(Main Largo) This weekend a university professor broke the record for longest stay underwater without decompression at a scuba diving lodge in the Keys, Florida.
74e Joseph Tituri’s day at the Jules Undersea Lodge, located at the bottom of a ten-meter-deep pool in Key Largo, was no different from his previous days since he drowned on the 1st.R March.
Mr Tituri, who calls himself “Doctor Deep Sea”, ate protein-rich meals such as microwaved eggs and salmon, exercised with resistance bands, did daily push-ups and slept an hour. Unlike a submarine, the Lodge does not use technology to adapt to the increased pressure underwater.
The previous record of 73 days, two hours and 34 minutes was set at the same location in 2014 by two Tennessee professors, Bruce Cantrell and Jessica Fine.
But Mr. Tituri is not satisfied with this record and reappearance: he plans to stay at the lodge until June 9, when he will reach 100 days and complete an underwater mission named “Project Neptune 100”.
The work, which combines medical and marine research with educational activity, was organized by the Habitat-owned Marine Resource Development Foundation.
Tituri, who teaches at the University of South Florida, holds a doctorate in biomedical engineering and is a retired US Navy officer, said: “The record is a little extra and I really appreciate it. It’s an honor for me, but scientifically we have a lot more to do. »
His research involves daily experiments in physiology to monitor how the human body responds to long-term exposure to extreme stress.
“Populating the world’s oceans is taking care of them by living there and treating them well,” Tituri said.
As part of his outreach work, Mr. Tithuri broadcasts online classes and interviews from his digital studio located under the sea. In the last 74 days, he has reached 2,500 students through online classes on marine science and more. Regular biomedical engineering classes at the University of South Florida.
While he says he loves living under the sea, there’s one thing he really misses.
“The thing I miss the most on the surface is the sun,” Dituri said. The sun played an important role in my life – I usually go to the gym at five and come back to watch the sunrise. »
