MSDA calls for possible suspension of dive operators pending safety breach probe after two Tioman deaths
The Malaysia Scuba Diving Association warned that dive operators may be forced to cease operations if investigations confirm serious safety or licensing violations following two recent fatalities on Pulau Tioman.
A 55-year-old Afghan tourist, Mohammed Seyar Musazay, died during an introductory scuba dive near Kampung Salang on Pulau Tioman on Sept. 30, adding to a previous foreign tourist death on Sept. 12 at the same site. In response, the Malaysia Scuba Diving Association (MSDA) said operators should be ordered to stop if investigations uncover serious safety protocol breaches, licensing violations or negligence. MSDA president Aminor Azmi Abdul Latip appealed to police, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, and the Tioman Development Authority for a comprehensive, impartial investigation covering dive-centre licences, instructor qualifications, emergency-first-response certifications, supervision ratios, equipment maintenance and emergency-response procedures.
He stressed that Malaysia’s reputation as a premier diving destination depends on strict adherence to safety standards and warned that further incidents could erode public confidence. The association pledged to cooperate with authorities and urged the broader diving community to proactively review and improve safety practices.
