Sipadan closed a month for recovery

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s world-renowned diving island Sipadan will be closed for a month to allow for its recovery.

Sabah Parks director Dr Maklarin Lakim said the closure would start today.

The decision to stop diving activity at the island, considered one of the top five dive sites in the world, was made in consensus by all tourism players and stakeholders in March this year, he said.

“We hope to recover the island’s ecosystem and marine life by reducing human activity in the area.

“This is in line with the Management and Supervision Committee of Sipadan and Ligitan Islands,” he said when contacted yesterday.

Maklarin said the closure is the first after diving activity resumed on the island following the lifting of the Covid-19 movement control order.

Sabah Parks issues a maximum permit of 237 to tourists per day.