Putin Goes Scuba Diving At 'Russia's Atlantis' (VIDEO)

Just when you thought Vladimir Putin had done it all -- played hockey, crooned standards, flown planes and rode horses -- Russia's ever-ambitious prime minister has found a new realm to explore.

The premier now seems to be trying on Jacques Cousteau's legacy for size, traveling to the Taman Peninsula to go scuba diving at a submerged archaeological site known as the "Russian Atlantis."

As the state news agency RIA Novosti is reporting, Putin emerged from the water with two ancient ceramic containers which he claimed to have found at a depth of two meters. He then indicated he would discuss prospects of opening a museum at the site, where the ancient Greek city of Phanagoria once stood: "Mankind will be interested to learn that we have such riches. I believe people will come from all over the world."

Watch footage of Putin's adventurous dive here:

Comments

[TAIsabel]

10:35 PM on 08/13/2011

Was that Jimmy Hoffa inside that urn?

[dead WASP]

11:02 AM on 08/12/2011

Wow, two meters!

[SDindependent]

10:56 AM on 08/12/2011

Bet he can see Alaska from Russia........... he is the Russian version of Palin, anything for a TV spot and more dollars.

[Asmodean1]

09:08 PM on 08/13/2011

Do not underestimate this man. He is not stupid.

[cat kuzya]

03:52 AM on 08/12/2011

elections in Russia are coming up.. so Medvedev needs to come up with a better circus...sorta

[Benjamin Higbee]

09:02 PM on 08/11/2011

Two Prop Urns and a set up photo op. This is the dumbest thing I've ever seen. It's textbook elitist puppeteering propaganda at it's most pungent. I even feel sorry for myself typing out these words and the seconds wasted....atlantis...Even Plato said Atlantis was 9000 years before his time. So if the Greek city was Greek, how could it be Russia's Atlantis? How about Russia's Alexandria? Or Russia's Thebes? Or Russia's flooded Hellenistic vacation town...Putin fondling two prop urns, it's hardly a lost city.... under water...2 meters....Crimeanently.

[oxygen]

11:24 PM on 08/11/2011

interesting how that area became under water though isn't it regardless of modernity's definitions of the "whereabouts"

[JacksonJones]

11:57 AM on 08/12/2011

"Crimeanent­ly"

Sheriff of Nottingham (from the Disney movie), I presume?

[Benjamin Higbee]

01:59 PM on 08/12/2011

And Crimea, of course, on the Black Sea...words..gotta love em

[OMG-XYZ]

07:39 PM on 08/11/2011

Too bad he came up.

[AngryCitizen]

07:36 PM on 08/11/2011

But can he leap tall buildings????

[THE GREAT PURIFIER]

06:35 PM on 08/11/2011

Our president can dive, too.

Along with his latest polls.

[Parade Keegan]

05:44 PM on 08/11/2011

Putin's a looter? Who knew!

[TAIsabel]

04:02 PM on 08/11/2011

iId anyone here notice the ad for 24,000 "pretty Russian women" on the video?! WTF?!

[oxygen]

03:53 PM on 08/11/2011

a great example of a great politician, why can't we have more like him in the u.s.

[omobob]

03:51 PM on 08/11/2011

He dives for sunken treasure, tags whales for the environment, sings on key and dates a Russian Prima Ballerina. He is Vladimir Putin, the most interesting man in the world. He doesn’t always drink but when he does it’s Russian Vodka. "stay thirsty, my friend".

[repugnicansfearme]

04:11 PM on 08/11/2011

Agreed! And deftly put! "Opulence, I has it!"

[oxygen]

11:21 PM on 08/11/2011

but billy up against your karate skills I do believe mr putin could grind you down into the mat with his judo - you mentioned all the terrible things he did in the kgb - what about bush rice and cheney? they did the same but bragged about it, at least this guy has some class, brains, and awesome daughters nothing like cheney's big mouthed one

[Badfinger1]

04:22 PM on 08/11/2011

....."I don't usually drink, but when I do...There is a measurable affect on the G.D.P. of the host country.."

[netzwerg]

02:58 PM on 08/11/2011

Putin should be the next James Bond actor.

[THE GREAT PURIFIER]

06:35 PM on 08/11/2011

Nah. He's too good looking. We need to find another ugly member of the Queen's privy council for the role.

[Marjorie Sager]

12:08 PM on 08/11/2011

Putan has watched to many Dos equis commercials.

[omobob]

03:53 PM on 08/11/2011

He is the most interesting man in the world. Stay thirsty, my friend, faved, cheers.