In a groundbreaking achievement, a US researcher has shattered the world record for the longest duration spent living underwater without undergoing depressurization.
Joseph Dituri, known as Dr Deep Sea, has now surpassed 74 days residing at the depths of a 30ft-deep lagoon in Key Largo, Florida.
Dituri shows no signs of slowing down as he revealed his intention to extend his stay at Jules’ Undersea Lodge to a minimum of 100 days.
Motivated by the thirst for exploration, he expressed, “The curiosity for discovery has led me here.”
From the very beginning, his mission has been to inspire future generations, engage with scientists studying life beneath the waves, and comprehend the human body’s response in extreme environments.
Two professors previously established the record of 73 days spent living underwater at ambient pressure in the same Key Largo lodge back in 2014.
Unlike submarines, Jules’ Undersea Lodge does not rely on technology to adjust to the heightened underwater pressure.
Prof Dituri embarked on his underwater endeavor, named Project Neptune 100, on March 1st. The University of South Florida professor resides in a compact room situated at the lagoon’s base in the Florida Keys.
The lodge pays homage to Jules Verne, the renowned author of the science fiction classic “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.”
Under the project, Prof Dituri is conducting research on how the human body reacts to prolonged exposure to extreme pressure.
Medical experts are closely monitoring the 55-year-old researcher’s health and evaluating the psychological impact of long-term isolation and confinement through a series of medical tests.
Remarkably, his underwater residence has not hindered his commitment to his professorial responsibilities. The University of South Florida reports that Prof Dituri, who served in the Navy for 28 years, continues to teach his biomedical engineering classes online while submerged in the lagoon.
To maintain an active routine, the professor wakes up at 05:00 each day for exercise and sustains himself with protein-rich meals such as eggs and salmon, which he warms using a microwave.
While his underwater venture has been groundbreaking, Prof Dituri eagerly anticipates returning to activities above the surface, confessing to the Associated Press, “The thing that I miss the most about being on the surface is literally the sun.”
