Protecting Our Oceans: A Conservation Dive Against Ghost Nets
As Sabah’s scuba diving sector reopens after the pandemic, our team was proud to take part in an important conservation dive at Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, Kota Kinabalu. Led by Dive Downbelow, the mission focused on the removal of “ghost nets” – large fishing nets discarded on the seabed that threaten marine life and destroy fragile coral reefs.
For me, this cause is deeply personal. I became a certified diver during a pageant more than 10 years ago, and since then, ocean conservation has remained close to my heart. Ten years ago, during that same journey, I was honoured with the Nature’s Guardian award by Borneo Divers, who were not only the hosts of the programme but also my dive trainers. That recognition was more than just a title – it was the spark that ignited my lifelong commitment to protect the ocean.
On this dive, we encountered a massive ghost net stretching nearly 300 metres across the reef. Removing it was no easy task. The net was tightly tangled around corals, and strong currents pushed us back and forth as we worked. At times, we had to cut the net into smaller sections just so we could roll it without creating new tangles. My hands and legs were scratched by corals along the way due to the current, but every piece of net removed meant a reef saved from suffocation.
Ghost nets are a long-standing issue in Sabah’s waters. They not only kill fish but also destroy the reefs that form the foundation of the marine ecosystem. Dive Downbelow’s managing director, Richard Swann, has long championed conservation through education, training, and hands-on removal dives. His words remind us that the solution does not lie in blame, but in empowering communities and building awareness so that future generations embrace sustainable practices.
From receiving the Nature’s Guardian award to pulling up ghost nets years later, this journey has always been about more than diving – it has been about responsibility. Every dive is a reminder that we are guardians of something much larger than ourselves, and the ocean, in its vast silence, is always watching how well we rise to that role.
As part of our company’s CSR efforts, we believe in walking the talk. Conservation is not a one-day event but a continuous commitment. Joining this dive was a small step, but one that echoes our values – protecting the ocean, educating communities, and working together to ensure Sabah’s marine treasures remain for generations to come.
When we surfaced, tired but hopeful, the reef behind us looked freer, alive, and ready to heal. And that, for me, is the greatest reward of all.
Read New Straits Times on Marine enthusiasts urged to join Sabah conservation activities
