New world record

German lived 120 days in an underwater capsule

Aerospace engineer Rüdiger Koch in his underwater capsule(Bild: AFP/Martin Bernetti)

German aerospace engineer Rüdiger Koch has spent 120 days in an underwater capsule off the coast of Panama. He has thus set the world record for the longest time spent underwater without pressure equalization.

He lived in a 30 square meter underwater capsule. His temporary home is 15 minutes by boat off the coast of northern Panama and is equipped with most of the comforts of modern life: In addition to a bed and toilet, there is a TV, computer and internet as well as an exercise bike - but no shower. The capsule is connected to another chamber above water by a spiral staircase in a tube. There is a descent route into the underwater capsule for food supplies and visitors. Electricity is provided by solar panels.

Went straight back into the water
To celebrate, Rüdiger Koch (59) drank a glass of champagne and smoked a cigar before jumping into the Caribbean Sea for a dip. "It's impossible to describe, you have to experience it for yourself," says the German about his adventure.

Koch lived underwater for 120 days.(Bild: AFP/Martin Bernetti)

To celebrate, he drank a glass of champagne.(Bild: AFP/Martin Bernetti)

He surfaced on Friday under the eyes of the Guinness Book of Records' referee, Susana Reyes. The capsule was eleven meters deep in the sea. When everything calms down, it gets dark and the sea lights up, it is "beautiful", said Koch.