German engineer sets underwater living world record with 120 days
The new world record for staying underwater. Rudiger Koch spent 120 days in an underwater capsule, resulting in 1,000 hours of film material.
According to Interesting Engineering, Rudiger Koch, a German aerospace engineer, spent 120 days underwater, breaking the world record. Koch spent four months in an underwater capsule, thereby breaking the previous record of 100 days, which 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 that was about 320 square feet and equipped with the necessary amenities. Underwater, his bedroom had a toilet, a stationary bike for exercise, and even the internet.
Koch's underwater adventure
Koch's capsule was located 15 minutes by boat from the coast of Panama. It was connected to the surface with a tube featuring a narrow spiral staircase, which allowed food to be delivered. A doctor monitored his health, and solar panels provided energy, 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
Four cameras were installed in the capsule, recording Koch's daily life, monitoring his mental health, and confirming 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 believes that his experience might change people's outlooks on human life and the possibilities of settling in extreme environments.
