This Man Has Been Living Underwater in the Sea for Two Months; His Habitat Has All Modern Facilities -See Photos!
Rudiger Koch, a 59-year-old aerospace engineer from Germany, has been living 11 meters beneath the surface of the Caribbean Sea for two months in a submerged capsule off the coast of Panama. With another two months to go before resurfacing, Koch already knows what he’ll do first when back on land: “a shower, a real shower.”
But his underwater venture is about far more than setting a record. Koch’s bold experiment is an attempt to prove that oceans could be the next frontier for human habitation. “Moving out to the ocean is something we should do as a species,” Koch explained. “What we are trying to do here is prove that the seas are actually a viable environment for human expansion.”
Koch’s unique underwater home, a 30-square-meter capsule, is equipped with modern comforts like a bed, toilet, TV, computer, internet, and even an exercise bike. However, it lacks one basic amenity—a shower. Attached to the capsule is a vertical tube that connects to another chamber perched above the waves. This upper chamber acts as a support hub for the team, where supplies are sent down and his day-to-day activities are monitored.
The capsule not only supports Koch but also contributes to the ocean environment. Acting as an artificial reef, it provides shelter for marine life. “In the night, you can hear all the crustaceans,” Koch said, marveling at the underwater sounds surrounding him. “There’s the fish out there, and there’s all that stuff, and that wasn’t here before we came.”
Inside the capsule, Koch keeps a copy of Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea on his bedside table—a fitting tribute to Captain Nemo, one of literature’s most famous underwater explorers. Koch began his mission on September 26 and hopes to resurface on January 24, surpassing the 100-day underwater living record currently held by American Joseph Dituri. Two clocks in the capsule remind him of how much time has passed and how much remains.
Koch’s movements are continuously recorded by four cameras, overseen by his colleague Eial Berja from the chamber above. These recordings serve to monitor his mental health and provide evidence that he hasn’t surfaced during the mission. Despite careful planning, challenges have arisen—such as a severe storm that nearly jeopardized the project. His only visitors so far have been his doctor, his children, and his wife.
This mission isn’t just a personal feat; it’s tied to the broader vision of the seasteading movement. Koch, alongside Canadian supporter Grant Romundt, believes in the potential of building ocean-based communities beyond traditional government control. Although such ideas often spark controversy, Koch sees them as a pathway to innovation and survival.
As Koch counts down to his return, his underwater capsule serves as both a testing ground and a vision for what life under the sea could mean for humanity. For now, he’s focused on completing his mission, dreaming of the day he’ll finally step back onto dry land—and take that long-awaited shower.
