Sabah Sets Safety SOPs for Scuba Diving – Sabah Dive Squad Club to Support Stakeholder Education

12 Jun 2025

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment (KePKAS) has officially established a set of safety standard operating procedures (SOPs) for scuba diving activities in the state, reinforcing its commitment to responsible and sustainable tourism ahead of the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 campaign.

Sabah Dive Squad Club (also known as Deus Diving Club) president Sim Fui welcomed the initiative, describing it as both timely and crucial in enhancing diver safety while supporting the state’s tourism industry.

“Sabah is renowned for its beautiful diving spots from the state capital, Sepanggar, Kota Belud, Kudat, Lahad Datu to Semporna. According to the Sabah Fisheries Department, the scuba diving industry has contributed over RM500 million to the state’s revenue. That figure is a significant boost to Sabah’s economy,” said Sim.

“However, it is concerning when diving accidents occur, especially those involving international visitors. Strengthening SOP compliance is essential to maintain our reputation as a world-class diving destination.”

The club recently paid a courtesy visit to KePKAS Permanent Secretary Datuk Josie Lai, who emphasized the importance of full compliance with the newly established SOPs. During the meeting, the ministry expressed its intention to release the SOP publicly in the near future and welcomed the club’s support in educating industry stakeholders.

In line with this, the Sabah Dive Squad Club will be organizing a Safety and Medical Talk for its members on 20 July 2025, aiming to raise awareness and reinforce best practices among divers and operators. The event follows recent incidents involving diver fatalities, some of which have been attributed to negligence.

“We welcome this collaboration with KePKAS and will incorporate the updated SOPs into our upcoming safety talk,” Sim added. “By engaging more stakeholders particularly dive operators who work directly with clients—we hope to minimise diving accidents as much as possible.”

The club encourages all dive professionals, tourism operators, and recreational divers to attend the session and stay updated on the latest safety requirements.