SEMPORNA: A group of scuba divers here narrowly escaped death when a boat with its engine running passed very closely above them.
A 22-second video, which has been circulating among the diving community, shows seven people who were likely participating in a discovery scuba diving activity.
As the group was exploring underwater, a boat suddenly passed very close above them.
Two of the divers were almost hit by the running engine's propellers, but fortunately, the quick response of the dive guide spared them from getting injured underwater.
Based on the wide-angle video, it is believed that the depth of the water was between 3 and 10 meters, which is considered shallow for a boat to speed up.
Wens Yong, in his Facebook post, urged boatmen in Semporna to be more careful.
"Before (the water) gets shallow, stop immediately. If you get hit by a 200 (horsepower) engine propeller, it's like being blended, brother."
Others like social media Jepridin Jep took to the comments section to discuss about a need for diver supervisor to put a flag to indicate there are divers in the water.
However, Ericky O' Brien said the area was a reef which is known as a diving spot.
"You know it's a section with a reef, but still you (the boatman) are moving fast. It is alright to earn a living, but don't give other people a hard time.
"When people start to point fingers at one another, even those not related to it will be blamed," he said.