Joseph Dituri

Joseph Dituri is an American biomedical researcher, and former Naval Commander. Also known as Dr. Deep Sea., his research includes life support equipment design, high carbon dioxide environments, hypobaric medicine, hyperbaric medicine, and traumatic brain injury. He has made contributions in the field as a researcher, speaker, lecturer, and writer, including Exploration and Mixed Gas Diving Encyclopedia: The Tao of Survival Underwater. He served as the Assistant Vice President for Veterans Clinical Research at the University of South Florida.

Early life and education

In 1967, Dituri was born in Long Island, New York. After graduating from Lindenhurst Senior High School, he went on to obtain his B.S. in Computer Science at the University of South Carolina in 1995. He obtained his M.S. in Aeronautical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in 2006. In 2018, he received his Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of South Florida.

Career

United States Navy

In 1985, Dituri enlisted in the United States Navy. He consistently served aboard naval vessels and at shore stations, engaging in tasks such as hyperbaric system maintenance, saturation diving, search and rescue operations, and ship repair. In 1995, he was commissioned into the Special Operations Officer pipeline and after serving three diving tours, he became the Engineering Duty Officer.
Upon completing his M.S. in 2006, he assumed the role of Officer-in-Charge at the Deep Submergence Unit Diving Systems Detachment. Under his leadership, DSD certified the 2,000 feet sea water Atmospheric Diving System for deployment across the fleet. Following the implementation and initial testing phase, Commander Dituri's team introduced the Submarine Rescue Diving and Recompression System into Naval service, deploying it on two international engagements.
His final position in the United States Navy was in the Research Development and Acquisition Center – Maritime Systems at Special Operations Command. He served as the Chief Engineer, Program Manager for Undersea Systems Technical and Certification Program, as well as Deputy Program Manager for Combat Craft. After 28 years of active service, Dituri retired in 2013.

Researcher

Dituri is a biomedical researcher in the field of life support equipment design, high carbon dioxide environments, hypobaric medicine, and traumatic brain injury. During his career, he has been a contributing author, co-author, and author in publications, books, and articles including: Secrets in Depth, Hyperbaric Medicine Practice, "Over The Counter" Remedy For DCIs, My Daddy Wears a Different Kind of Suit to Work, and more.
Dituri is a biomedical engineering lecturer at the University of South Florida and instructor of hyperbaric medicine. He serves as a Director of the International Board of Undersea Medicine.

Accomplishments

Guinness World Record

Dituri spent 100 days living underwater at the Jules' Undersea Lodge in Key Largo, Florida. During his stay, Dituri earned a spot in the Guinness World Records for the longest time spent living underwater in a fixed habitat.

United States Patent

Dituri was granted a United States Patent for a device and system he designed during his Ph.D. dissertation on systems and methods for monitoring heart rate variability. The processing device monitors heart beat data, and executes a heart rate variability program to detect physiological distress, essential in the prevention of hypercapnia, hyperoxia, and decompressive stress

U.S. Navy One Atmosphere Suit Pilot

Dituri is a certified pilot of the U.S. Navy ADS2000, also known as the One Atmosphere Suit.

James Cameron Deepsea Challenger mission

Dituri was invited to inspect the Deepsea Challenger that James Cameron piloted to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, at a depth of 10,908 metres

Awards and decorations

Award ribbons and badges

Award ribbons and badge names

Defense Meritorious Service Medal	Joint Service Commendation Medal	-
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with three gold award stars	Army Commendation Medal	Joint Service Achievement Medal
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with two gold award stars	Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with one gold award star	Navy "E" Ribbon with two E's
Navy Good Conduct Medal with one bronze award star	Navy Expeditionary Medal	National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star
Global war on terrorism	Humanitarian Service Medal	Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with two bronze stars	Navy Expert Rifleman Ribbon with one E	Navy Expert Pistol Shot Ribbon with one E

Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist Insignia

Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist Insignia

Surface Warfare Officer Insignia

Special Operations Officer Insignia

In media

In 2016, he spoke on human physiology and was the expert diver on the documentary
Dr. Joseph Dituri appeared on in 2023, to explain why he lived underwater for 100 days, and also highlighted him breaking the Guinness world record for days spent under water.
, a 2024 documentary, includes Dr. Joseph Dituri where he commented on ways to extend human life, such as telomerase reverse transcriptase.
He has also appeared on both seasons of where he simplifies the science of the unbelievable.
Most recently, he presented a new record for underwater time.
Books
Mount, T. and Joseph Dituri.. Exploration and Mixed Gas Diving Encyclopedia . The International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers.
Dituri, J.A., and Joseph Dituri.. My Daddy Wears a Different Kind of Suit to Work. Gallant Aquatic Ventures International.
Whelan, H. T., Kindwall, E. P., & Dituri, J.. Chapters 40, 42, 45, 46. In Hyperbaric Medicine Practice . Best Publishing Company.
Dituri, J.. Secrets In Depth. Viking Stone Press.
Dituri, J. and Sonners, J.. The Art and Science of Hyperbaric Medicine. NOW SC Publishing.