Professor Joseph Dituri, popularly known as Dr. Deep Sea, has already broken the record to live underwater without depressurization for the longest time. However, he is extending her stay there for an important mission.
Dr. Deep Sea For Project Neptune 100
Dituri is from the University of South Florida. He beat Bruce Cantrell and Jessica Fain's record in staying underwater on May 14.
The two Tennessee professors lived underwater for 73 days, two hours, and 34 minutes. However, Dituri planned to stay for more weeks after beating the record as he eyes a 100-day stay down there. He will mark his 100th day on June 9.
Dituri is working on a project called Project Neptune 100, which aims to learn about the effects of long-term exposure to extreme pressure in the human body. The Marine Resources Development Foundation organized the mission. It was part of their efforts to research the ocean and medical fields, along with educational outreach, Pop! reported.
By understanding more about how a high-oxygen and high-pressure environment influences blood flow in the brain, it hopes to find new treatments for traumatic brain injury. Dituri also discussed the potential importance of the discovery for astronauts as it applies to them.
According to him, astronauts will have to fly in a similar environment. In their case, it's space where their options for food, how far they can see, and how they can exercise are restricted. They will suffer from visual issues, bone loss, and muscle loss.
Dituri said their research could help better prepare our astronauts to land on the planet in good health and with the strength to explore it.
How's Dituri's Stay Underwater?
Dituri has been residing in a 100-square-foot bunker at a Florida Keys lodge for scuba divers. The undersea lodge is submerged 30 feet below the Atlantic Ocean. It is well-managed, with a small kitchen, living room, and bedroom area.
He likened it to a luxury hotel because it has a TV, a small freezer, a microwave, and a swimming pool, which serves as the entrance and exit of the pod.
Dr. Deep Sea seems to be enjoying his stay underwater, as he has been documenting it on social media. He shares snaps of him under the sea occasionally on Instagram.
In one post, he shares a snap of him lying on his mini pool. In the caption, he said sometimes one has to kick back and relax in the pool for a couple of minutes.
In another photo, he posed with a seahorse right in front of his face. He accompanied it with a lengthy caption, announcing it was his 81st day under the ocean.
Dituri said it was the busiest, most exciting, and most stressful week in his entire mission. He also thanked the people for their support and for cheering him, which energized him and lifted his spirit.
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