Redang Terengganu Operators’ Association president Lee Yat Loong said divers had been advised to stay clear of Pulau Ekor Tebu, Pulau Che Isa and Pulau Tanjung Lebah until early next year.
He said the closure was the initiative of the association although all three spots were not on the Marine Park Department’s list of closed dive sites.
“Only Teluk Bakau was on the list but our checks revealed that the other three areas were also affected by coral bleaching and we recommended them to be closed as well.
“We have always been self-regulatory and through a collaboration with Reef Check Malaysia Berhad, we had highlighted the problems with the coral reefs in our area long before the announcement by the Marine Park Department,” he said.
The bleaching was caused by the rise in water temperature and not much could be done about it except for implementing a monitoring system on the condition of the coral reefs.
“It is us against Mother Nature and it looks like we are winning as the average water temperature is currently holding at between 29ºC and 30ºC compared with the 30-31ºC earlier in the year. “We are confident of another one-degree drop in the water temperature soon and chances are the coral reefs will be back to normal in the next few months,” said Lee, adding that the dive site closures would reduce the stress on the reefs. He said human impact on the reefs should be minimum. The closure was necessary for the authorities to conduct their studies, in addition to allowing the reefs to rest.
“But diving enthusiasts and prospective visitors to the island have nothing to worry as we have more than 20 other known diving spots in and around the island.
“Recent news coverage on the closure of dive spots has led people to assume the whole marine park was closed but that is just not true as it is still business as usual with plenty of diving and snorkelling here on
the island,” Lee said.
On July 21, the Marine Park Department had announced the temporary closure of nine diving and snorkelling areas in Pahang, Terengganu and Kedah, in addition to three islands in Pahang, due to coral bleaching.
The affected areas in Kedah are Pulau Payar, Teluk Wangi, Pantai Damai and Coral Garden while the areas in Pahang include Pulau Rengis, Pulau Tumok, Pulau Soyak, Pulau Chebeh and Batu Matang. In Terengganu, Teluk Dalam, Tanjung Tukas Darat and Tanjung Tukas Laut in Pulau Perhentian, Teluk Air Tawar in Pulau Tenggol, and Teluk Bakau in Pulau Redang will remain closed until the end of October.
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