TheSouth Pacific Underwater Medicine Society (SPUMS) is a primary source of information fordiving andhyperbaric medicine physiology worldwide.
The SPUMS was founded on May 3, 1971 in thewardroom ofHMASPenguin.[1] The founding members of SPUMS were Carl Edmonds, Bob Thomas, Douglas Walker, Ian Unsworth, and Cedric Deal and they were joined by approximately 20 others as "charter members".[1] The society wasincorporated in 1990.[1]
The aims of SPUMS have never changed since its inception:[1][2]
SPUMS offers a Diploma of Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine. This certification, was the first non-naval certification and for years the onlypostgraduate education available.[1] The first Diplomas by examination were awarded to Chris Acott, Gavin Dawson, and John Knight in 1975.[1]
In 1971, anewsletter waspublished by Dr. Carl Edmonds and distributed to divingmedical professionals.[3] This newsletter grew to become theJournal of the South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society in 1975.[3] The journal's name was changed toDiving and Hyperbaric Medicine in 2007 and incorporated theJournal of the European Underwater and Baromedical Society in 2008.
SPUMS also publishes many policies to assist clinicians and diving professionals.[4]
Many of the SPUMS publications were available online at theRubicon Research Repository.
