Going Off the Beaten Reef

The Malaysian navy may not have had diving in mind when it poured in sand and concrete rubble to make this small island 300 kilometers off the coast of Sabah, but it succeeded in creating a mecca for divers just the same. From all over the world they come, drawn by the large schools of scalloped hammerhead sharks that swirl in its waters.

The Malaysian navy may not have had diving in mind when it poured in sand and concrete rubble to make this small island 300 kilometers off the coast of Sabah, but it succeeded in creating a mecca for divers just the same. From all over the world they come, drawn by the large schools of scalloped hammerhead sharks that swirl in its waters...[Link]

Scuba Diving Releases Stress: Sulaiman

Scuba diving could be the best therapy to overcome depression which is on the rise in the country, said Deputy Minister of Tourism, Datuk Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib.

He said the country's seas and shores with its varied flora and fauna could reduce and even overcome a diver's stress.

Sulaiman said among divers' havens were the very popular islands of Sipadan , Perhentian, Layang-layang, Payar and Tioman.

"We have many attractive destinations for scuba diving therefore make good use of God's gift to overcome stress.

"Furthermore the water temperatures here are not seasonal so one could swim, dive or participate in other water sports all year round," he told reporters after officiating the Malaysia International Dive Expo 2009 here, Friday...[Link]

Malaysia International Dive Expo 2009 – July scuba event in southeast Asia

Scuba enthusiasts will gather in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from July 3–5, 2009 for the fourth annual Malaysia International Dive Expo (MIDE). The event is the largest dive show in Malaysia. Organizers expect more than 10,000 visitors for the three-day event, which will feature approximately 155 booths and 120 exhibitors.

MIDE will feature a variety of programs and activities including:

* Product demonstrations at the MIDE Demo Pool located at the entrance of the Putra World Trade Center.
* Children’s underwater coloring contest.
* Workshops and training programs on a variety of diving topics such as choosing and maintaining dive equipment and selecting dive destinations. Photographic topics include how to shoot macros and shooting with a strobeless compact digital.
* Seminars on a variety of topics ranging from marine conservation, marine species and diving rescue to photography and technical topics...[Link]

KK’s OK for diving

Mention scuba diving in Sabah, and people are likely to think of Mabul or Sipadan.

These islands are about nothing but beaches and diving. While this may be great for many, those of us who need something a little more may find them wanting.

This is where Kota Kinabalu, the capital, comes into the picture. Or Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, to be exact.

The park is probably one of the best-kept diving secrets in the country, and it is a mere 20 minutes by speedboat from the town’s marina. TAR Park consists of five islands, Gaya (the biggest), Sapi, Manukan, Sulug and Mamutik.

At least 10 reputable diving sites are said to be located here, so this, for me, became a trip to verify if the convenience of the park’s location is backed up by quality...[TheStarOnline]