A man from Germany is attempting to break the world record for staying underwater for the longest period. Rüdiger Koch has been living in an underwater capsule off the coast of Puerto Lindo, Panama, for over 60 days. However, to officially set the Guinness World Record, he needs to stay there for a few more weeks.
The 59-year-old Koch moved into the underwater capsule on September 26 and plans to stay until January 24, marking a total of 120 days.
Currently, the record for the longest time spent living underwater is held by Joseph Dituri from the U.S., who set the record in 2023. From March to June 2023, Dituri lived in a 100-square-foot underwater pod at the Jules Undersea Lodge in Florida for 100 days, 30 feet below the ocean’s surface.
Rüdiger Koch is residing in an underwater capsule that spans 322 square feet. The capsule is equipped with amenities like a toilet, television, computer, and an exercise bike. It is powered by solar energy and has satellite internet access. Koch, an aerospace engineer, lives 36 feet beneath the surface, but he doesn’t have access to a shower. The underwater habitat is connected to a chamber above the water, where visitors can meet Koch.
Koch is occasionally visited by his doctor, wife, children, and sometimes journalists. Four cameras are recording his daily life to prove he is living underwater, while his team monitors his health. Koch says, “I don’t think I’m facing any problems here; the biggest challenge is that sometimes I feel like diving.”
He believes that living underwater is more peaceful than urban life, and his team is conducting research on this. In addition to breaking the record, Koch hopes to demonstrate that the ocean could be a viable place for human settlements. “We are trying to prove that the ocean could be an ideal environment for human populations,” he said.
