Johor Sultan orders suspension of diving activities

JOHOR BARU: The Sultan of Johor has called for all diving activities off Mersing to be banned temporarily, following the disappearance of four foreign divers off Mersing islands.

Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar (pic) issued the decree after the incident took place off Pulau Tokong Sanggul, near Pulau Sibu on Wednesday.

“I want all diving activities in the waters off Mersing to be temporarily halted until we know for sure what happened to the unfortunate divers. We cannot allow diving to continue if safety measures are compromised.

“Diving rules and regulations must also be reviewed in their entirety before these activities can be allowed to resume,” His Majesty said yesterday.

Sultan Ibrahim added that the reviews must be made public once they are completed to restore public and tourist confidence.

On Wednesday, Malaysian authorities launched a search and rescue operation after four foreigners went missing during a scuba diving exercise near the island, nine nautical miles from the mainland.

One of them, divemaster Kristine Grodem, 35, from Norway, was found floating by a tugboat yesterday morning.

Meanwhile, Mersing district officer Mohammed Shakib Ali issued a notice requesting all resort, chalet and tourist boat operators, island-hopping boat services and scuba diving centres to cease scuba diving or snorkelling activities immediately.

“Stern action will be taken if they fail to adhere to the notice,” said Mohammed Shakib, who is also Mersing District Disaster Management Committee chairman.