The proximity of the sea would have made far more sense and the expense would have been far less.
Right there and yet what did we do? IGNORE IT and build to fly high. We aren't even logical methodical in our science. Start with the less complicated. Not the most. See what you can do with that FIRST.
So. Will homo saps one day Captain Nemo their lives away living under the sea or will we still ignore it and die reaching for the sky?