German engineer sets underwater living record at 120 days
New world record for staying underwater. Rudiger Koch spent 120 days in an underwater capsule, resulting in over 1,000 hours of film material.
According to Interesting Engineering, Rudiger Koch spent 120 days underwater, breaking the world record. Koch is a German aerospace engineer who spent four months in an underwater capsule, thereby breaking the world record. The previous record was 100 days and belonged to American Joseph Dituri. The German is the co-founder of the company Ocean Builders.
During his record-breaking time, the 59-year-old lived in a capsule with an area of about 30 square metres, equipped with the necessary amenities. Underwater, he had a bedroom with a toilet, a stationary bike for exercise, and even internet access.
Koch's underwater adventure
Koch's capsule was located 15 minutes by boat from the coast of Panama. It was connected to the surface by a tube featuring a narrow spiral staircase, which allowed for the delivery of food. His health was monitored by a doctor, and energy came from solar panels, with a backup generator providing additional power.
Koch described his experience as a great adventure, highlighting the beauty of the sea at night. During his stay, he recorded over 1,000 hours of film material. He was accompanied by the book "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" by Jules Verne.
The beauty of the sea and 1,000 hours of footage
In the capsule, four cameras were installed to record Koch's daily life, monitor his mental health, and confirm that he did not surface. Susana Reyes from Guinness World Records emphasized that constant monitoring was necessary to verify the record.
The researcher has high hopes for his experiment. He stated that his experience might change the outlook on human life and the possibilities of settling in extreme environments.
