KOTA KINABALU: In response to a string of recent scuba diving fatalities, the Sabah Dive Squad Club will be organising a safety awareness talk aimed at reinforcing best practices among its members.
Club president Sim Fui said that safety must always be the top priority for divers.
“Every certified diver is taught the correct procedures during their training, and the number one rule is always to return safely.
“Unfortunately, recent incidents show that some divers are disregarding those procedures with fatal consequences,” he said in a statement.
Last week, a 33-year-old Malaysian man from Kuala Lumpur died while diving off Pulau Weh, near Sabang in Indonesia, after reportedly panicking in strong undercurrents.
In May, two Chinese nationals also lost their lives in separate scuba diving accidents in Sabah waters.
One was an unsupervised tourist who drowned while diving off Sipadan in Semporna, while the other, a certified divemaster, drowned after attempting to retrieve a lost camera near Kakaban Island.
“These tragic incidents could have been avoided had proper safety guidelines been followed.
“To prevent further loss of life, our club will hold a diving safety awareness talk on July 20, aimed at reminding members of the importance of adhering to established procedures.”
The club has appointed two experts to lead the session: Lt Col (Dr) Eugene Tan Choon Li as scuba diving medical adviser and First Warrant Officer Almudi Eskal as technical diving adviser.
Dr Eugene is an internal medicine specialist and diving medical officer with the Kota Kinabalu Regional Armed Forces Hospital. Almudi heads the Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine Department as Chief Supervisor at the Armed Forces Hospital and is also an Army Submarine Escape Instructor.
Both will speak on medical emergencies related to diving and offer guidance on technical skills and safe diving practices.
More information about the talk will be shared on the club’s Facebook page.
