September 30, 2010 21:08 PM
UMT Builds Recreational Reef On Seabed Near Pulau Bidong
KUALA TERENGGANU, Sept 30 (Bernama) -- Divers in the waters of Pulau Bidong offshore Terengganu can now "take a rest" in a bus or a lorry on the seabed 13 metres below the surface.
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) has lowered these unused vehicles in an area free of corals to attract divers to the so-called recreational reef, UMT senior science officer Baharim Mustapa said Thursday.
"Before we lowered the bus and lorry to the seabed, we ensured that the area was sandy and free of corals," he told Bernama.
Baharim said the primary aim of creating the recreational reef was to reduce the incidence of divers focusing only in areas with corals.
"We want to prevent damage to the corals due to the diving activity and draw divers to the recreational reef," he added.
Baharim said the project sponsored by the private sector cost more than RM100,000, and would also become a breeding area for fish and other marine life.
He also said that UMT had lowered several other objects to the seabed to create the recreational reef, including a boat, an arch and a replica of an inscribed stone.
UMT would continue to build the recreational reef, and would take up an offer from the Defence Ministry to acquire an unused tank to be lowered onto the seabed when it could afford to do so financially, he said.
