Camera ban in Sipadan

It seems one of the premiere dive spots of Asia won't attract photographers in the future.

The jewel of the diving in Malaysia is Sipadan, it became legendary about 2 decades ago. As Jacques Cousteau said, "I have seen other places like Sipadan, 45 years ago, but now no more. Now we have found an untouched piece of art." In the past there were diving resorts on the island but in 2004 the government decided to close them. Since them the tourists came to Sipadan from the neighbouring islands. The daytrips are not cheap but the dive is awesome there: turtles, sharks, huge shoal of fish wait the underwater explorers. But they limit the number of divers and there is a permit system. There can be a maximum of 120 divers in Sipadan per day, so the dive operators have to issue the permits.

According to the uwphotographyguide.com's article, the government try to minimize the destruction caused by divers. Only advanced open water divers with at least 20 dives can dive around SIpadan, using of gloves and pointers aren't allowed and they decide to ban the underwater cameras as well. To be honest there are underwater photographers and videographers who don't care too much about the corals when they try to make the best shots. It is a real problem in many destinations but a ban seems very radical move. Many people say there are much more problems with the illegal fishing than the dive tourism.

Nobody knows if they really won't let amateur photographers take their cameras under water, or there will be new rules (less permit or ban the diving for a few months, etc.). Because today the majority of the divers have their own cameras, Sipadan will be far less attracting for them. It they want less tourist there, maybe the ban is a good idea. But on the other hand the resorts of Mabul, Semporna or Kapalai will be much less popular destinations as well without the chance of making photo trips to Sipadan.

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