DR. Joseph Dituri, a Florida professor, has broken the world record for the longest time spent living underwater without depressurization.
As of Saturday, Dr. Dituri, 55, has successfully completed 74 days living in Jules’ Undersea Lodge, situated in a 30-foot-deep lagoon in Key Largo.
He plans to stay underwater for at least 100 days, surpassing the previous record of 73 days set by two professors in 2014.
Dr. Dituri, also known as “Dr. Deep Sea,” teaches at the University of South Florida (USF) and embarked on this remarkable endeavor to inspire future generations, conduct interviews with underwater scientists, and gain insights into how the human body functions in extreme environments.
His underwater residence is part of a project called “Project Neptune 100,” organized by the Marine Resources Development Foundation, which owns the deep-sea lodge.
The project combines medical and ocean research with education, aiming to analyze the effects of long-term underwater pressure on the human body.
Throughout the project, researchers have been closely monitoring Dr. Dituri’s physical and psychological health, conducting medical tests to ensure his well-being in this challenging environment.
Dr. Dituri expressed his gratitude for breaking the record but emphasized that there is still more scientific work to be done.
He sees the project as an opportunity to promote the importance of ocean conservation and to foster a sense of responsibility towards the world’s oceans.
Despite his extended underwater stay, Dr. Dituri continues to fulfill his teaching responsibilities, conducting biomedical engineering classes at USF while residing in the underwater lagoon.
