The South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society’s (SPUMS) 54th Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) has wrapped up in Palau after an incredible week of scientific exchange, practical diving workshops and unforgettable marine experiences in one of the world’s premier dive destinations.
Diveplanit was proud to manage the event logistics for this year’s ASM, coordinating accommodation, flights, diving and daily activities for 174 participants from around the world. Held in Koror, Palau, the conference brought together 136 delegates — including diving physicians, hyperbaric specialists, researchers and medical professionals — for a week focused on underwater medicine, free diving physiology and diver safety.
A Record-Breaking Week in Palau
This year’s event was one of the largest SPUMS meetings ever held, with delegates enjoying both an outstanding scientific program and some of the best diving on the planet. Across the week:
- 133 divers completed an incredible 1,256 dives
- 27 snorkelers joined marine excursions
- 18 free divers participated in dedicated activities and workshops
- 163 day tours were organised for delegates and accompanying guests
The conference was hosted at Palasia Hotel in Koror, perfectly positioned for access to Palau’s famous dive sites and cultural experiences.
Diving in One of the World’s Great Marine Sanctuaries
Palau delivered exactly what delegates had hoped for — spectacular visibility, pristine reefs and unforgettable pelagic encounters. Dive operations visited iconic sites including Ulong Channel, German Channel, Blue Corner and Siaes Corner, where divers experienced drift dives, manta encounters, schooling fish and shark action that showcased Palau’s exceptional marine conservation success.
A Scientific Program Focused on Freediving
The 2026 ASM scientific program, themed “Free Diving”, was convened by Dr Douglas Falconer and Dr Ian Gawthrope, who curated a program exploring the rapidly evolving field of freediving physiology, safety and hyperbaric medicine.
The week featured presentations and workshops from leading clinicians and researchers from around the world, including internationally recognised keynote speakers:
- Dr Peter Lindholm of the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, whose work focuses on breath-hold diving physiology and hyperbaric medicine
- Professor Erika Schagatay of Mid Sweden University, a global expert in human performance in extreme environments and freediving physiology
Topics ranged from breath-hold physiology and decompression illness in free divers to oxygen toxicity, wearable technology and diver safety research.
Behind the Scenes: Coordinating a Complex Event
Managing an event of this scale in a remote island destination required extensive coordination across accommodation, international flights, diving schedules, transfers and touring activities.
Hosting SPUMS in Palau has been an incredible opportunity to showcase not only world-class diving, but also the professionalism and collaboration required to deliver an event of this scale in a remote island destination. Managing logistics for nearly 200 participants across diving, scientific sessions and touring activities is a significant undertaking, and we’re immensely proud of what our team and local partners achieved together. Palau proved to be an exceptional venue for SPUMS.
A huge thank you goes to our local partners, dive operators and the many people behind the scenes who helped make the week run smoothly.
About SPUMS
Founded in 1971, the South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society (SPUMS) promotes the study and advancement of underwater and hyperbaric medicine. Its annual scientific meetings bring together diving medicine professionals from around the world to share research, improve diver safety and strengthen collaboration within the diving community. Learn more at: https://spums.au/
