Δημόσια Διαβούλευση για την Εθνική Στρατηγική Ανάπτυξης του Καταδυτικού Τουρισμού στην Κύπρο

Public Consultation Response

National Strategy for the Development of Diving Tourism in Cyprus

International Scientific Perspective on Safety, Education and the Long-Term Development of Undersea Medicine and Research Capacity in Cyprus

Submitted by the International Society of Freediving Medicine and Physiology (ISFMP)

Dr Egi Murat, PhD – President, International Society of Freediving Medicine and Physiology

Dr Oleg Melikhov, MD, PhD – Vice-President, International Society of Freediving Medicine and Physiology; Head of the Medical and Scientific Committee, AIDA International

1. Introduction

The International Society of Freediving Medicine and Physiology (ISFMPh, www.https://isfmph.org/) welcomes the initiative of the Deputy Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Cyprus to develop a National Strategy for the Development of Diving Tourism in Cyprus.
From an international scientific perspective, the development of diving tourism presents an opportunity for Cyprus to strengthen not only its tourism offer, but also the knowledge, education, professional competence and scientific capacity that support the safe and sustainable development of underwater activities.
ISFMPh considers these areas to be interconnected. Investment in safety and education should form an important immediate component of the national strategy, while the expertise, collaborations and experience developed through these activities could provide a foundation for longer-term scientific development, including the possible future establishment of a Research Center for Undersea Medicine and Physiology.

2. Immediate Priority: Safety, Education and Professional Capacity

As diving and freediving participation grows, Cyprus has an opportunity to invest proactively in the human and institutional capacity needed to support the sector.
Priority should be given to strengthening access to appropriate knowledge, education and evidence-based training for divers, instructors, operators and other professionals involved in underwater activities. This should be complemented by appropriate medical preparedness and professional competence, so that the development of diving tourism is accompanied by a strong culture of prevention and responsible practice.

Relevant areas for investment could include:
• education and continuing professional development for divers and instructors;
• evidence-based training and dissemination of current scientific and medical knowledge;
• strengthening medical preparedness and access to appropriate specialist expertise;
• development of professional competence among operators and other relevant personnel;
• support for appropriate emergency preparedness and response; and
• closer interaction between the diving sector, healthcare professionals and scientific organisations.

3. Building a Knowledge and Education Ecosystem

The development of diving tourism can be supported by creating stronger links between the diving community, medical professionals, educators, universities, scientific organisations and public authorities.
An effective knowledge ecosystem could facilitate the translation of scientific and medical evidence into practical education and professional development. It could also create mechanisms through which experience from the field informs future educational priorities and scientific questions.
Over time, this approach would help Cyprus develop a community of professionals and institutions with shared expertise in diving medicine, freediving physiology, environmental physiology and underwater safety.

4. From Capacity Building to Research Collaboration

Once stronger educational and professional foundations are in place, Cyprus could progressively develop opportunities for scientific collaboration.
Training activities, professional networks and partnerships with universities and international scientific organisations could provide a basis for pilot studies, data collection, scientific workshops, visiting-researcher programmes and collaborative research.
This staged approach would allow research priorities to emerge from Cyprus’ actual needs and from opportunities identified through national and international collaboration, rather than requiring the immediate creation of a new research institution.

5. Long-Term Opportunity: A Research Center for Undersea Medicine and Physiology

Within this longer-term pathway, ISFMPh believes that Cyprus could eventually explore the feasibility of establishing a Research Center for Undersea Medicine and Physiology.
This should be understood as a prospective strategic opportunity rather than an immediate institutional request. Its feasibility and scope would need to be assessed through consultation with the Government of Cyprus, Cypriot universities, healthcare institutions, scientific organisations and other relevant stakeholders.

A future center could potentially provide an international platform for:
• research in undersea and hyperbaric medicine;
• diving and freediving physiology;
• immersion, pressure and breath-hold physiology;
• environmental physiology;
• human performance in challenging and extreme environments;
• field-based physiological studies;
• medical and scientific education;
• international researcher exchange; and
• collaboration between academia, healthcare and the diving sector.

6. Potential Scientific Scope

A future center could support multidisciplinary research addressing both fundamental and applied questions. Potential areas could include:
• Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine — physiological and medical responses to pressure and immersion, including recreational, technical and occupational diving.
• Freediving and Breath-Hold Physiology — responses to breath-hold, immersion, exercise and increasing hydrostatic pressure.
• Environmental Physiology — human responses to environmental stressors associated with marine and other challenging environments.
• Human Performance — adaptation, performance and resilience during exposure to extreme environmental conditions.
• Applied Diving Research — studies connecting scientific findings with practical questions relating to prevention, training and safety.

7. International Collaboration and Scientific Exchange

If such capacity were developed, its international dimension would be particularly important. Cyprus could establish relationships with universities, medical schools, research laboratories, scientific societies and professional organisations across Europe and internationally.

Potential activities could include:
• collaborative and multicentre research;
• visiting-researcher programmes;
• academic and scientific exchanges;
• joint publications;
• international research projects;
• scientific workshops; and
• specialist meetings and conferences.

8. Translating Research into Practice

The ultimate value of research capacity would be strengthened by maintaining a connection with the practical diving and medical communities.
Research findings could contribute to professional education, instructor development, medical training, emergency preparedness, evidence-based safety practices and improved understanding of physiological risks. Conversely, practitioners could help identify research questions of direct relevance to diving and freediving.
Research, education and practical application should therefore be viewed as complementary components of a developing national ecosystem.

9. Potential Contribution to Cyprus

A progressive investment in safety and education, followed by scientific collaboration and potentially research infrastructure, could generate benefits extending beyond the diving-tourism sector.
Potential longer-term benefits include strengthening Cyprus’ academic and scientific profile; creating opportunities for Cypriot researchers and students; attracting international researchers and specialists; facilitating international research collaborations; hosting scientific and medical meetings; developing specialist expertise; strengthening links between tourism, academia and medicine; and adding a distinctive scientific dimension to Cyprus’ international identity.
Such development could also support a higher-value form of professional and scientific tourism, complementing Cyprus’ existing recreational diving offer.

10. A Phased and Collaborative Pathway

ISFMPh recommends that any longer-term vision be approached progressively:
– First, strengthen safety, education, professional competence and medical preparedness within the diving sector.
– Second, build national and international networks linking practitioners, healthcare professionals, educators, universities and scientific organisations.
– Third, support pilot research, workshops, exchanges and collaborative scientific projects that respond to identified national priorities.
– Fourth, evaluate the feasibility of dedicated research infrastructure, including the potential development of a Research Center for Undersea Medicine and Physiology.

This pathway would allow each stage to build on demonstrated needs, expertise and partnerships while avoiding premature institutional commitments.

11. Role of ISFMPh

The International Society of Freediving Medicine and Physiology would be pleased to contribute its international expertise to any future exploration of this pathway.
Subject to appropriate discussions and institutional arrangements, ISFMPh could contribute to scientific and strategic discussions, identification of international collaborators, development of research priorities, scientific meetings and workshops, researcher exchange, educational initiatives and collaborative research.
The Society would welcome dialogue with the competent authorities and relevant Cypriot institutions regarding the contribution that international scientific organisations could make to strengthening safety and education in the near term and exploring research opportunities over the longer term.

Conclusion

ISFMPh welcomes the initiative of the Deputy Ministry of Tourism to develop a National Strategy for Diving Tourism in Cyprus.
We believe that a successful strategy should recognise the relationship between tourism development, safety, education, professional competence, medical preparedness and scientific capacity.
In the immediate term, Cyprus has an opportunity to invest in the knowledge and educational foundations that will support the safe and sustainable growth of underwater tourism. In the medium term, these foundations can facilitate scientific collaboration and applied research. In the longer term, they could provide the basis for evaluating the feasibility of an international Research Center for Undersea Medicine and Physiology.
Such a staged approach would allow Cyprus to develop its capabilities according to national priorities, demonstrated needs and international scientific opportunities. The International Society of Freediving Medicine and Physiology, represented by its President Dr Egi Murat, PhD, and with the participation of Dr Oleg Melikhov, MD, PhD, Head of the AIDA International Medical and Scientific Committee, Vice-President of ISFMPh, would be pleased to support dialogue and future collaboration in this area. Cyprus has the potential not only to become an important destination for diving tourism, but also to develop a distinctive international role in the science, medicine and physiology of human activity underwater.