Miss Scuba participants learn about marine environment
KOTA KINABALU: The Miss Scuba International contestants learned about the characteristics of coral reefs and ocean fishes as well as the threats to the marine environment from WWFMalaysia on November 11.
They also participated in a hand bracelet making session with WAPO (Wanita Pulau Omadal Semporna) to support their marine conservation efforts.
In a morning session with WWF-Malaysia on November 12, the contestants did a reef check to learn about the types of coral reefs and fishes in Mabul Island.
The contestants became more passionate about diving as they learned to identify the different varieties of coral reefs and fishes in the reef check session.
Miss Latvia Indra Valaine said: “This observation session is so special! I am excited to see many coral reefs and fishes in Mabul Island; I am truly astonished to learn that there are so many varieties of marine life underwater!”
WWF-Malaysia marine biodiversity project manager Monique Sumampouw said that as our ocean is facing many threats such as coral bleaching and overfishing, we have the responsibility to protect it.
The contestants also learned about WWF-Malaysia’s ocean conservation projects and recycling projects for the past two years.
They participated in a group discussion for proposals to handle many issues and threats to oceans.
“The lifespan of sea turtles in Taiwan is recorded yearly. It is discovered that single-use plastic in the ocean poses the most threat to their survival. Recently our entrepreneurs have invented sugar cane straw to replace plastic straws,” Miss Taiwan Huang Yu-wen (Dami) said.
In a beach clean-up session, the contestants collected five bags of garbages, including used plastic bottles, plastic packagings, disposed fish nets and canvas etc.
“It is so difficult to imagine such a wonderful place would be polluted by so much garbage. We are all responsible to recycle and clean up our beaches, at the same time to share what we have learned here with the people around us,” said Miss Germany Johanna Acs.
“I have learned so much about marine conservation in the past few days. We all need to conserve our ocean for our future generations to enjoy,” said Miss Malaysia, Alycia See Sin Kee.
The grand finals of Miss Scuba International will be held in Magellan Sutera on November 17.