KOTA KINABALU: The scuba-diving industry in Sabah is a multi-million-ringgit business, generating RM500 million in annual revenue, according to the Sabah Fisheries Department.
The industry has the potential to increase its earnings with the recent increase in international flights directly to the state. As of July 1, there are 140 international and 383 domestic weekly flights. In the first five months of this year, out of 478,326 foreign visitors, 167,371 were from China. However, this growth raises concerns as there have been numerous accidents or near-accidents involving tourists participating in water activities. This year, the industry has seen two drowning incidents, one illegal use of a speargun during scuba diving, and scuba divers narrowly escaping death when a boat with its engine running passed very closely above them. https://api.nst.com.my/news/crime-courts/2024/06/1060143/authorities-investigate-video-man-caught-using-speargun-semporna https://www.nst.com.my/news/nst-viral/2024/06/1069036/nstviral-scuba-divers-narrowly-escape-injury-boat-passes-them#:~:text=SEMPORNA%3A%20A%20group%20of%20scuba%20divers%20here%20narrowly,likely%20participating%20in%20a%20discovery%20scuba%20diving%20activity. https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/06/1067980/probe-drowning-chinese-tourist-near-mamutik-island Tourism Malaysia Diving ambassador Clement Lee stated that diving is one of the most structured and institutionalised segments of the tourism industry. “This is because all the training agencies are world-recognised, and each agency must adhere to dive training standards. “Each training agency has its own quality management team to assess their professional members, such as those with divemaster and above qualifications. “If any accident occurs, the professional member must follow all rescue protocols they were trained in to save lives first,” he said, adding that the quality management team will then investigate the situation based on the report and interviews, and may extend their findings further to determine the cause. In less severe situations, Lee said, a professional member may have to go through recommended corrective measures. “However, if a member continues to disregard dive standards or community safe dive practices, they may be expelled and permanently lose their membership status.” Malaysia Scuba Diving Association member Monica Chin, who is based in Sabah, said there is a need to have data on all certified professional diving guides in the state to ensure the safety of scuba divers. “By knowing and identifying them, something can be done to monitor their conduct and prevent unfortunate incidents, and actions can be taken if necessary. “Diving is all about safety first. Being in the water is indeed dangerous; it is between you and the sea (despite recreational scuba diving usually involving buddies and diving guides).”
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