An Australian scientist emerged Wednesday after spending nearly two weeks underwater in a steel box, pedalling a stationary bicycle to generate his own electricity and growing algae to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen.

Marine biologist Lloyd Godson spent 13 days at the bottom of a lake in the bright yellow capsule he calls the BioSUB to fulfil a lifelong dream and make a point about sustainable living.

Godson used a system of solar panels and a pedal-powered generator to create electricity and recharge his laptop computer, and kept an algae garden to absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen for breathing.

"It's nice to feel the sunshine on the face and the breeze here," Godson told reporters after emerging from the three-metre-long sub, which was submerged in a lake in the eastern Australian town of Albury. "You start to get a bit of cabin fever, but … I thought it was going to drive me a bit more nuts than it did."

The 29-year-old scientist got funding for the project by winning a $41,840 US contest called Live Your Dream, sponsored by a nature magazine, Australian Geographic.

Godson had to recycle his own urine and waste, but a team of divers delivered food and drinking water to the sub, including fruit, nuts and a homemade lasagna. An "Easter shark" swam by with a supply of chocolate eggs, according to local media reports.

For entertainment, Godson watched videos on his laptop and used a wireless internet connection to communicate with schoolchildren from around the world.