By — Nicole Ellis Nicole Ellis By — Casey Kuhn Casey Kuhn By — Yasmeen Sami Alamiri Yasmeen Sami Alamiri Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/the-man-known-as-dr-deep-sea-set-a-new-record-for-living-underwater Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter The man known as ‘Dr. Deep Sea’ set a new record for living underwater Science Jun 2, 2023 5:03 PM EDT EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated to reflect Dituri was living 22 feet undersea. Every day for more than two months, Joseph Dituri has woken up underwater. The professor and retired U.S. Naval officer, who goes by “Dr. Deep Sea” on social media, has broken the record for number of days living underwater in an environment without depressurization — in this case, in Jules’ Undersea Lodge, a hotel 22 feet below the surface of a lagoon in Key Largo, Florida. He’s been there for more than 90 days, far surpassing the previous record of 73 days, which was set by two Tennessee professors in 2014 at the same location. WATCH MORE: Climate change is worsening heat waves in oceans. Here’s why that’s a problem Dituri plans to stay there until he reaches 100 days, motivated by his “zest for life and desire to explore,” but also a research mission that is studying what extreme pressure does to the body over time — and specifically, the effects of hyperbaric medicine, or the use of oxygen at a higher pressure level than our atmosphere. Dituri said that while there are still a slew of tests that need to be completed, he’s found that “every single inflammatory marker in my body is cut by half.” He also keeps in touch with students online about his scientific findings, with the aim of raising awareness about the importance of maintaining the ocean, which accounts for over half of the world’s oxygen production. While his internet connection is strong, Dituri said connecting with others is part of what he misses most about life on land. “There’s this lack of tactile functioning. The high-fives, the handshakes, the hugs,” he said, adding that he also misses the sunshine. But he has been sure to keep up a healthy diet and routine. He’s stuck to a diet of lean proteins – fish and eggs, cooked in a microwave – and getting enough sleep. He also gets a break from his underwater dwelling via a daily scuba trip. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now By — Nicole Ellis Nicole Ellis Nicole Ellis is PBS NewsHour's digital anchor where she hosts pre- and post-shows and breaking news live streams on digital platforms and serves as a correspondent for the nightly broadcast. Ellis joined the NewsHour from The Washington Post, where she was an Emmy nominated on-air reporter and anchor covering social issues and breaking news. In this role, she hosted, produced, and directed original documentaries and breaking news videos for The Post’s website, YouTube, Amazon Prime, Facebook and Twitch, earning a National Outstanding Breaking News Emmy Nomination for her coverage of Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Ellis created and hosted The Post’s first original documentary series, “Should I freeze my eggs?,” in which she explores her own fertility and received the 2019 Digiday Publishers Award. She also created and hosted the Webby Award-winning news literacy series “The New Normal,” the most viewed video series in the history of The Washington Post’s women’s vertical, The Lily. She is the author of “We Go High,” a non-fiction self-help-by-proxy book on overcoming adversity publishing in 2022, and host of Critical Conversations on BookClub, an author-led book club platform. Prior to that, Ellis was a part of the production team for the Peabody and Emmy Award-winning series, CNN Heroes. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Human Rights from Columbia University, as well as a Master’s in Journalism from Columbia Journalism School. By — Casey Kuhn Casey Kuhn Casey is a producer for NewsHour's digital video team. She has won several awards for her work in broadcast journalism, including a national Edward R. Murrow award. @caseyatthedesk By — Yasmeen Sami Alamiri Yasmeen Sami Alamiri Yasmeen Sami Alamiri is the Senior Editor for video and special projects at the PBS NewsHour.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated to reflect Dituri was living 22 feet undersea. Every day for more than two months, Joseph Dituri has woken up underwater. The professor and retired U.S. Naval officer, who goes by “Dr. Deep Sea” on social media, has broken the record for number of days living underwater in an environment without depressurization — in this case, in Jules’ Undersea Lodge, a hotel 22 feet below the surface of a lagoon in Key Largo, Florida. He’s been there for more than 90 days, far surpassing the previous record of 73 days, which was set by two Tennessee professors in 2014 at the same location. WATCH MORE: Climate change is worsening heat waves in oceans. Here’s why that’s a problem Dituri plans to stay there until he reaches 100 days, motivated by his “zest for life and desire to explore,” but also a research mission that is studying what extreme pressure does to the body over time — and specifically, the effects of hyperbaric medicine, or the use of oxygen at a higher pressure level than our atmosphere. Dituri said that while there are still a slew of tests that need to be completed, he’s found that “every single inflammatory marker in my body is cut by half.” He also keeps in touch with students online about his scientific findings, with the aim of raising awareness about the importance of maintaining the ocean, which accounts for over half of the world’s oxygen production. While his internet connection is strong, Dituri said connecting with others is part of what he misses most about life on land. “There’s this lack of tactile functioning. The high-fives, the handshakes, the hugs,” he said, adding that he also misses the sunshine. But he has been sure to keep up a healthy diet and routine. He’s stuck to a diet of lean proteins – fish and eggs, cooked in a microwave – and getting enough sleep. He also gets a break from his underwater dwelling via a daily scuba trip. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now