In 1958, the federations of the federal republic of Germany, Brazil, Italy, Belgium, Greece, Portugal, Switzerland, Monaco, Yugoslavia and the United States of America gathered in Brussels for the purpose of establishing a confederation that would include all underwater sports and disciplines. After many talks, the eventual outcome of the “World Confederation of Underwater Activites”, “CMAS” for short, was established in Monaco in January, 1959. This confederation became the primary authority for all underwater sports, taking over the original “Comité des Sports Sous-Marins” (Underwater Sports Committee) which was founded 7 years earlier.