Man sets an unbelievable record of living under water for 120 days...read to know the whole journey

Germany (The Uttam Hindu): A German aerospace engineer has made history by setting a world record for the longest time living underwater without depressurization — an impressive 120 days in a submerged capsule near Panama's coast.

Rudiger Koch, 59, surfaced from his 30-square-meter (320-square-foot) underwater home as Guinness World Records adjudicator Susana Reyes confirmed his achievement. He had officially broken the previous record of 100 days, set by American Joseph Dituri in a Florida lagoon. "It was an incredible adventure and now that it’s over there’s almost a sense of regret. I really enjoyed my time here," Koch shared with media after leaving the capsule, located 11 meters (36 feet) below the sea’s surface. 

Describing the underwater experience, he said, "It’s magical when everything calms down, and the darkness sets in — the sea starts glowing. It’s impossible to put into words; you have to live it yourself." To mark the occasion, Koch celebrated with champagne, smoked a cigar and then took a leap into the Caribbean Sea before being picked up by a boat and brought ashore for a party. The capsule where he spent his record-breaking stay came equipped with modern amenities, including a bed, toilet, TV, computer, internet and an exercise bike. Located about 15 minutes by boat from Panama’s northern coast, the capsule connected to a surface chamber via a tube containing a narrow spiral staircase, which allowed food and visitors — including a doctor — to reach him. Solar panels on the surface provided power, along with a backup generator, though there was no shower. 

Halfway through his mission, Koch had told the media that, he hoped the experiment would challenge conventional ideas about human habitation. "What we’re demonstrating here is that the oceans can be a viable environment for human expansion," he explained. Four cameras were installed to capture his daily routine, monitor his mental health and ensure he never surfaced. "We needed continuous, 24/7 monitoring and verification over the 120 days," Reyes reporters. She noted that the feat was “undoubtedly one of the most extraordinary” records she had encountered and praised the extensive effort it required.

A fan of Jules Verne’s *Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea*, Koch kept a copy of the classic novel on his bedside table beneath the waves.