Meet the Expert: Dr. Joseph Dituri, Aquanaut and Director of the Undersea Oxygen Clinic in Tampa

Dr. Joseph Dituri is a lifelong explorer, university professor, world-record holder, retired naval commanding officer, published author, and global speaker.

Most recently he has garnered international media coverage for living underwater for 100 days. Dituri dove down on March 1st and surfaced on June 9th, 2023, living 22-feet below the surface as part of Project Neptune, a 100-day underseas mission. While below, he conducted primary research on the human body in isolated, compressed and extreme conditions, and with other scientists conducted projects aside from his. Operating from the Jules’ Undersea Lodge in Key Largo, Florida, on day 73 of the undersea mission he broke the Guinness World Record for longest time spent living in a fixed underwater habitat.

Project Neptune was a long-term study of the physiological and psychological effects of compression on the human body and to explore, learn and discover aspects of ocean and marine life. While undersea, Dituri interacted directly with 5,579 students in 15 different countries about the importance of STEM and career paths. Dituri developed his love for exploration and the ocean early in life and motivated him to serve
28 years in the U.S. Navy.Dituri is the Director of the Undersea Oxygen Clinic in Tampa and an associate professor at the University of South Florida, where he teaches biomedical engineering.

Dr. Dituri underwater waving at people                                  Dr. Dituri looking at things up close

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Challenge:  Sit Still. Just be quiet and notice the world around you. Try to figure out what is the one thing that makes you happy, keeps you curious, and gets you excited about learning more. 

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Highlighted book for this episode! 

Astronaut-Aquanaut: How Space Science and Sea Science Interact 
by Jennifer Swanson

Journey from the deepest trenches in the oceans to the farthest humans have ventured into space and learn what it takes to explore the extremes. You might just be surprised by how similar the domains of ASTRONAUTS and AQUANAUTS really are.