Professor Joseph Dituri from the University of South Florida, who goes by the moniker ‘Dr. Deep Sea,’ won’t resurface just yet, even after breaking the record for the longest time to live underwater without depressurization.
On May 14, Dituri beat the previous record of two Tennessee professors, Bruce Cantrell and Jessica Fain, of 73 days, two hours, and 34 minutes.
However, he plans to stay underwater until he hits the 100-day mark on June 9 for a project called ’Project Neptune 100’, to study how long-term exposure to extreme pressure affects the human body.
“The record is a small bump and I really appreciate it. I’m honored to have it but we still have more Science to do,” he said.
Today I broke the world record for living underwater. The curiosity for discovery has led me here. My goal from day 1 has been to inspire generations to come, interview scientists who study life undersea and learn how the human body functions in extreme environments.
~Ad mare pic.twitter.com/bT0wndmMx9
— Joseph Dituri, Ph.D. (@drdeepsea) May 14, 2023
The mission organized by the Marine Resources Development Foundation was an effort to do research in the ocean and medical fields along with educational outreach.
It aims to discover new treatments for traumatic brain damage by learning more about how a high-oxygen and high-pressure environment affects blood flow in the brain.
Dituri also mentioned how the research could be of significance for astronauts: “Our astronauts will have to travel in an environment similar to the one I’m in now; the confined area will limit their options for food, how far they can see, and how they can exercise. They will experience muscle loss, bone loss, and vision problems. This research could help us better prepare our astronauts to ensure they arrive healthy and strong enough to explore the planet,” he said.
Dituri has been staying in a 100-square-foot bunker with a sleeping area, a living room, and a tiny kitchen, with a coffee maker and microwave in a 30-feet-deep lagoon at Jules Undersea Lodge in Key Largo, the same as the previous record holder.
Unlike a submarine, the lodge doesn’t have the technology to adjust to the higher underwater pressure.
If you’re curious about what he’s doing, Dituri has been sharing his progress and his way of living underwater on Instagram:
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