A Florida University professor plans to spend 100 days 30 feet under the ocean’s surface, in an underwater lodge, as a scientific experiment to find out how the constant increased pressure affects his body and mind.

The current world record for time spent living underwater was set in 2014 by two Tennessee biologists who managed to live submerged for a total of 73 days, but if University of South Florida professor Joseph Dituri meets his set goal, he will beat that record by a whopping 27 days. At the beginning of this month, Dituri, who also goes by the nickname ‘Dr. Deepsea’, moved into Jules’ Undersea Lodge in Key Largo, an underwater hotel 30 feet under the surface, where he plans to remain until June 9th. During this time, he and a team of physicians and scientists plan to conduct a series of tests to see how living underwater for prolonged periods of time affects the human body and mind.

Photo: Christian Palmer/Unsplash

“The human body has never been underwater that long, so I will be monitored closely,” Prof. Dituri said in a statement. “This study will examine every way this journey impacts my body, but my null hypothesis is that there will be improvements to my health due to the increased pressure.”

Dituri bases his hypothesis on the findings of a study in which cells exposed to higher pressure doubled within five days. He and others at the University of South Florida now believe that the increased pressure could increase his longevity and prevent diseases tied to aging. To keep water from entering the lodge, air must constantly be pumped into the living space, which creates a pressure about 1.6 times that of Earth’s surface.

During the 100 days, the 55-year-old university professor will be regularly visited by a medical team who will run a series of tests, including blood panels, ultrasounds, and electrocardiograms. He will also undergo psychosocial and psychological tests to understand the mental effects of being stuck alone underwater for long periods of time.