USF employee trying to set World Record

Photo by: WDAY Radio Staff
Photo by: WDAY Radio Staff

(Tampa, FL) -- A University of South Florida employee is trying to set a world record.

The school announced Associate Professor Joseph Dituri wants to live underwater for 100 days. The 55-year-old is living 30 feet below sea level in Key Largo at Jules' Undersea Lodge.  hat's where two Tennessee professors set the current record of 73 days in 2014.

Dituri wants to do more than just set a record though. He says he wants to see if being exposed to increased pressure will lead to health improvements that could offset aging.

Dituri says he suspects the cure to many diseases can be found in undiscovered organisms in the ocean.