German man sets world record living for 120 days underwater

A German aerospace engineer celebrated setting a world record Friday for the longest time living underwater without depressurization -- 120 days in a submerged capsule off the coast of Panama.

Rudiger Koch, 59, emerged from his 30-square-meter (320-square-foot) underwater home to celebrate his achievement of setting a new world record for the longest time spent living beneath the sea. Guinness World Records adjudicator Susana Reyes was present to confirm that Koch had surpassed the previous record of 100 days, held by American Joseph Dituri, who resided in an underwater lodge in a Florida lagoon.

Reflecting on his 120-day underwater adventure, Koch expressed mixed emotions. "It was a great adventure and now it's over there's almost a sense of regret actually. I enjoyed my time here very much," he told AFP. Describing the serene beauty of life beneath the waves, he added, "It is beautiful when things calm down and it gets dark, and the sea is glowing. It is impossible to describe; you have to experience that yourself."

To celebrate his record-breaking feat, Koch toasted with champagne, smoked a cigar, and leaped into the Caribbean Sea before being picked up by a boat and taken ashore for a celebratory party.

Koch's underwater capsule, located 11 meters (36 feet) below the sea and 15 minutes by boat from northern Panama's coast, was equipped with essential amenities. It featured a bed, toilet, TV, computer, internet, and even an exercise bike. Electricity was supplied by solar panels on the surface, with a backup generator available. However, the capsule lacked a shower.

The capsule was connected to another chamber above the waves via a narrow spiral staircase enclosed in a tube, which facilitated food deliveries and visitor access, including regular visits from a doctor. Koch's daily life was closely monitored through four cameras that ensured compliance with the record's strict requirements and observed his mental health.

Susana Reyes explained the rigorous monitoring process: "We needed witnesses who were monitoring and verifying 24/7 for more than 120 days." She acknowledged the record's uniqueness, calling it "one of the most extravagant" achievements that demanded significant effort and dedication.

Koch, inspired by the fictional Captain Nemo from Jules Verne's Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, kept a copy of the novel by his bedside during the endeavor. Speaking halfway through his mission, he expressed hope that his achievement would challenge perceptions of human habitation. "What we are trying to do here is prove that the seas are actually a viable environment for human expansion," he said.

This extraordinary accomplishment highlights not only Koch's resilience but also the potential for innovative thinking about the future of human settlement.