The explorer broke the record for longest life under water water in barometric pressure this weekend at the Florida Keys dive site.

Day 74 of Dr. Joseph Ditturi, in Jules’ underwater lodge nestled at the bottom of a 30-foot-deep lagoon in Key Largo, was not much different from his previous days there since March 1 when he dived.

He ate a high-protein meal of eggs and salmon, cooked in a microwave oven, exercised with an expander, did daily push-ups and slept for an hour.

“I am honored to hold the record, but we still have a lot to do in science,” said Ditturi, a professor at the University of South Florida.

The expedition combines medical and ocean research with an educational outreach and was organized by the Marine Resources Development Foundation, the owner of the habitat.

His research includes daily physiological experiments to monitor how the human body responds to prolonged exposure to extreme stress.

Ditturi’s mission includes delivering online courses and broadcasting interviews from a digital studio located underwater. In the past 74 days, he has reached over 2,500 students through online marine science courses and even more through his traditional biomedical engineering courses at the University of South Florida.

Although he says that he enjoys living underwater, there is one thing he misses a lot.

“What I miss the most on the surface is literally the sun,” Ditturi said. “The sun plays a big role in my life – I usually go to the gym at five and then go back outside and watch the sunrise.”

Source: Associated Press.