Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday dived to the bottom of the Baltic Sea aboard a submersible to explore the wreck of a ship that sank in 1869.

Russian President Vladimir Putin rides in a submersible in the Baltic Sea near Gotland Island July 15, 2013 to explore a sunken ship. [CNTV]

State television pictures showed Putin climbing aboard the Sea Explorer 5 underwater research vessel for the half-hour dive to the wreck of a frigate that sank in the Gulf of Finland.

"It is lying on its right side," Putin said in televised reports afterwards, saying the vessel was well-preserved.

"Indeed, it's in perfect state, the name of the ship can be clearly read.

"It's not scary, it's very interesting," he added, referring to the experience.

Television broadcast green-tinted footage showing the Russian strongman carefully inspecting the shipwreck from inside the submersible.

He said he was not at the controls himself, noting he was not skilled enough. "You have to have lots of experience to operate this machine," he was quoted as saying.

The naval frigate Oleg was discovered by Russian divers in 2003 and is now being studied by scientists.

It lies at a depth of 60 meters between the islands of Gogland and Sommers.

The 60-year-old sports-mad president, who returned to the Kremlin for a third term last year, prides himself on keeping in peak physical condition and has raised eyebrows with a series of media friendly stunts in recent years.

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)