Florida Man Sets New Record for Longest Underwater Stay, Aiming for 100 Days

In a Nutshell:

• Joseph Dituri, a University of South Florida associate professor, has broken the world record for the longest time living underwater, marking his 74th day at Jules’ Undersea Lodge in Key Largo as part of Project Neptune.
• Project Neptune is a mission of the Marine Resources Development Foundation which combines research and ocean conservation outreach. It is studying the physiological and psychological effects of compression on the human body. Dituri, who is teaching a biomedical engineering class online during his stay, is conducting daily tests on his health with help from other scientists.
• Dituri aims to inspire future generations and to enhance the understanding of how the human body functions in extreme environments. His goal is to stay underwater for 100 days. His unique adventure is sponsored by the International Board of Undersea Medicine.

Associate Professor Joseph Dituri from the University of South Florida made history on Saturday when he marked his 74th day living underwater, thereby surpassing the existing world record.

His stay at Jules’ Undersea Lodge in Key Largo is part of Project Neptune, a research initiative combined with ocean conservation outreach organized by the Marine Resources Development Foundation.

The previous record for the longest underwater stay was 73 days, set by two professors from Tennessee in 2014.

However, Dituri, a 55-year-old biomedical engineering teacher, has no plans to resurface just yet. He aims to reach a total of 100 days underwater.

“Today I broke the world record for living underwater,” Dituri announced on Twitter on Sunday.

“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.”

Project Neptune aims to explore more than just the underwater habitat. It is also focusing on the physiological and psychological effects of compression on the human body.

In pursuit of this research, Dituri continues to teach a biomedical engineering class online from his 100-square-foot habitat, located 30 feet below the surface.

The mission, sponsored by the International Board of Undersea Medicine, requires Dituri to keep track of his health meticulously.

To do this, he conducts daily testing of his vital statistics, assisted by a team of other scientists who join him underwater periodically. The team uses blood panels, ultrasounds, electrocardiograms, and stem cell tests to monitor his health.

Additionally, Dituri is testing an artificial intelligence tool designed to screen for illness.

Before joining the University of South Florida where he studied traumatic brain injuries, Dituri served as a saturation diving officer in the U.S. Navy.

His unique background combines naval experience with medical research, ideally equipping him for this pioneering venture into the depths.

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