Florida scientist resurfaces after breaking record of living underwater

By Firdevs Bulut Kartal

TORONTO (AA) - A university professor in Florida achieved remarkable success and set a new world record, surfacing Friday after living underwater for 100 days.

Dr. Joseph Dituri, an associate professor, successfully lived beneath the ocean's surface for 100 days as part of his research mission.

On Friday morning, after spending over three months in a subaquatic compound located 22 feet below the waters of Key Largo in the US state of Florida, he emerged and felt the sun's rays for the first time since March 1.

Dr. Dituri, who is 55 years old and specializes in biomedical engineering, teaches at the University of South Florida and is known as "Dr. Deep Sea."
He conducted his record-setting research project at Jules' Undersea Lodge, which is the only underwater hotel in the United States, as stated on the hotel's website.

The research project, named Project Neptune 100, was coordinated by the Marine Resources Development Foundation based in Key Largo. Its focus was on ocean conservation research and studying the effects of compression on the human body, as described on Dr. Dituri's website.

"We intended to and have interacted with thousands of school children to get them interested in science, technology, engineering and math," Dituri told Guinness World Records on June 8, according to media reports.

While he was underwater, he continued teaching his students virtually, according to the University of South Florida.

On May 13, during his project, he surpassed the previous Guinness World Record for the longest time spent living underwater.

The previous record of 73 days, two hours, and 34 minutes was also set at the same location where Dr. Dituri accomplished his successful attempt, as confirmed by Guinness World Records.