SEMPORNA: A year ago, when The Buwan Dive Resort decided to join the Green Fins programme by Reef Check Malaysia, the resort underwent a rigorous assessment using the Green Fins Code of Conduct to evaluate its environmental footprint on the marine environment.
At that time, the resort was classified as a Restricted Member, indicating a higher level of environmental impact in its dive centre operations, including diving activities.
Striving to improve and fulfil its commitment to sustainability, The Buwan Dive Resort adopted a proactive approach to adhere to the best environmental standards outlined by Green Fins.
Actions ranged from reducing single-use plastics and improving waste management to actively supporting coral reef conservation initiatives.
As a result of these efforts, the resort achieved Silver Member status in this year’s annual Green Fins assessment.
During the reassessment conducted by Reef Check Malaysia, The Buwan Dive Resort demonstrated remarkable progress in its Green Fins compliance.
This achievement highlights that when a dive centre is truly committed to environmental responsibility, it can make measurable and inspiring improvements in sustainability practices.
“This is a great reminder to us and many dive operators in Semporna that we all have the capacity to do the same,” said Adzmin Fatta, Senior Programme Manager of Reef Check Malaysia in Semporna.
He added that many dive operators in Semporna have not yet joined the Green Fins programme or undergone assessments of their environmental footprint.
“We hope that stories like The Buwan Dive Resort’s journey will inspire and encourage more operators to participate and contribute to sustainable tourism efforts in Semporna,” he added.
Nisa Mariyen, a representative from The Buwan Dive Resort, shared that the journey was both challenging and rewarding. She emphasized that ongoing staff training, consistent monitoring of operations, and community engagement were key to their progress.
She also highlighted the strong support from the resort owner, whose passion for sustainable tourism has been a driving force behind their success. “Our commitment is to maintain the highest environmental standards and continuously improve our sustainability practices,” she said.
Green Fins is an international initiative that promotes environmentally responsible diving and snorkeling practices to protect fragile coral reef ecosystems.
In Malaysia, the programme is implemented by Reef Check Malaysia in collaboration with Sabah Parks, offering guidance, training, and assessments to dive operators to reduce their environmental impact and promote sustainable tourism. At least 27 dive operators are registered as Green Fins members in Sabah.-pr/BNN
