KOTA KINABALU: Sabah government is emphasising on responsible scuba diving, despite aggressive promotions for the activity.
In announcing the newly opened wreck dive dubbed as Mamutik Wreck site here, state Tourism, Culture and Environment minister Datuk Seri Jafry Ariffin said it would limit the number of dives.
"With the opening of a new dive site in the midst of Covid-19 pandemic, it is hoped to revive the tourism industry which is badly affected.
"I have been informed on Sabah Parks' standard operating procedure with only 32 dives per day, which is equal to 11,680 dives per year.
"I see this as something right to reduce scuba diving impacts to the shipwreck," he said during the launch of Tunku Abdul Rahman Parks' 48th anniversary at Manukan Island here.
Present was Sabah Parks director Dr Maklarin Lakim.
Jafry added that on Nov 17, 2016, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency's 31.4-meter decommissioned KM Kuraman was sunk up to 20 meter depth off Mamutik Island.
He said based on Sabah Parks and dive operator's survey, hard and soft corals had grown on the wreckage.
"With these corals, there will be fishes living at the wreckage and become breeding site for other species.
"We are hoping that one day the fish stock will spill from the small habitat to other sites.
"This is what we called as 'spillover concept' which will also indirectly benefit the tourism industry and fisheries sector in the long run."
Apart from shipwreck, the event also saw the launch of the Coral Adoption Programme using coral frame techniques for the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park.
He added that the programme, which is available on the Sabah Parks website, was another tourism product open for the public.
The event also saw 72 volunteers doing underwater clean-up, which was jointly organised by Sabah Parks and Reef Check.