An iPhone that was accidentally dropped by a holidaymaker in the Pacific Ocean still works after spending 33 days underwater – and he got it back after it was discovered by a scuba diver. Isn’t that cool?
iPhone Dropped in the Ocean Still Works after 33 Days Underwater
Most electronics are sensitive to moisture, especially when submerged in water – and that’s triply hard in salt water because the minerals and other components can quickly erode the materials.
The water resistance of iPhone products can greatly depend on their model, with some being rated IP68 under IEC standard 60529 for a maximum depth of 6 meters, for submersion of up to 30 minutes. That’s according to Apple.
Photo credit: WGN Morning News
But someone has proven that the ratings can actually go higher after their phone was submerged for more than 30 days in the Pacific Ocean – and it still works.
Zach Siggelkow was taking a final video of the Pacific Ocean on his last day of vacation in Hawaii when a wave caused him to drop the phone.
It was a sad goodbye to his phone – and Siggelkow went home to Minnesota without it.
The phone would have remained at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean forever, but it was found by scuba diver Dr. Karl Brookins some 33 days later.
Without any idea about the owner or whether the phone would even work at all, Brookins still took a chance and took it back home.
The scuba diver explained that he packed the phone in a bowl of rice for a week – and it actually turned on afterward.
He was able to contact the owner, who was quite surprised that the phone survived that long being submerged at sea.
Watch the news here:
How to Avoid Liquid Damage on Your Phone
Although this tourist’s phone survived 33 days of being submerged in the ocean, this doesn’t mean that others can, too.
To avoid liquid damage on your phone, follow the following tips:
- Avoid swimming or bathing while carrying your phone
- If going out to a place with water, such as a lake, beach, or ocean, it’s best to add a case with a lanyard as a second layer of protection to keep it from falling
- Avoid being in a sauna or steam room with your phone
- Avoid touching your phone if you have wet hands