Camera ban coming to Sipadan?

[The Wolf]

Most of the diving at Sipdan takes place between the 10meter-25 meter mark. And for the most part, most people get caught in the currents and end up either floating along courtesy of the currents and/or swim along.

The problem however is a lack of manpower by dive companies and resorts. You get maybe 2 dive masters (or instructors) with both newly qualified divers and seasoned divers and then the pack spreads out over a 100 meters or so until it's "time" or air starts to run out after 40-60 minutes.

I have rarely, in my time in Borneo seen too many issues with divers with camera's destroying corals and reefs. If anything, they get distracted and don't pay attention to the movement of their dive group but this happens everywhere I am sure.

I honestly do need to know if the flash lights attached to the camera's are the prime reason for this impending ban OR if it's just because inexperinced divers are causing meyham and destroying coral and reefs in their quest to photograph. Given the geography of how the atoll is structured and how it drops down..I would imagine more damage is done at Mabul and Kapalai than Sipadan from my observation.

Anyways, these NGO's are the 'experts' given they are based out there but sometimes, NGO's do go over board in their attempts to preserve things. Till today, they can't even improve the education amongst local fishermen along the east coast to stop fish bombing, a practice that was introduced from the Philippines. It carries on today and instead of wasting resources on this ban which, I believe is unneccessary, they would be better off doing something really worthwhile and saving the reefs, fish life and corals around Sabah in general because this, to me, is far more important and in need desperately of more attention.

Sipadan is under Sabah Parks who are the government arm responsible for all national parks in the state of sabah.

 

[String]

The problem however is a lack of manpower by dive companies and resorts. You get maybe 2 dive masters (or instructors) with both newly qualified divers and seasoned divers and then the pack spreads out over a 100 meters or so until it's "time" or air starts to run out after 40-60 minutes.

This is more of a problem of companies (in lots of places worldwide) insisting on everyone, including experinced divers must play follow the leader. The result is you get everything from people with cameras who want to move slowly to underwater sprint divers who want to cover the whole area as fast as possible in the same group.
A far saner approach is check out dives, allowing experienced divers to buddy up and do their own dive and then the DMs attention can be solely on the lesser experienced or suspect divers.

---------- Post added March 18th, 2013 at 03:12 PM ----------

As for Sipadan, I just wasn't all that impressed with the place. You can get great turtle shots, but the muck around Mabul was more interesting for shots, IMO.

Depends what you want. If you like macro you'll like Mabul and that area. If you like wide angle you'll prefer Sipadan. Personally macro bores me after 1-2 dives but other people will choose it every time. All due to personal preference.
If the only dives available are macro then im not diving.

---------- Post added March 18th, 2013 at 03:24 PM ----------

Just had replies back from 3 different centres asking about the camera ban. All are saying it HASNT yet come in but could well come in at short notice.

 

[The Wolf]

Nobody ever claimed Sipadan was the better place for muck diving.

And most people have always acknowledged Mabul as the better site for muck diving.

 

[vladimir]

Most of the diving at Sipdan takes place between the 10meter-25 meter mark. And for the most part, most people get caught in the currents and end up either floating along courtesy of the currents and/or swim along.

The problem however is a lack of manpower by dive companies and resorts. You get maybe 2 dive masters (or instructors) with both newly qualified divers and seasoned divers and then the pack spreads out over a 100 meters or so until it's "time" or air starts to run out after 40-60 minutes.

I have rarely, in my time in Borneo seen too many issues with divers with camera's destroying corals and reefs. If anything, they get distracted and don't pay attention to the movement of their dive group but this happens everywhere I am sure.

I honestly do need to know if the flash lights attached to the camera's are the prime reason for this impending ban OR if it's just because inexperinced divers are causing meyham and destroying coral and reefs in their quest to photograph. Given the geography of how the atoll is structured and how it drops down..I would imagine more damage is done at Mabul and Kapalai than Sipadan from my observation.

Anyways, these NGO's are the 'experts' given they are based out there but sometimes, NGO's do go over board in their attempts to preserve things. Till today, they can't even improve the education amongst local fishermen along the east coast to stop fish bombing, a practice that was introduced from the Philippines. It carries on today and instead of wasting resources on this ban which, I believe is unneccessary, they would be better off doing something really worthwhile and saving the reefs, fish life and corals around Sabah in general because this, to me, is far more important and in need desperately of more attention.

Sipadan is under Sabah Parks who are the government arm responsible for all national parks in the state of sabah.

Better yet, let's get those NGOs to stop this global warming. I think that's the real threat to coral reefs, far more important than destructive fishing practices around Sabah. Why waste resources on that?

 

[String]

The problem with NGOs is often they're not experts in the field nor do they consult many.
I wont how many are experienced diving instructors or ideally instructor trainers (non local, neutrals from outside) and how many spent many weeks or months observing a "typical" day there, cataloguing the problems, the cause and so on or how many they actually consulted for a solution.

Certainly the Egypt NGOs/bodies are office-bound desk jockeys most of which have never even experienced their subject in even a limited detail making decisions on 3rd hand information passed by a non-qualified mate. As a result they often (i) identify a problem but then (ii) completely miss-interpret the root cause and (iii) introduce legislation that doesn't actually address the root cause as a result.

You also have to wonder if even "Mad Ivan with his camera and 6kg fins" ploughing through the reef is going to be more damaging than dynamite....

 

[The Wolf]

The problem with NGOs is often they're not experts in the field nor do they consult many.
I wont how many are experienced diving instructors or ideally instructor trainers (non local, neutrals from outside) and how many spent many weeks or months observing a "typical" day there, cataloguing the problems, the cause and so on or how many they actually consulted for a solution.

Certainly the Egypt NGOs/bodies are office-bound desk jockeys most of which have never even experienced their subject in even a limited detail making decisions on 3rd hand information passed by a non-qualified mate. As a result they often (i) identify a problem but then (ii) completely miss-interpret the root cause and (iii) introduce legislation that doesn't actually address the root cause as a result.

You also have to wonder if even "Mad Ivan with his camera and 6kg fins" ploughing through the reef is going to be more damaging than dynamite....

I know a small number of the scientists who are carrying out studies on the damage to reefs and corals around the park in Semporna and I can see what they are trying to say. But thus far, nothing as far as banning camera's has been mooted and it was something that was merely discussed informally. It is hardly the smartest thing to do even at this point in time by the state government to start banning cameras.

It was a rumor. Nothing more at the moment.

Not that I am an expert on global warming. Only getting fished bombed by a 60 year old man and his teenage son 100 meters from where we were diving. Not once. Twice in a row.

---------- Post added March 18th, 2013 at 09:57 PM ----------

better yet, let's get those ngos to stop this global warming. I think that's the real threat to coral reefs, far more important than destructive fishing practices around sabah. Why waste resources on that?

lol...

 

[String]

I've been dynamite fished twice. Both times diving in a marine park. Both times it wasn't pleasant. And both times im fairly sure it did far more damage than a stray fin tip! A third time they actually told us to get out of the way just as we were kitting up because there'd be bangs in 5 mins.....at least they warned us that time!

 

[InTheDrink]

I've been dynamited once, in the distance, in Tanzania. Most of the area we were diving was all blasted to **** coral. I'm not sure anyone would suggest this isn't anything but the worst short termist vandalism conceivable.

But it's not to excuse divers screwing with the place either. I believe over-diving areas can put reefs under a lot of stress. Kicking the **** out of them en masse thru poor technique, awareness or giving a ****, is still something we should be holding each other to account on.

 

[Oldbear]

Does anybody know which NGO made the study and recommendation?

 

[gee13]

Yep and whilst your at it lets get his/her phone number and residence please.. Id like to discuss over a cup of chai if I may..