The IAUST was created in 1984, it comprises the personalities who every year from 1960 received the Golden Trident Prize. Its goals are to contribute to the development, in an interdisciplinary context, of all underwater activities (scientific, technical, artistic, cultural promotional and sportive) as well as their spreading. Therefore, it organizes and participates in conferences, seminars and conventions where general or particular problems concerning the study, the development and the security of marine domain and the people who work or live the are addressed.

The historic seat of the IAUST is located on the island of Ustica (Palermo) where the Golden Trident Prize was created.

The IAUST composed of personalities internationally renowned in their field represents the historical continuity of the scientific, technical, athletic, artistic and moral patrimony accumulated since the creation of the Golden Trident Prize. It constitutes a place for exchange and thought above all partisan interests and influence.

The IAUST is in to CMAS Conféderation Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques and in to Reseau des Académies des Pays Meditérranéens UNESCO.

The Golden Trident Prize was created in 1960 by the Ente Provinciale per il Turismo di Palermo and the City of Ustica. It reward a personality of the scientific, technical, artistic, cultural or athletic world who on an international level won fame in marine and sub-marine activities and while doing so used a diving technique.

The prize consists a gold trident embedded on a piece of volcanic lava from the island of Ustica; the title of Golden Trident Academician and the honorary Citizenship of the City of Ustica are awarded at that time.

The new Golden Tridents are welcomed in the IAUST at an official session during w hich they are introduced by a member who presents yheir careers, after which they explain their projects.

The prize is awarded during a pubblic ceremony constituting the principal event of the <<Rassegna Internazionale delle Attività Subacquee>>.

The recipients must participate in this ceremony.

The Special Prize created along wiith the Golden Trident awarded, under the same conditions, a group or an institution working towards the exploration, the protction and the security of the sea or having contributed to the knowledge of it.

This Special Prize was replaced by the Ustica Award in 1985.

The Ustica Award is given under the same process and at the same ceremony than the Golden Trident but it does not confer any role within the Academy.