Maizatul Ranai and M. Hamzah Jamaluddin New Straits Times 29 Jul 10;
KUALA LUMPUR: Diving enthusiasts have found it hard to accept the closure of several popular diving sites due to coral bleaching.
The Marine Park Department recently announced the closure of at least 12 diving spots and the ban on diving and snorkelling activities from July until October.
Ardent diver Yuhada Elis Yahya, 35, said he would not be able to get into his diving gear for months. "It is almost impossible for an active diver like me to accept this.
"I wonder what my life would be like without going under water these coming months."
The sales manager shares his passion for diving with his wife, 32-year-old medical doctor, Dr Nora Mohamad.
The couple have made the underwater world their monthly vacation retreat for years.
Yuhada said they were thinking of going to Indonesia or Sabah.
"But this will be costly as we have to spend a lot for such a trip," said the father of two.
Another diver, Afdlin Shauki, who is an artiste, said his life would be "unusual" as he would normally spend his leisure time diving with his friends.
"I am an active diver and I find solace in diving.
"It is sad that I will not be able to dive when I need to unwind from my hectic schedule."
Afdlin also expressed disappointment over claims that divers were partly to be blamed for coral bleaching.
"Many of us even volunteered to help conserve the beach.
"Coral bleaching is an outcome of climate change and it has nothing to do with divers' activities."
Universiti Teknologi Mara student, Noor Farisha Zainal Abidin, 25, said the closure would be hard for her as diving had been part of her life.
"It is sad that I have to give up diving for months."
She said most people were oblivious to the fact that the reefs were dying, and they continued throwing rubbish into the sea.
"I remember the last time that I dived.
"All I could see was dying corals with piles of rubbish all over them."
For tour operators, the closure of the diving spots meant a drop in their profits.
Ping Anchorage Travel & Tours operator Wan Masria Wan Mohd said some customers had cancelled bookings after reading about the closure in the newspapers.
"Although the closure will last until October, most of them are aware that the monsoon season falls on November, meaning they can only go to their favourite diving and snorkelling spots next year."
She said her agency was now arranging to take customers to sites not affected by the ban.
"Somehow, I wish we were informed at least two or three months before the closure so that we could have made prior arrangements with our customers."
Another tour operator, Zamros Mohd Dom, of Seri Sentosa in Pulau Tioman said his agency was anticipating great loss from the closure.
"The government should look into ways to assist operators affected by the closure."
The affected diving spots include Pulau Payar, Teluk Wangi, Pantai Damai and Coral Garden in Kedah; and Pulau Rengis, Pulau Tumok, Pulau Soyak, Pulau Chebeh and Batu Matang in Pahang.
In Terengganu, Teluk Dalam, Tanjung Tukas Darat and Tanjung Tukas Laut in Pulau Perhentian; Teluk Air Tawar in Pulau Tenggol and Teluk Bakau in Pulau Redang, will remain closed until the end of October.
Pulau Ekor Tebu, Pulau Che Isa and Pulau Tanjung Lebah diving spots in Pulau Redang have also been closed recently by the Redang Terengganu Operators' Association after checks revealed that the places were also affected by coral bleaching.
