Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Dive Squad Club has condemned the irresponsible actions of divers seen restraining a sea turtle and a whale shark in a viral video, calling for strict enforcement of marine conservation ethics.
Its president, Sim Fui, said that if the incident occurred in Sabah, particularly near Pulau Manukan, it would seriously breach marine conservation laws and ethical diving standards.
It emphasised that harassing, touching, or restraining marine animals, especially protected species, is unacceptable and harmful to their well-being and the marine ecosystem.
The club urged authorities to investigate, identify those responsible, and take necessary enforcement action while calling on divers and operators to uphold accountable diving practices.
Reaffirming its commitment to ethical diving, the club encouraged anyone with information on the incident to step forward to ensure accountability and safeguard Sabah’s marine heritage.