Divers haul 100kg of rubbish from ocean bed in Sepanggar

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Dive Squad Club used their skill to good use - by going underwater to clean the sea base.

Describing it as a “never ending effort”, its president Sim Fui said this time around, they collected 100kg of bottles and plastics, among other rubbish that sits on the base of the ocean.

“It’s a long way to go but we have to start somewhere,” said Sim, adding that it is part of the club’s conservation efforts.

When contacted, Sim said it was a full-day programme over the weekend, where members not only dedicated their time but also used their own expenses for the clean-up.

“All 28 members dived and collected the rubbish from Mari Mari Sepanggar Island.

“We encountered a variety of waste materials, underscoring the need for ongoing conservation efforts. The oceans are drowning in rubbish,” he added.

Sim said that the club had decided to adopt the project as they believed it was important to protect the ocean, and to save the dive sites for future generations.

He added that the clean-up also serves as a reminder for members to be more mindful of their daily consumption and waste management.

Sim also extended his gratitude to the Lions Club Fundraising Bazaar 1.0 for their cash donation, which partially funded the activity.

He said that conservation efforts are indeed expensive and expressed hope for strategic collaboration with more stakeholders to address marine pollution.

Since its inception in 2022, the club has worked with both non-governmental organisations and government agencies on clean-up efforts, coral planting, and awareness programmes.