His title might surprise you, but the German Rüdiger Koch is a true “sea astronaut”. Less known than Neil Armstrong and Thomas Pesquet in his international space station, the professional aerospace engineer has embarked on a somewhat crazy experiment: since September 26, he has been living 11 meters below sea level, offshore off the coast of Panama, in an underwater capsule attached on the surface to a house built on the waters of the Caribbean Sea.
Objective: stay there two more months to beat the record for the longest immersion without depressurization. A record held by an American who stayed 100 days in a Florida lake.
Still several weeks to go, in a space that remains quite comfortable, since the German engineer benefits from a capsule of 30 m2 of living space with bed, toilet, television, computer, exercise bike, fans, and even an internet connection established thanks to a satellite link and solar panels on the surface which allow it to have electricity. The only real regret for the engineer: the absence of a shower.
A fully immersive experience, with a bedside book, a classic of French literature: 20,000 leagues under the sea by Jules Verne, of course. In the house above the capsule, a security expert constantly ensures his safety, with four cameras which film his every move. Although the experiment was almost abandoned after the engineer had to face the wind, rain and waves, he held on and enjoyed, through his portholes, a magnificent landscape in turquoise light. A little frustrating, however, not being able to go swimming with all his fish that he sees passing by every day.
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