Did you know that astronauts have a lot in common with deep sea divers? Join Zendog Divers, Friday, Oct. 19 at 6:30 for Sea to Space: The Final Frontier, a presentation from Joseph Ditirui, Consultant for the International Board of Undersea Medicine & M.S.CDR, U.S. Navy Saturation Diving Officer (ret) and a man with a dream to go to space.

Mr. Dituri will discuss some of the similarities and differences between astronauts and deep sea scuba divers in their exploration from sea to space as well as some of the special training he has gone through in the past.

Both astronauts and deep divers must grow accustom to a lot of pressure – that being either miles and miles above sea level or miles below. Both groups are put through rigorous training and must have excellent communication skills as well as adapt to close quarters and controlled living environments. Water is one of the most cost-effective ways to train an astronaut for the simulated weightlessness of space. Being able to dive with neutral buoyancy can help prepare astronauts for what they will experience in a no gravity environment.

Please RSVP to this event by emailing info@adventuretampa.com or by calling 813-832-6669.

Zendog Divers is an informal dive club for like-minded people. Our mission is focused on local Florida diving including: safety, marine conservation and continuing dive education. We try to have a guest speaker once a month join us. If you are interested in participating in our monthly guest lecture series, please reach out to us at info@adventuretampa.com.

About Joseph Dituri

CDR Joseph Dituri enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1985. He served continuously on active service upon various ships and shore stations where he was involved in hyperbaric system certification, saturation diving and ship repair. In 1995 he made his way up through the ranks after earning his B.S. in Compuer Science from the University of South Carolina and was commissioned into the Special Operations Officer pipeline. After numerous tours in the Special Operations community, he transferred to the Engineering Duty Officer Diving Community.CDR Joseph Dituri enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1985. He served continuously on active service upon various ships and shore stations where he was involved in hyperbaric system certification, saturation diving and ship repair. In 1995 he made his way up through the ranks after earning his B.S. in Compuer Science from the University of South Carolina and was commissioned into the Special Operations Officer pipeline. After numerous tours in the Special Operations community, he transferred to the Engineering Duty Officer Diving Community.

He then attended Naval Post Graduate School where he earned his Master’s degree in Astronautical Engineering. His master’s thesis topic was in Orbital Determination with an accent for life support systems. He is an invited speaker on space related topics.

Following completion of his masters he was assigned as Officer-in-Charge Deep Submergence Unit (DSU) Diving Systems Detachment (DSD). Under his command DSD won the white “DS” award for deep submergence excellence and certified the 2000 fsw Atmospheric Diving System for fleet use. Upon fielding and initial testing, the team introduced the Submarine Rescue Diving & Recompression System into Naval service and took it on two international engagements. During this tour Joseph earned the DAWIA certification of Level III in Program Management. He transferred from DSU after fleeting up to become the Executive Officer and designing the transfer under pressure saturation diving template for Navy Submarine Rescue.

His final position in the US Navy was at Special Operations Command in Special Operations Research Development and Acquisition Center Program Executive Officer – Maritime Systems where he served as the Chief Engineer, Program Manager for Undersea Systems Technical & Certification Program as well as deputy Program Manager for Combat Craft. During this tour Joseph earned the DAWIA certification of Level III in System’s Engineering. CDR Dituri’s personal awards include three Navy Achievement Medals, a Joint Service Achievement Medal, an Army Commendation Medal, four Navy Commendation Medals. a Joint Service Commendation Medal and a Joint Meritorious Service Medal.

In a civilian capacity Joseph is the author of numerous diver-training manuals, a co-author of the book “Tao of Survival Underwater”, a contributing author to Hyperbaric Medical Practice (4th edition) and the U.S. Navy Diving Manual, and has been published in several journals including those produced by the American Society of Naval Engineers and American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Now that he is retired from almost 28 years of active service to the United States, he is a consultant for the International Board of Undersea Medicine. He also volunteers his time as the CEO of the Association for Marine Exploration. His research areas of interest include life support equipment, high carbon dioxide environments as well as hyperbaric and hypobaric medicine. Joseph is a member of the American Bureau of Shipping Special Committee on Building and Classing Undersea Vehicles and Hyperbaric Systems and the National Offshore Advisor Committee for Commercial Diving Safety. Joseph has 3 daughters and enjoys writing books, skydiving and has had a lifelong goal of being a civilian astronaut.