KOTA KINABALU: For many diving professionals, diving is not only about glamorous and fun water activities, it is also about spreading awareness about keeping the oceans clean.
Diving instructor Dean Lee joins underwater cleanups whenever he has spare time, even if he has to spend his own money.
During recreational diving, the experience is often exhilarating as divers explore the vibrant underwater world.
However, it is different when doing underwater cleanups, especially at sites near water villages. Volunteers risk entering waters possibly contaminated with domestic waste.
Nevertheless, Lee believes that most scuba divers are passionate about keeping the ocean clean and raising awareness about the issue.
"It is like the duty of good citizens to keep the environment clean.
"Otherwise, I would feel ashamed when I bring (scuba diving) students or any divers to explore the ocean," said the 43-year-old who started diving in 2013.
He also said that underwater cleanup is like a 'treasure hunt' for divers, as they might chance upon sighting rare macro species.
Lee was among four diving instructors and masters who participated in the inaugural Jetama Underwater Cleanup 2024 programme at Mari Mari Sepanggar island here yesterday.
Jetama Sdn Bhd is a water concessionaire for the west coast of Sabah.
The four-day programme, which began on March 23, was held at different locations, namely Mabul Island, Semporna, and Kampung Serusup, Tuaran.
60 people, comprising divers, villagers, and representatives from government and private agencies, Semporna district office, Semporna Tourism Association, Semporna Professional Divers Association, Mari-Mari Sepanggar and local dive operators took part in the clean-up which collected 12.1 tonnes of marine debris.
Jetama's chief executive officer Ahmad Naim Uddang said the programme was aimed at net zero plastic while conserving the environment, especially the ocean floor where 90 per cent of the collection was plastic.
"Jetama produced and distributed 25,000 cartons of drinking bottled water last year through the company's Corporate Social Responsibility programme which is equivalent to 10 tonnes of plastic generated in 2023.
"They say all plastic ends up in the ocean, thus our initial goal was to collect 10 tonnes of plastic underwater which will compensate for our Net Zero Plastic target.
"But today (yesterday), I am pleased to announce that we achieved positive numbers beyond that."