By DIVE Staff
A new Guinness World Record for underwater living has been German aerospace engineer Rüdiger ‘Rudy’ Koch, after he completed an extraordinary 120-day stretch beneath the waves.
Koch and his team completed the world record as part of a project to demonstrate the capabilities of Ocean Builders, a marine innovation and technology company co-founded by Koch with a stated mission ‘to redefine sustainable, eco-conscious oceanic living’.
‘This project represented a unique opportunity for Ocean Builders to establish itself as a pioneer in the creation of sustainable marine homes,’ said Koch’s co-founder, Grant Romundt. ‘This was just the first step towards a future where humans could live in harmony with the ocean, promoting a balance between innovation and environmental stewardship.’
The new record surpasses the previous record set by Professor Joseph Dituri, a former US Navy saturation diver who spent 100 days living underwater in Florida’s Key Largo to study the potential health benefits of living in a pressurised environment.
Koch spent his 120 days living in Ocean Builders’ ‘SeaPod’ – an advanced floating home built to combine marine-grade engineering with environmental responsibility.
Located approximately 15km off the coast of Panama, the Sea Pod features a floating platform with a habitation capsule suspended 11m underwater and accessible via a tube with a spiral staircase, through which family members and his doctor were able to visit.
The capsule was also fitted with cameras to monitor his physical well-being and prove that he had not left the habitat during this time.
Koch was closely monitored throughout his mission by a team of health professionals. The SeaPod was also well-maintained, its large underwater windows cleaned weekly to provide unobstructed views of the surrounding marine life.
‘Living underwater was more than a record-breaking journey; it was a profound reminder of our ability to shape the future,’ said Koch after emerging from the Sea Pod. ‘We held in our hands the power of creation, abundance, and renewal. How we chose to wield this extraordinary power will define the future of our planet and our place within it.’
‘SeaPods offered a sustainable and innovative way of living on the water, opening new possibilities for how we engaged with our planet,” said Koch. ‘By providing an immersive experience with marine life, the SeaPod created a deeper connection to the ocean, fostering a greater appreciation and understanding of its importance.
‘We hoped this unique perspective inspired a lasting commitment to protecting the ocean’s health, which was crucial for the future of our planet.’
Learn more about Ocean Builders at oceanbuilders.com or follow the team’s progress on Instagram: @ocean_builders, X: @OceanBuilders, Facebook: @Ocean Builders and YouTube @OceanBuilders
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