'I was under the sea for 6 months on nuclear submarine - I thought I'd never get out'

'I was under the sea for 6 months on nuclear submarine - I thought I'd never get out'A Royal Navy nuclear submariner has opened up about the "strangest" part of spending months underwaterCommentsNewsEmilia Randall GAU Writer10:26, 14 Apr 2026View 3 ImagesPaul felt like he would be on the submarine forever(Image: Instagram)A 22-year-old Royal Navy sailor has revealed the harsh realities of life aboard submarines, describing "coffin dreams ", six-hour sleep cycles and months devoid of sunlight.‌The submariner from Liverpool Vanguard Deterrent shared with his YouTube followers that he felt as though he would "never get out," stating the "strangest part about spending six months under water isn't being down there - it's coming back and nothing feels normal, not even things you've done your whole life."‌Paul McNally endured six months submerged before returning for a brief few weeks' respite. He expressed that this was almost more challenging than the months he spent at the ocean's depths.‌"The first thing that hit me was the silence after months of constant voices and machinery," he disclosed on his YouTube Channel, reports the Express.View 3 ImagesSenior Rate's bunks in the Royal Navy nuclear powered sub(Image: -)He further commented: "Real silence feels empty, like something is missing - to the point where I had to play washing machine noises just to fall asleep."‌However, Paul found no relief in sleep either. He said: "Even sleeping felt weird. For the first time in months there wasn't a ceiling just inches above my face. And the strangest part - the coffin dreams just stopped."Coffin dreams are prevalent among submariners working in extremely confined spaces. Individuals often dream of being enclosed within a coffin. Paul's nightmare involved being trapped in a narrow crawl space.Paul said: "Your brain starts putting you in a coffin every...