Turtle Rehabilitation!

It was last year that Scuba Junkie opened it's Turtle Rehabilitation Centre - the first of it's kind in East Sabah. For months the tank went unused - not a bad thing. We would not wish sickness on our reptilian friends. Then last month a sick turtle was brought to us by another dive centre and we have been able to put our rehabilitation centre to good use.

The affectionally named 'Myrtle' the turtle was brought to us as she was unable to dive down from the surface. Consequently she was unable to rest on the reef or - most importantly - feed. At this point we must just note that the sex of the turtle is currently undetermined. It is near impossible to tell the sex of a turtle until it reaches sexual maturity, which this young one has not. However, we have come to love her too much to refer to it as, well, 'it'. So Myrtle is a 'she' until we find out more. Our rehabilitation centre is comprised of a pool with a pump that brings in filtered sea water. The fact that she was unable to duck dive dive was causing her a lot of distress so the water has been filled just a few inches.

The reason poor Myrtle has been unable to submerge herself in the water is due to a build up of gas. The cause of this is difficult to determine. A vet from the Sabah Wildlife department came to visit and said it was one of two potential issues. It could be an intestinal infection or it could be a blockage from consuming plastic. Once the vet has fully trained our staff in administering the antibiotics in case it was an infection, she left us with enough to treat her for ten days. And so we began our emotional journey of care. The injections had to be given every day, and twice a day we were trying to feed her.

As the days went on she began to refuse food. Small squid is the best thing to feed turtles in her situation. The less than glamorous job of feeding involved cutting up squid, removing the parts that the turtle is unable to eat and trying to feed her - a smelly and messy job! Sadly she grew lethargic, she seemed depressed and was refusing food. Our concerns grew as the days went on and she barely ate. We were regularly weighing her and her weight was declining.

Suddenly, everything changed. Her course of antibiotics came to an end and the decision was made to stop weighing her as it was causing a lot of stress. It is unsure which change of events caused the dramatic change in behaviour, but suddenly she was eating. Her appetite had returned with a vengeance. From barely looking at slithers of squid placed in front of her, she was chasing down parts that were dropped in any part of the pool. We have now also gradually added sargassum weed to her meal, which is a bigger part of her natural diet than squid. Our concern then became that the food was not passing through - that the blockage remained. Fortunately she has now been passing large amounts - who knew we could get so excited about turtle poo!

Our staff have been trained in turtle care, but of course through out this experience we have had the constant guidance of people who have dealt with this situation before. Paul Barnes and Scott Maybank have been invaluable in their help. Paul Barnes came to visit just the other day and upgraded our the centre. His contribution to this project has been truly amazing. We are also hugely grateful to the Sabah Wildlife Department for all their help and advice. 

As Myrtle continues to improved we hope that soon the gas will pass through and she will be able to dive down again. It seems that whatever caused the build up of gas has been eliminated, however the gas remains. Paul Barnes
informed us that the gas has escaped into the body cavity and we must wait for it to dissolve. This process could take months. Even when she does recover it is recommended to keep her in care for a few months in case the problem returns. She is fast becoming a beloved part of our Scuba Junkie family! 

There is no doubt that this has been a emotional roller coaster filled with fear, sadness, excitement and joy. We will keep you updated on her progress and we hope to releasing back into the ocean in a few months time.

There is one key issue that has been highlighted by Myrtles arrival. Although we are currently not 100% sure what has caused the blockage and build up of gas - there is always the chance that it was plastic. Too many lives are being lost across the ocean due to the devastating increase of marine debris. By reducing the amount of plastic you use you can help save creatures across the world. 

Shark Week: Day 6

The penultimate day of Shark Week was a busy one. We had visitors from the Community College in Semporna, reef cleans, beach cleans, coral transplant programmes and an incredible presentation. 

We had staff and interns, along with some volunteers, get stuck into a reef clean. As previously mentioned it is a sad fact that these are necessary but they do make a huge difference. It was inspiring to see that we had customers willing to give up their fun diving, or even days off to aid the reef clean. Between reef cleans we had everyone involved in a beach clean. Again, the sun was shining so it was sweaty work. 

Debris left on beaches or washed into the ocean causes a plethora of problems. Not only is it unsightly, but it threatens many of our much loves marine creatures. Turtles mistakenly consume plastic - this causes blockages in their digestive system. This blockage creates a build up of gas, which ultimately means they are unable to dive down underwater to feed - the turtle then starves to death. And it is not just turtles that are affected. Photos of manta rays surround by garbage have outrages divers across the world. Birds are also being found with stomachs full of plastic. 
The coral transplant project was undertaken in the afternoon. The aim of the programme is to promote coral reef growth. Coral reefs are one of the most complex and diverse ecosystems on the planet. They sustain the life of thousands of species. They are facing serious threats and many species of coral are listed as 'threatened' on the IUCN Red list. Artificial reefs give corals another chance to grow and flourish. We collect fragments of coral that would otherwise die and bring them to our coral nursery. Here they get a second chance and also attract loads of marine life! 

Whilst all this was going on we also had a visit for the Community College in Semporna. Environmental Officer Dave took them on the Fish ID snorkel! He talked them through the various species of fish we commonly see in this area and the ways to identify them. They also helped out with our beach clean. It was a fun filled day all round! 


In the evening we had the return of an old friend - Christian Loader. Christian works for Scubazoo and was here documenting our first ever Shark Week last year. In our busiest presentation yet,  he gave a talk on 'Shooting Sharks - how to take photos of sharks'. He recounted us with stories of the various situations he has been in whilst trying to get some of his stunning photos of sharks, described the methods and camera settings for achieving these shots and the various places across the globe he had been to. There is no doubt that Christian has taken some beautiful pictures over the years and has been privilege to some incredible sightings. He presentation was fascinating for all, the beauty of the photos was clear to everyone. 

The last day of Shark Week is here.... It's going to be a busy day. Keep and eye on the Scuba Junkie Facebook for an update on what happened! 

Facts about Whale Sharks

• The Whale Shark is the largest fish in the ocean
• They have been tracked travelling thousands of kilometres 
• They have 300 tiny teeth in their mouth - but no one knows why seeing as they are filter feeders 
• The give birth to live young
• There is very little known about their reproductive behaviour 

Shark Week: Day 5

We are sadly approaching the last few days of our second annual Shark Week. But never fear we still have loads of activities planned. 

We had an amazing turn out for this years FINathon. Staff and customers took on the challenge of swimming around Pulau Mabul. It took them just 3 hours. Some swam the whole way, whilst others took part as a relay. But all came back excited to have been a part of the event although they were all a little sunburnt! All money that was raised during the FINathon goes towards Project Aware. Project Aware focus on two major issues that threaten our oceans: Sharks in Peril and Marine Debris. Of course there are many problems our oceans are facing but these are the two that they have chosen to focus on. Over the years we have developed a close working relationship with Project Aware. Like us, Project Aware believe that the image portrayed of sharks are man eating machines needs to change. It's not too late to sponsor the event http://finathon.org/scuba-junkie. Every little helps!

We are hugely grateful to the guests who chose to give up a days diving to be part of and support this event. 

In the evening, whilst many people tended to their burnt calves, we were given a presentation by Aaron 'Bertie' Gekoski. Bertie is currently working to Scubazoo - an extremely talented production company based in Sabah. His project is 'Borneo from Below' - an online mini series looks at the wonders of diving in Sabah, but also touches upon the problems that the area faces. Having penned the term 'funservation' they aim to raise awareness of conservation issues in a more light hearted manner. For many of the episodes Bertie and his colleague Will have worked closely with Scuba Junkie. 

There were many subjects that Bertie touched upon. As an photographer he discussed the role that media plays in conservation. A powerful image can generate a lot of publicity, which then allows the photographer to promote the need for conservation. An experience that Bertie himself had been through when his own 'shark selfie' went viral. There is no doubt that there are many ways to approach the often delicate issues in conservation. Social media is constantly growing and the power of its voice increasing. Through their mini-series on Youtube they hope to spread the word of many issues through out Borneo. Check out their episodes on: www.facebook.com/BorneoFromBelow 

Facts about Leopard Sharks

• One of the most easily recognisable sharks 
• It can been seen resting on coral or if you are lucky you can see it swim gracefully through the water
• It's tail is nearly the same length as it body
• They are often called 'Zebra Sharks' as they have a striped pattern as juveniles 
• They are very docile and will allow divers to get very close 
• They are listed as 'Vulnerable' on the IUCN Red List

Shark Week: Day 4

Day 3 of Shark Week saw one of our environmental officers Dave McCann taking the stage for the evening presentation. His talk was entitled 'Marvellous Rays' and covered a number of fascinating topics, focusing specifically on the species of rays we encounter in the waters of Sabah. For those of you who are familiar with the blogs and Scuba Junkie Facebook, or for those who have been lucky enough to dive in these waters, you will already be well aware of the wide range of rays we are fortunate enough to witness on a regular basis.

In the Sabah waters, divers and snorkellers have regular meetings with blue spotted ribbon tail rays and blue spotted sting rays, but the focus of Dave's presentation was the larger of our ray species. We have been lucky to see Manta Ray, Mobula Rays (commonly known as Devil Rays) and Eagle Rays in and around the Tun Sakaran Marine Park, Pulau Sipadan and Mabul as well as along Sipadan Barrier Reef.

Dave discussed how to differentiate between the two currently described species of Manta: the Giant Manta (Manta Birostris) and the Reef Manta (Manta Alfredi).  It speaks volumes to how little we know about the underwater environment when Dave informed the audience that it was only discovered that there were in fact 2 different species of Manta in 2008. This was one of the largest new species to be described by scientists in many years, and in fact Dr Marshall, who made this initial distinction, may have recently discovered a third species of Manta that she is currently trying to describe. That we know so little about these amazing creatures should inspire us as frequent explorers of the aquatic world to get involved in the conservation of these amazing creatures.

Dave then went on to discuss the spectacular Devil Ray. He stressed that whilst divers are often disappointed to learn that it was not a Manta they saw but a Devil ray, these stunning rays are more than a match for their larger cousins. Ways to distinguish the Devil Ray from the Manta include the position of the mouth - with Devil Rays the mouth is situated on the ventral (underside) of the animal, whereas on the Manta it takes a more anterior (frontal) position. The Manta also possesses a unique pattern of spots on it's ventral surface which can be used much like a fingerprint in order to i

dentify the creature. 

We have been lucky here at Scuba Junkie to witness schools of up to a hundred Devil Rays along the Sipadan Barrier Reef, surely a highlight in any divers career! Both Devil and Manta Rays can school in huge numbers

Dave wrapped up his talk by informing the audience of both the threats that Rays face all around the world, as well as what we as responsible divers and tourists can do to assist these gentle giants. There is a growing market for the gill rakers of the rays as many believe that it has medicinal qualities. By raising awareness of these issues we hope that we can make a change!

Facts about White Tip Reef Sharks:

• These grey-brown sharks have white tips on their dorsal and tail fins
• It is a very small slender shark 
• Typically they are a docile shark, but at night they can become aggressive in their hunting
• After a gestation period of roughly a year, the female will give birth to 1 to 5 pups. 
• They reach sexual maturity at just 5 years old 
• They are listed as 'Near Threatened' on the IUCN Red List

Shark Week: Day 2 & 3

The second day of this special week saw us getting involved in one of our favourite activities: a reef clean! We had staff, interns and guests helping clean up underwater. Marine debris is a problem effecting all of our oceans. Here at Pulau Mabul we make every effort to minimise trash, but unfortunately it is necessary for us to take to the water armed with bags and gloves and remove rubbish. With the patterns of currents we have around the island, debris tends to congregate in certain areas. There is one corner of the island where currents converge pulling debris into that one place. Although its not nice for that dive site, it is good for us! Our dedicated team brought out several bags of debris that we will remove from the island.

Marine debris is a problem for many species of life. Not only do turtles mistake plastic bags for jelly fish and try to eat them, but also sharks and rays can become entangled and drown. Unfortunately it is not just underwater critters that are effected. Birds are also being found with stomachs full of plastic debris that they have accidentally consumed. Beach and reef cleans are an integral part of conservation and we hope that more and more people will get involved.

We also had staff participating in our coral transplant programme. Coral reefs are one of the most diverse and complex ecosystems on the planet and are essential to an incredible amount of species. Unfortunately these delicate ecosystems are under threat and are facing destruction and damage. We have a coral nursery on our house reef. Fragments of broken and damaged coral are collected from around the island. They are taken to our nursery where we hope they will regain health - flourish and grow. Our coral transplant programme has attracted a wealth of life and we hope that this will continue.

In the evening we had a presentation from the Tropical Research and Conservation Centre (TRACC). As part of TRACC Steve Oakley and his assistant Sunny are involved in coral reef conservation - which ties in nicely with our days activities. They use volunteers and and visitors to aid the rebuilding of coral reefs. They aim to create solutions. Sunny gave a captivating presentation on sharks. Our customers gained information on threats sharks face.

 Day 3:
As we approach the middle of our second annual Shark Week the resort is still buzzing with excitement and activity. In the evening we let loose with a Pub Quiz and we raised loads of money for shark conservation in the area.

Our onsite Environmental Officer -David McCann was our quiz master for the evening. There were some fantastic prizes on offer. The top prize was the PADI Shark specialty. This course gives the student information on the biology of sharks,  the problems their populations are facing and go through why you have or have no seen sharks whilst diving.

Facts about Thresher Sharks

• There are 3 known species of Thresher- the Big Eye Thresher, the Palagic Thresher and the Common Thresher 
• There is thought that there may be a fourth species
• It's stunning tail is the same length as its body 
• They are generally a deep living shark, but there are cleaning stations where they can be see at 20m.
• Sometimes they can be seen breaching the surface
• Their huge tail is used to hunting. Behaviour has been witnessed of them speeding towards a group of fish, using their large pectoral fins they 'brake' and their tail comes forward and whips their prey - stunning them. 
• All species of the Thresher are listed as 'Vulnerable' on the IUCN Red list

Shark Week: The Opening Ceremony

It's that time of year again, we are getting excited for Sharks and Rays and celebrating them with our second annual Scuba Junkie Shark Week!!

The aim of this week is to raise awareness of the unfortunate amount of threats that face our much loved elasmobranch friends. Through community involvement activities, presentations and fun and games we hope to change the 'shark attack' perception of of these hugely misunderstood creatures. Being at the centre of the coral triangle and  being so close to one of the last places where schooling hammerheads can be seen whilst diving, Scuba Junkie is situated in one of the best places to raise awareness!



The first day of this much anticipated week saw the arrival of Green Semporna and WWF to aid with shark conservation activities with SMK Mabul and Project SHA. Over the past few years we have developed a close working relationship with both of these companies. Green Semporna is a non-profit organisation that works closely with the local community. They aim to promote conservation and environmental efforts in Semporna and the surrounding islands. Their work is incredible and they continue to amaze us with their passion and hard work.

The atmosphere of the resort was buzzing as children from around the island descended on the beach. They were then brought up to the resort and Green Semporna gave an insightful presentation on Shark Conservation in Bahasa Malaysia for the kids. Education is key in shark conservation, having children gain an understanding of why sharks are important and why they should be protected is crucial to making a change. We hope that by involving kids of Mabul in our Shark Week we can promote shark protection and help create a generation that truly care about our oceans.

As divers came back from their first dive it was time for customers to get involved. We held a huge beach clean. Staff, interns and guests all got involved, as well as SMK Mabul and Project SHA, in removing debris from the beach. We collected  a lot of rubbish which we shall remove from the island. Beach and reef cleans are a huge part of our Shark Week as marine debris is a problem for all underwater critters. We hugely appreciate all of the effort everyone put it. In the heat it is a sweaty and smelly job, but it is one that makes an immediate impact.

The evening saw the official opening ceremony. Steve Ashby, one of the managers of the Mabul Beach Resort started the evening introducing everyone to what Shark Week is about - raising awareness and changing perception of sharks. He talked about how conservation efforts have been at the heart of Scuba Junkie since it opened.

We then had a presentation from David McGuire from Shark Stewards. The aim of Shark Stewards is to protect the ocean through the preservation of the apex predators. David's presentation gave a wealth of information. Having started diving in California with Great White Sharks, David has worked hard over the years to fight to the shark fin trade. David spoke about the origins of shark fin soup and how the industry has grown. Shark fin soup originated in China, it was created by the Sung Dynasty 986AD. Originally it was a show of affluence, only the wealthy could afford such a dish and it was a demonstration of power. Such a small percentage of the population could afford it didn't create a problem. However, since the 1990s affluence in China has massively increased and more and more people have been able to afford this dish. It is now a huge dish worldwide and the shark fin trade is decimating shark populations. The shark finning trade may be closer to home that you would like to think. Countries in Europe are amongst some of the highest in levels of shark fin trade. 

Tens of millions of sharks a year are killed for their fins - and their death is not fast. To save space on their boats many fishermen will cut the fins off the shark whilst it is still alive. They will then throw the body overboard and the shark drowns.  

While people fear sharks there are only 5 fatal shark attacks a year. To put this into perspective Jellyfish kill 40 people a year, bath tubs claim the lives of 348 people a year, and 13 people a year are killed by vending machines. 


The first day of our Shark Week was a successful one! We look forward to what the rest of the week brings. 

Facts about Coral Cat Sharks:

• A small slender shark with cat-like eyes 
• It has a very distinctive mottled pattern on its body
• Little is known about the biology of this small shark
• It is widely distributed, but often it is just its tail that is spotted poking out of the corals. 
• It lays eggs rather than giving birth to young 
• It is listed as 'Near Threatened' on the IUCN Red List. 

9 Reasons to get excited for SHARK WEEK!

Shark Week is nearly upon us, and here are some reasons we were here at Scuba Junkie are getting really excited about it! 

1. Fundraising activities:
During the week we will have loads of fundraising activities going on. We will be holding special shark based pub quizzes and daily competitions through out the week. All the money we raise is going directly to shark conservation in the area. 

2. The Finathon!
We will be holding a sponsered finathon where our staff and interns (and anyone else who wants to join) will be swimming around Pulau Mabul. We hope to raise awareness and money for our sharkie friends. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for information on how to sponsor this event. 

3. Presentations: 

We have a whole host of special guests who will be joining us during the week giving some fascinating presentations. From information on the threats that sharks face, how to photograph sharks and the biology of sharks everyone will be gaining a wealth of information on these stunning creatures 



4. Shark Speciality:

Amongst the competitions there will be opportunity for customers to win the opportunity to do the shark specialty. The PADI Shark Speciality gives students a insight into why sharks are so valuable to the ecosystem and builds knowledge of the threats that sharks are facing every day. Students will discuss what effects the habitat of sharks in the Mabul area and why more sharks are seen in some areas than others.  



5. Reef and Beach cleans: 
Those of you who know us know that there are few things that get us more excited than removing trash from the ocean. A glamorous job it is not, but there are not many activities that are more satisfying. We will be conducting several beach and reef cleans through out the week. There will also be information given on why this is such an important job to undertake. 

6. Community involvement: 

We will once again be working closely with our good friends over at Green Semporna. They will be assisting us on our work with the local school children. The kids will get involved in a whole selection of activities that are aimed at education and shark awareness and the importance of keeping Pulau Mabul clean. 

WWF are also supporting Shark Week. They have a plan for a Roadshow for Primary Schools in Semporna. They plan to visit schools and educate on the idea that sharks are interesting, not a threat to us and need to be left in the ocean. 

We are hugely grateful to both of these organisations for their support and involvement on what is going to be an incredible week! 

7. We get to talk about sharks!
Sharks are amazing! That is just a fact of life. We love talking about sharks and we love to share our passion for them.  Our Shark Week aims to educate and increase awareness. We want to show those who have a more 'Jaws' views on sharks that really they are shy creatures who are essential to the ecosystem. Shark Week means we get a whole week of promoting these fascinating, stunning and intelligent creatures.

Everyone loves sharks!

8. Everyone is getting involved'

This year Shark Week is all over Sabah. Not only are we having a plethora of events at the Mabul Beach Resort, but Semporna and Kota Kinabalu are involved as well. So wherever you are diving, you won't miss out on the fun. Kota Kinabalu will even be holding a Shark sunset cruise in the National Park. We will be posting lots of updates for you so you know exactly what we will all be getting up to. 

9. Beach Party! 
No Shark Week is complete without a party and us Scuba Junkies know how to throw one. We will be having a BBQ and music on the beach as part of our closing ceremony. What better way to end the week than dancing under the stars celebrating our elasmobranch friends. 

For more information on Shark Week feel free to email us: info@scuba-junkie.com. Also keep an eye on our Facebook and Twitter @ScubaJunkie_MY  for updates