A Ghost Net removal was conducted from our premier PADI 5 Star IDC Dive Centre to remove an illegally discarded fishing net found suffocating one of the dive spots frequented in the Tunku Abdul Rahman park.

Sadly, the net claimed some marine life, one being a Blacktip Reef Shark, of which its 1½-metre carcass was absolutely destroyed by other opportunistic fish feeding on its flesh.

PADI Instructors Strike and Cindy, Go PRO interns Hutch and Rob, and local Work4aCareer Divemaster Trainee Oliver removed the length of the net, which they estimated to be roughly 50 metres. They observed very little organic matter had collected on the lines of the net, which means it was probably dumped into the sea only very recently, possibly the night before!

At least there was a chance for some crustaceans, who don’t so easily become food to others, because of their hard exterior. The 5 divers freed some lobsters, one was particularly challenging to free because of its size and the degree of entanglement that had occurred to it. We cannot know for sure that the marine life will survive after their distressing ordeal, but it’s the Project AWARE and PADI professional duty for us to do what we can to protect and preserve the underwater world.