Man ‘Ages Backwards’ after Living at Bottom of the Sea

Joseph Dituri, a retired Naval officer and known as Dr. Deep Sea, recently made an interesting claim about his lifespan. After spending 93 days submerged underwater in a 100-square-foot pod at the depths of the Atlantic Ocean, Dituri believes he has increased his lifespan by 20 percent.

His unique endeavor aimed to investigate the effects onthe human body of living in a pressurized environment while also surpassing the previous record for the longest stay underwater, which stood at 73 days.

📸 #USF Professor and @EngineeringUSF alum Joseph Dituri, PhD '18, aka Dr. Deep Sea, shows his #BullPride while shattering the world record for living underwater. He's expected to resurface June 9 after 100 days beneath the waves. 🌊🤘 #USFProud #WorldRecordBreaker pic.twitter.com/1j69eagnYF

— USF Alumni Association (@USFalumniAssn) June 1, 2023

Doctors examined Dituri’s body, closely monitoring any changes that occurred between March and June.

These assessments included tests on telomeres, which are compounds found at the ends of chromosomes and tend to shorten as we age, Dituri told the Daily Mail.

Dituri further said that the results of these tests have shown a remarkable development. His telomeres have reportedly grown 20 percent longer, suggesting a potential extension in his lifespan.

Furthermore, he claims to have experienced a significant increase in the number of stem cells in his body, up to ten times more than when he first took up residence in the underwater pod back in March.

60 to 66 percent of deep REM sleep

Dituri says he experiences a significant amount of deep REM sleep every night, ranging from 60 to 66 percent.

He further claims that his inflammatory markers have been reduced by half, and his cholesterol levels have dropped by 72 points.

Although the scientist didn’t provide specific information about how he measured his telomeres, there are testing services available that can determine their length using blood samples. These services usually take around two weeks to provide the results, reported the Daily Mail.

A small but powerful gift from a great friend.#WorldOceanWeek #drdeepsea 🧜🏼‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/lAfKJNhMNZ

— Joseph Dituri, Ph.D. (@drdeepsea) June 6, 2023

Investigating the effects of extreme pressure on the body

Dituri is utilizing a pressurized environment to investigate how the human body reacts to prolonged exposure to extreme pressure within a confined space for a duration of 100 days.

This simulated environment mimics the conditions that space travelers will encounter on their journey to Mars.

In an interview with Daily Mail, Dituri emphasized the necessity of having a secluded location like the small pod he is using.

He suggested that individuals should be sent to such an environment for a two-week period, where they can indulge in foot treatments, unwind, and experience the advantages of hyperbaric medicine.

Commencing his experiment on March 1, Dituri’s mission goes beyond merely surpassing the previous underwater endurance record of 73 days. He also aims to gain insights into how pressure can positively impact the human body.