems similar to those of cetaceans. Divers can hold their breath for nearly an hour, and have a pressure tolerance measured mainly in oxygen debt, temperature, and actual crush depth.

Systemic Osmoforms

Systemic Osmoforms, usually called squid, have gills running from behind their ears down their backs. These gills are sealed shut by muscles when not in use.

Relative to divers, squid cannot drown through conventional means, but their gills no longer function properly below about 500 meters. In native villages, squid are usually responsible for aquaculture and underwater construction, most of which is done at comparably shallow depths.