Rudiger Koch, a 59-year-old engineer-astronaut from Germany, set a new world record by spending 120 days underwater in a capsule measuring 30 square meters at a depth of 11 meters off the coast of Panama. The previous record, held by American Joseph Dituri, was 100 days.
The need for constant monitoring and observations during Koch's stay was ensured by four cameras installed around the capsule where he resided. Guinness World Records expert Suzanne Rice noted that achieving this record required significant effort and teamwork: "We needed witnesses who monitored and verified him continuously for more than 120 days, and this was one of the enormous challenges."
After such a lengthy stint underwater, Rudiger Koch admitted that he felt some sadness about exiting the capsule: "It was an amazing experience, and now that it's over, I still have a feeling of sadness about leaving the capsule; I really enjoyed the time spent here."
Describing the impressions from the underwater world, Koch emphasized that the view from the capsule window when darkness falls, and the water starts to ripple, is simply impossible to express in words: "The atmosphere is just breathtaking when everything quiets down, silence sets in and ocean waves start to swell; it's impossible to describe it in words, you have to experience it yourself."
After exiting the capsule, Rudiger plunged into the water to take his first shower after 120 days, and he was brought to the surface on a boat, where he was met with warmth. In the capsule, connected to a living dome on a metallic strut above the water, Rudiger had a living area of 30 square meters with a bed, toilet, television, computer, treadmill, and ventilators.
