Pictures courtesy of Monica Chin
SEMPORNA: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) Sabah branch recently organised a coral propagation programme, successfully transplanting 100 corals to a nursery.
Participant Dr Shobana Sekhar, a dentist at UTC Tawau here, had an eye-opening experience in learning about corals and how to propagate them.
The Kuala Lumpur lass moved to Tawau to complete her housemanship and has since been diving for about two years.
Her love for the ocean recently led her to participate in the "We Dive With Purpose" event.
Shobana first heard about the programme through the MMA Sabah social media page.
Intrigued by the opportunity to connect with other divers in the medical community and to learn about coral propagation, she eagerly joined the initiative.
The event, held on May 25 at Luma Selakan, Selakan Island, Semporna, Sabah, was aimed at promoting organic coral propagation and saw the successful transplantation of 100 corals to a dedicated coral nursery.
Reflecting on her experience, what struck Shobana the most was the similarity between medical practice and coral propagation.
"The tools we use in the medical field and how we practise infection control for patients are similar to what was practised for these corals.
"The tools were cleaned with alcohol, and we wore gloves when handling the corals. Even the glue and catalyst used to fix the coral fragments on the sea rocks are similar to what is used in the medical field.
"Personally, I would say that having some form of medical knowledge did elevate the experience," she said.
Shobana was among 10 divers who participated in the event, alongside five crew members from Luma Selakan and three One Ocean Empire.
The Healing Chamber Association sponsored the event with RM2,000, and participants were honored with a special appreciation dinner hosted by Sense Resident Semporna.
MMA Sabah branch vice chairman and event organising chairperson Lt Col (Dr) Eugene Tan Choon Li said the event's success is a testament to collective effort and shared passion for marine conservation and scuba diving.
"We hope to see even greater participation in our 2025 event, continuing our mission to protect and preserve our ocean's beauty," he added.