Loving our waters: At the Bidong Summit 3.0 this time, RHB also organised the Bidong Merdeka Dive in conjunction with the National Day month celebrations, waving the Malaysian flag on the surface of the sea and a giant 20x10m Jalur Gemilang on the beach to fuel patriotism among 60 participants. — Bernama
Third summit focuses on preserving underwater heritage
KUALA TERENGGANU: The mesmerising underwater world of Pulau Bidong, a hidden gem for adventure seekers and diving enthusiasts, truly sets it apart.
Located in Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, this tropical paradise, renowned for its unparalleled biodiversity and pristine coral reefs, offers a unique and thrilling experience for divers of all levels, attracting adventurers from around the globe.
The underwater world was the site for the Bidong Summit 3.0 programme, held from Aug 22 to 25 and organised by Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) in collaboration with RHB Islamic Bank Bhd.
Even more fascinating than the larger fish like sharks and mackerel are the nudibranchs (colourful shell-less sea slugs) and sepiolas (a type of squid). This diversity allows divers to encounter a range of marine fauna rarely seen elsewhere, Bernama reported.
The coral reef ecosystem surrounding the 203ha island, separated by the South China Sea, is also an important habitat for various marine species, serving as a sanctuary and breeding ground.
Algae and seaweed also function as food and shelter for many fish species.
Natural beauty: Pulau Bidong is famous for its plethora of sea life and marine fauna rarely found elsewhere. — Bernama
There are also 11 miniature landmark monuments representing each Asean country. Imagine being able to see up close replicas of the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, the Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque (Brunei) and the Independence Monument of Cambodia in the Underwater Gallery located 10m below the sea. These monuments are especially attractive to tourists, particularly scuba divers.
Not far from the jetty area, there is a coral breeding incubator centre managed by the Coral Malaysia Foundation.
Additionally, there are also recreational artificial reefs such as the Batu Bersurat Terengganu, keris and sampan placed at a depth of around 15m underwater as alternative diving sites for scuba divers.
Due to its unique ecosystem, Pulau Bidong has been gazetted as a State Park by the Terengganu government to protect the marine treasures and historical relics from possible damage by uncontrolled tourism.
The limited access to Pulau Bidong has been set in compliance with the carrying capacity for the number of visitors allowed daily.
A diver hovering above the coral reef off Pulau Bidong.
Deputy vice-chancellor of Research and Innovation at UMT, Prof Dr Marinah Mohd Ariffin, said the Bidong Summit 3.0 was a continuation of a similar programme launched in 2022.
This time, the programme emphasised empowering the country’s underwater cultural heritage, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal, which focuses on protecting and preserving the world’s cultural and natural heritage, as well as the value-based intermediation principles set by Bank Negara Malaysia.
“UMT is collaborating with RHB and the National Heritage Department to enhance the country’s underwater archaeology programme, as UMT is the first university in Malaysia actively involved in underwater archaeological excavations, offering the necessary expertise.
“Bidong Summit 3.0 will also focus on establishing Malaysia’s first National Underwater Archaeology Training Centre, where one of the components is the creation of a simulated underwater archaeology training site here,” she said.
Marinah added that the site will provide initial exposure to divers who will be involved in excavation and artefact rescue programmes from real underwater archaeological sites.
