The Mabul Island of Semporna lies within the Sulu Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion—the apex of the Coral Triangle. Often called the ‘Amazon of the Seas', The Coral Triangle has the most diverse marine ecosystem in the world, with over 500 species of corals and 3000 species of reef fish dwelling in its waters. It is a place unmatched with no other. For this reason, the SMEs come together annually to organize Mabul Marine Week with the aspiration of conserving Mabul’s underwater world and marine life.

The event initiated by Sipadan Water Village (SWV) back in 1997 and was called Mabul Marine Day (MMD). This event went on for another ten years until it was extended to become Mabul Marine Week (MMW) in 2007. This week-long event witnesses the active participation from various dive operators, Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs), as well as Government agencies.

This year, for its 4th installment, Mabul Marine Week will be held from 24th to 29th September. Scuba Junkie, as this year’s Organizing Chairperson has lined up an array of conservation projects such as Beach Cleanup, Reef Cleanup Dive, Education Awareness with School Children and many more.  Scuba Junkie will also be launching the Turtle Hatchery Program at their beach resort and deliver a presentation on Turtle Awareness. 

All members of the public are welcome to participate in this 5-day event.

The organizer has also invited Sarimah Ibrahim to be the Ambassador for the Mabul Marine Week, the Turtle Hatchery Program and the Mabul School of Hope. Sarimah is no stranger to Mabul, having spent more than ten years exploring its underwater treasures. 

“Sabah has become a second home to me over the years, and being an active diver myself, I am honoured to be able to play a part in the conservation of our beautiful ocean environment,” she says.

As part of Mabul Marine Week’s promotion, Suria FM and BorneoColours.com as the official Media partners are having radio and blogger contests that offer lucky winners a 3-day/2-night stay on Mabul Island. These contests, supported by Scuba Junkie, are not mainly focused on Mabul Marine Week itself. Rather, they are aimed at promoting awareness on marine conservation as a whole.

The co-organizers for Mabul Marine Week 2011 are Borneo Divers, Arung Hayat, Sphere Divers, Sipadan Water Village, Sipadan Mabul Resort, Sipadan.Com, Big John, Pulau Sipadan Resort, Seaventures, My Scuba Diver, Panglima Homestay and supported by Semporna District Office, Sabah Wildlife Department, Borneo Conservancy, Project AWARE and Mabul Marine Police

Among the VIPs expected to grace this event are Regional Head of PADI Asia Pacific, Mr. Johnny Chew; the Semporna District Officer, Mr. Abdul Mohamad Ibnu Abdul Kadir Baba, Chairman of Sabah Tourism Board, Tengku Zainal Adlin; and Malaysian Minister of Rural and Regional Development, Datuk Seri Mohd. Shafie bin Haji Apdal.