Global promo on for Sabah, Labuan dive sites
Popular and latest diving sites in Sabah and Labuan will be promoted globally at the interna onal pla orm of DEMA Orlando (Diving Equipment and Marke ng Associa on) 2017 from Nov 1- 4 at Orland, Florida, United States.
LABUAN: Popular and latest diving sites of Malaysia will be promoted globally at the international platform of DEMA Orlando (Diving Equipment and Marketing Association) 2017 from Nov 1- 4 at Orland, Florida, United States.
Tourism Malaysia Ambassador for the diving segment (20172019) and internationally renowned diver Clement Lee will be the Malaysian speaker to promote diving in Malaysia and to give a presentation on Nov 2.
Labuan-born, Clement, 65, is currently working on promoting diving in other lesser known islands in Semporna, such as Matabuan, Bohey Dulang, Si Amil and Denawan to take the pressure off Sipadan and to preserve the island’s underwater life.
Malaysia is among the leading dive destinations in the world with one of the richest marine environments in the IndoPacific Basin.
The incredible bio-diversity of marine life, coupled with warm clear waters, beautiful islands and breathtaking beaches keep divers coming back time and time again.
Other diving sites in Malaysia to be promoted include Tioman Island and Aur Island in Johor, Kapas Island and Perhentian Island in Terengganu and Mantanani and Mataking in Sabah.
Speaking to Bernama, he said Labuan’s latest scuba dive site of Vernon Bank is one of those on the list for the global promotion.
“The existing Labuan ship wrecks of American Wreck, Australian Wreck, Cement Wreck and Blue Water Wreck are not spared and they will also be promoted, as part of the Malaysia’s popular scuba diving sites,” Clement said.
Clement has been in the dive industry for over 30 years, and was one of the pioneers in diving tourism in Sabah as well as a pioneer in the now renowned Sipadan island.
“I’m still active in scuba diving and conservation programmes throughout the country and certain parts of the world.
Clement just returned from Taipei last week after an invitation from Tourism Malaysia Taipei and Lion Travel to give presentations and talks about the various dive spots and destinations in Malaysia.
Appointed as Tourism Malaysia Advisor of Diving in 2015, Clement, from Borneo Divers, has travelled extensively to promote diving in Malaysia and giving talks all over the world.
He was awarded the prestigious DEMA Reaching Out Award in 2008 in Las Vegas and became the only one from this region to be inducted into the International Scuba Divers Hall of Fame in Cayman Islands on Nov 8, 2011.
Founded by the Cayman Island’s Ministry of Tourism in 2000, the ISDHF was designed to honour individuals whose contribution to the sport has been immeasurable.
International undersea photographer (Seahorse Production founder) Rudy Whitworth who is collaborating with Tourism Malaysia on Malaysia’s diving promotion is also scheduled to give a presentation on the latest Malaysia’s diving sites.
“After diving at several historical scuba dive sites in the waters off Labuan of which I found very interesting and have potential, Labuan will be a big part of my presentations scheduled on Nov 3,” he told Bernama.
“I will have two presentations that I will deliver for Scuba Shows, the first is called ‘Emerging Dive Locations in Malaysia’ and will contain information and images from each of the five locations I went to.
“The initial showing of this presentation will be at DEMA and the second is called ‘Shipwrecks of Malaysia’.
“This show will highlight the shipwreck diving opportunities at four of the five locations of Tioman, Kuching, Miri and Labuan and the initial presentation is scheduled for the Chicago scuba show ‘Our World Underwater’ in late February 2018.
At DEMA, dive and travel industry professionals from around the world gather in Orlando to take part in the world’s premier trade exhibition for diving, action water sports and adventure travel industries.
Exhibitors showcase the latest products and services in fields like diving and watersports equipment, swimwear, boats, dive and adventure travel, dive training and diving publications among others.
Among attendees are diving and watersports retailers, dive resort operators, dive training agencies, travel agents and press and media representatives.
Beyond the exhibit floor, DEMA provides excellent educational programmes and events for industry professionals including seminars on stateof-the industry topics and the premier industry networking event, the DEMA Awards Party. – Bernama