Yong (third left) hands over the petition to Ting. They are directly flanked by Goh and Grace.
MIRI (July 28): Three recreational diving operators here are calling on the government to allow their business to resume immediately so that they can start earning an income again.
A representative, Jimmy Yong, said the closure of recreational scuba diving activities after the tightening of the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) standard operating procedure (SOP) since May 10 had tremendously impacted diving operators in Miri.
“Recreational scuba diving is seasonal. The dive season in Miri is from March till November. So diving operators in Miri can only operate at the most nine months in a year, before the monsoon season.
“Should the lockdown prolong till September or October, we may not be able to operate until March 2022 when the monsoon season is over.
“This will cause enormous impact to our business operation, which we foresee will result in huge financial difficulties,” he said in a press statement today.
Yong and two other recreational diving operators in Miri, Mathew Goh and Grace Ting, made a courtesy call on the Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Sebastian Ting yesterday to voice their concerns and hand over a petition.
In the petition, Yong, Goh, and Grace appealed for marine parks here to be opened to scuba diving activities, just like fishing activities, so that they too can resume their operation.
“Fishing activities is allowed in phase two (of the Covid-19 National Recovery Plan) and they can even enter the marine park area without restriction. Thus, we are requesting marine parks to be opened for scuba diving activities too, so that dive operators could resume their business operation.
“Scuba diving has greater safety measures and lower risks of (Covid-19) transmission as we are operating according to professional guidelines and international standards,” Yong said.
Apart from that, they are also requesting for an earlier opening of pools for scuba training, and not in the fourth phase of the National Recovery Plan (NRP) as planned. Sarawak is currently under phase two of the NRP.
“Scuba diving pool training is non-contact in-water activities, divers are using diving mask and breathing regulators most of the time. Therefore, the risks of transmission are minimal.
“Pool training is essential for scuba diving courses and licensed diver’s refresher programmes prior to any open sea diving activities. Diver safety is one of the most essential aspects to us,” he added.
Yong said since the pandemic started in 2020, dive operators and diving professionals have been operating according to strict safety guidelines of Covid-19 prevention measures outlined by World Recreational Scuba Training Council (WRSTC).
He also hoped that the state government could provide assistance to dive operators who have also been badly affected by the MCO and CMCO.
“Recreational scuba diving is not listed in any of the categories under the Ministry of Tourism nor Ministry of Sports in Sarawak. Thus, we are not eligible for any of the support that has been introduced by the government during the pandemic.
“Miri dive operators have been in the tough situation of no income since lock down, requesting the goodwill to provide aid to the local registered dive operators and personnels employed under the local dive operators such as boatmen, professional dive guides and professional diving instructors,” he said.
Yong added that diving operators in Miri play an important role in promoting local tourism for Miri, particularly Miri’s very own marine national park.
“We are dedicated and passionate to work together with the ministry and other agencies when tourism resumes in the near future. However, aid and support must come to ensure our survival throughout this difficult condition,” he stressed.