Introduction

The thing about habitat conservation is, the ultimate objective is always to have locals, as the key players. Because after all, they are the ones who grew up in it, live there, and ended up getting affected by the changes, especially climate change. In Mabul island, locals’ livelihood still, to this day, revolves heavily around the ocean. Early in the morning, when the sun has not risen yet, small fishing boats depart, to ensure they bring enough catch for the day. Moreover, the breathtaking underwater scenery and biodiversity of Mabul, have invited tourists from all over the world, opening job opportunities for locals to work in the tourism industry.

The locals are none other than, the renowned ocean indigenous, the Bajau, Suluk and Bajau Laut. They are not only dependent on the ocean, but their presence has been deeply connected with the ocean through cultural practices that have persisted over time. For instance, mengarang, which is an activity done during low tide, to forage for some sea snails and intertidal seafood, is still being practiced across generations until this day.

However, as society advances, the locals here are unfortunately overlooked due to their circumstances. Pressure like rising ocean temperature, unexplained weather patterns, water pollution, and plastic pollution, starts to threaten Mabul and its people. This has snowballed into a bigger issue, where indigenous knowledge, culture, and practices are at risk of disappearing. Therefore, they need to be informed and prepared, and outreach is one of the effective approaches.

The very first step

Melentur buluh biarlah dari rebungnya–A beautiful proverb in Malaysia, means if you want to bend bamboo, you have to start from the shoots. That way you can shape the bamboo. In relation to the proverb, this is a story of empowering ocean generations to be resilient, by nurturing them from a young age. Ever since the establishment of Scuba Junkie SEAS, we have been conducting outreach, especially to local students in collaboration with schools on the island. However, due to limitations of manpower (SEAS was a very small team back then), most of the outreach done was seasonal. Until 2025, when the outreach officer position was created specifically to start a continuous outreach project with local students. And that’s how Mabul Lumaku (means Mabul my home in local language) started.

Although the first class started in July, preparation was done months prior. We submitted proposals for grants, but unfortunately did not make it. Most importantly, we visited all schools in Mabul, which are 1 national primary public school, 3 alternative schools for primary students, and 1 alternative school for secondary school. One school caught my attention, the Kelas Bimbingan Insan (KBI). The reason was because this school, which you do not have to pay tuition to enroll, hosts students of underprivileged, the ones without documents, and apparently through stories from the local kids, also accepting the ones that were expelled from other alternative schools due to misbehaviour and inconsistent attendance. So I met Bu Dayang, the English teacher and also the principal for the school. Turns out, there is an area on the island, where most of the parents do not really push for education, and the kids would rather go sell coconut to tourists, as early as 6 years old, or fishing, so they can help to put food on the table. Learning, which is supposed to be basic human rights, is a privilege here.

Visiting the schools myself made me understand more about the condition of each alternative school. KBI only has only 1 classroom, without electricity so there is no light or fan, thus the class starts as early as 6.30am and can only last only 9am. More than that, students start to lose focus as the classroom gets hot and stuffy. Some of the walls were made of plywood and the windows did not have cover, causing flooding in the classroom each time it rained. The classroom condition, students’ background, and teachers’ dedication are the reasons we ended up choosing KBI as the collaboration partner in the Mabul Lumaku project.

Let the project begin!

To be honest, it was not an easy journey but it is worth it. Few amendments were made on our initial plan of the project, based on informal surveys conducted on the students and information from Bu Dayang. The initial plan was to focus on 20 students, aged around 7-12 years old from KBI, and conduct 1 class every week. However, we realised that one of our biggest challenges is consistent attendance, as mentioned by Bu Dayang. Hence, to boost their interest in participating in the Mabul Lumaku project, we tried splitting the class into 2 sessions per day, where morning sessions involve lecture-based learning with interactive discussion while late afternoon sessions involve game-based learning where we get to apply the syllabus that we learned into outdoor games!

The picture above is the first trial outdoor game session done to ensure we are ready to roll! Afternoon sessions also include cakes and juices to encourage participation, because after all, who does not love snacks and games right? However, to make sure our plan works out, there is one big rule that we stand firm, which is, in order to join the afternoon session, they need to join the morning session. At first, it is difficult to turn away excited students with teary cheeks, but if they miss the class of the week, they can always join the next one, as long as they join the morning session first 😉 

After all the preparation, finally, on 10th July 2025, the first class of the Mabul Lumaku project kicked off! To readers, there is a lot more I want to share here, our syllabus, games we played, challenges we faced, donors, and what is happening now and our future plans. However, as my pen is running out of ink (not literally), I will keep those stories for the next part. Thank you for reading and caring about this story of Mabul, because simply choosing to care can ripple outward in ways you might not realise, is helping us. Stay tuned for the next part, xoxo, by yours truly, SEAS outreach officer:)

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The Rescue

As some of you may have seen, we recently welcomed a new turtle into our Rehab Centre. Amil-Derry — named after the island where she was found, and a combination of devil ray and eagle ray — was spotted at the surface, struggling to dive and covered in barnacles. She was moved onto a Scuba Junkie boat and reported to the SEAS team.

Si Amil Island is around a 45-minute boat ride from Mabul in good conditions. We definitely did **not** have good conditions on this day! The waves were pretty big, and we were soaked by the time we arrived. Once there, Amil-Derry was transferred onto our boat and we headed back to Mabul. She was very small and weak, and barely struggled as we moved her between the boats.

Getting Amil-Derry Home

Rough boat journeys can be hard on turtles, as they are not designed to withstand impacts while on land. Thankfully, we have amazing captains at Scuba Junkie, so despite the size of the waves, it was a relatively smooth and bump-free trip back. A massive thank you to Captain Salleh for getting us there and back safely and quickly.

When we arrived back in Mabul, we assessed Amil-Derry. She was so heavily covered in barnacles that they were rubbing against each other when she stretched her neck to breathe. We gave her an IV drip to help keep her hydrated and placed her in freshwater. Sea turtles can survive in freshwater for a period of time, and we use this treatment both to help with hydration and because barnacles cannot survive in freshwater. As they die, they become much easier to remove.

Giving Her Time to Recover

In a case like this, the first thing we want to do is let the turtle settle before doing too much. They are already weak — otherwise they wouldn’t be with us — and they have been through a traumatic experience, having been taken from the ocean and placed on a boat. As Amil-Derry was not in any immediate danger, we focused on letting her rest while monitoring her closely to ensure she was able to breathe and that her carapace was not drying out.Left

The next day, we gave Amil another drip and started removing the barnacles. They peeled off surprisingly easily, leaving a few holes where they had pierced her skin. We also attempted to feed her once she was placed back into saltwater, but she showed no interest.

Amil-Derry was extremely buoyant, meaning we had to keep the water level low enough for her to rest. At the same time, we coated her carapace in Vaseline to prevent it from drying out. The following day, when we inspected her underside, we could see just how bloated she was, indicating that there was likely an underlying digestive or lung issue.

Throughout Amil-Derry’s time with us, we were incredibly fortunate to have the support of **Dr Nabila**, our amazing veterinary partner from the Sabah Wildlife Department. Dr Nabila was with us through every step of Amil-Derry’s care, providing guidance and advice, mostly virtually through WhatsApp. Having access to her veterinary expertise was invaluable as we tried to understand what was happening and decide on the best course of treatment.

Searching for Answers

Over the next few days, we continued monitoring Amil-Derry, trying to encourage her to eat and watching for her to pass faeces. What many people don’t realise is that turtles get much of the water they need to stay hydrated through their food. When they stop eating, they can become dehydrated very quickly. For this reason, Amil was given IV fluids every day to help keep her hydrated.

As we weren’t making any progress, we took Amil-Derry to Semporna for an X-ray. We were concerned about putting her through the boat journey given how weak she was, but we knew we needed to find out what was happening inside her.

The X-ray showed blockages in her intestines, as well as trapped air. We continued treatment and monitoring in the hope that she might eventually eat or be able to pass the blockages. Sadly, we eventually lost Amil-Derry.

What We Found

Dr Nabila also performed Amil-Derry’s necropsy, allowing us to understand what had ultimately caused her death. Inside her intestines, we found **2kg of impacted faeces**, some of which was incredibly hard. One particularly hard piece had perforated her intestine. When the impacted material was examined, we also found **20g of plastic and approximately 5 metres of nylon string**.

It is difficult to comprehend how such a small amount of plastic can cause so much damage and suffering.

Why Her Story Matters

Unfortunately, there was nothing we could have done to save Amil-Derry. But we were able to make her final days as comfortable as possible, and that matters too.

Despite the challenges we face, we will always strive to do everything within our power to save the turtles brought to us. It is not easy. Turtles are surprisingly difficult animals to treat — they are an awkward shape, live in water and, when they are healthy and strong, are incredibly powerful animals.

What makes Amil-Derry’s case particularly difficult is that her suffering was caused by human impact. Small pieces of rubbish that may seem insignificant to us can cause enormous amounts of suffering to wildlife.

We hope Amil-Derry’s story serves as a reminder of the damage even small amounts of plastic can cause, and of the importance of disposing of our waste properly.

 

For Amil-Derry, it was too late. But perhaps her story can help prevent another turtle from suffering the same fate.

A huge thank you to **Dr Nabila and the Sabah Wildlife Department** for their continued support of our Rehab Centre and for helping us care for the turtles that come through our doors.

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When the Mabul Plastic Project launched in April 2025, it had two clear goals: to give certain types of plastic a second life and to create meaningful employment opportunities for a group of young undocumented adults from Mabul Island.

Rather than seeing plastic as waste, we wanted to demonstrate that it could become something valuable. Today, discarded bottle caps and containers are transformed into colourful keyrings, bracelets, coasters and other products, creating both environmental and social impact.

More Than a Souvenir

As part of the Scuba Junkie family, one of the biggest strengths of the Mabul Plastic Project is the people we can reach. The majority of our products are purchased by Scuba Junkie guests—people who have spent time diving or snorkelling around Mabul and have seen first-hand both the beauty of the reefs and the challenges plastic pollution creates.

That means our products become much more than souvenirs. Each bracelet, coaster or keyring represents a place they’ve visited and supports the positive changes we’re working towards on the island.

The Power of a Conversation

Like many conservation projects, ours has grown through simple conversations.

The recycling machines we use today came about during a chat with the WWF Semporna team. They had funding available for recycling equipment but nowhere suitable to house it. We had the ideal location and a clear vision for how the machines could be used, but no funding to buy them ourselves. It was one of those moments where everyone realised they had exactly what the other needed.

A second conversation helped shape the next stage of the project.

One of Scuba Junkie’s guests works in connecting organisations within the recycling industry. After hearing about the work SEAS was doing, they introduced us to a plastic buyer based in Tawau. That single introduction allowed us to begin purchasing PET plastic from the local community, opening the project up to far more people across Mabul Island.

Sometimes the biggest opportunities don’t come from months of planning—they start with a conversation.

Expanding the Buy-Back Scheme

Our current focus is expanding the Plastic Buy-Back Scheme by encouraging more of the villages closest to us to take part.

Residents can bring their PET plastic to us, where we purchase it for RM0.50 per kilogram. Once we’ve collected around 300 kilograms, it’s transported to Tawau before continuing its recycling journey.

Financially, the scheme isn’t designed to make money. We currently receive around RM0.20 per kilogram for the PET we sell, meaning we operate the buy-back scheme at a loss. Income from products made through the Mabul Plastic Project helps bridge that gap, as does the sale of plastic bottles generated by Scuba Junkie, which are sold directly back to our cleaning product supplier at a higher price.

For us, the real value isn’t in the plastic itself. It’s in creating a simple, accessible way for people to keep plastic out of the environment.

Why Is Plastic Worth So Little?

It’s a question we’re asked regularly.

Although plastic has value, transporting it doesn’t come cheaply. After leaving Mabul, it must be transported to Tawau before continuing on to recycling facilities in Kuala Lumpur. Storage, handling and transport all add costs, meaning the value of the material itself is relatively low.

Despite that, every kilogram collected is one less kilogram that risks being burned, dumped or ending up in the ocean.

Looking Ahead

Our long-term goal is to make the Plastic Buy-Back Scheme available to everyone on Mabul Island, giving every resident the opportunity to dispose of recyclable plastic responsibly.

One of the biggest investments we’d like to make is a plastic compactor. Compressing PET bottles into dense bales would make them much easier to handle, store and transport, allowing us to send much larger quantities for recycling in a single shipment.

Alongside this, we’ll continue developing new products through the Mabul Plastic Project and exploring new markets for them. Every product sold supports employment for the Mabul Eco Youth while helping fund our wider waste management initiatives.

The Mabul Plastic Project has never been just about recycling plastic. It’s about creating opportunities, building relationships and showing that when communities, businesses and conservation organisations work together, small conversations really can lead to lasting change.

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Finding My Way to SEAS

My name is Talia, I am a zoology student studying at Cardiff University in Wales, UK, and I have been an intern at Scuba Junkie SEAS for the last 10 months.

I first heard about SEAS through another Cardiff student who had once come as a diving guest. This student was so passionate when talking about Malaysia and really encouraged me to research conservation groups here for my internship year. Making initial contact with SEAS and learning about their current and future projects, it was safe to say I was incredibly excited and keen to join.

As a zoology student, my marine biology knowledge was quite limited, but I had a newly discovered passion for diving which made me fall in love with the marine world. I was desperate for an opportunity to explore this new interest.

My role at SEAS became closely intertwined with our turtle hatchery, particularly the green turtle sex ratio study, which I later came to manage in terms of data collection, entry and analysis. This study involved recording incubation temperatures at specific time periods using temperature loggers to estimate the sex ratio of turtle hatchlings in nests relocated to our hatchery.

Challenges and Personal Growth

My biggest challenge was definitely moving across the world, away from friends and family, and integrating into not only a new work culture but also an unfamiliar country and religious culture. However, over time I met people who positively shaped my experience here and who I hope to remain friends with for life.

Another personal challenge was public speaking, which I absolutely hated. Through Friday night presentations and delivering hatchling release speeches in front of guests, I gradually became much more comfortable speaking to groups.

Scrubbing tanks, baby turtle releases, diving for coral restoration, running plastic project activities with local children, supporting volunteer programmes, helping with village classes, and even being slapped by our supposedly gentle turtles are just some of the things SEAS threw me into. I couldn’t be more tired—or more grateful.

Learning New Skills

Through helping with village classes alongside my coworker, I became inspired to learn the basics of Bahasa Melayu. This allowed me to connect more closely with local children and staff members.

Learning the language has been one of my favourite achievements, especially because I normally struggle with language learning. Other highlights include gaining my Rescue Diver qualification and significantly improving my diving skills during my time here.

Understanding Conservation Beyond Science

One aspect of my internship that I did not expect before arriving was how interconnected conservation work really is. While much of my role focused on scientific data collection and analysis, I quickly learned that successful conservation depends just as much on education, community engagement and collaboration.

Whether speaking to guests about turtle conservation, working with local children during outreach activities, or supporting volunteers from around the world, I saw firsthand how small actions can contribute to meaningful conservation outcomes.

These experiences have strengthened my confidence, broadened my perspective and reinforced my desire to pursue a career dedicated to protecting wildlife and ecosystems.

Looking Ahead

This internship has truly been an eye-opening experience and one that I believe I will carry with me throughout my future conservation career. The lessons, skills and relationships I have gained during my time with SEAS have shaped both my professional ambitions and personal growth, and I will always be grateful for the opportunity.

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A Turtle in Trouble

Looking back on Harry’s story, it’s hard to believe how far our stroppy little turtle came. There were times when we never thought we would see him released, so watching him make his way back to the ocean was incredibly special and emotional. There may even have been a few happy tears.

Harry was first reported to us by one of the Scuba Junkie dive crew, who had spotted a turtle in front of our jetty that wasn’t moving and didn’t look well. One of our team members headed out with another crew member to assess the situation. When they found him still in the same spot, the decision was made to bring him in.

He was severely malnourished and covered in sand and algae, which is never a good sign. He was so weak that he barely resisted as we brought him to the surface.

An Unexpected Discovery

Once safely transported to the rehabilitation centre, we carried out an initial assessment and decided to place him in a freshwater soak. This helps turtles rehydrate by preventing them from taking in additional salt. While he was in the tank, we noticed he was covered in parasites. We decided to keep him in freshwater for longer, as the parasites appeared unable to survive in those conditions.

The first morning after an admission is always difficult. You spend the night wondering if your patient made it through. Thankfully, our young turtle had survived, and what we later identified as marine leeches had all fallen off. The yet-to-be-named turtle was often referred to as “he who has no name” (partly because one member of the team may have been re-reading Harry Potter at the time).

The Rollercoaster of Rehabilitation

Rehabilitating turtles is often an emotional rollercoaster. Did they make it through the night? Are they going to eat? Will they poop? Every one of these milestones feels like a small victory.

At the time, we were caring for Lesley, who was nearing release, Jay, who was presenting his own challenges, and Harry, as he eventually came to be known. Harry took us on quite a journey. He would make progress, eating well and gaining weight, only to take a step backwards by refusing food and losing condition again.

Harry was so malnourished that we had to be extremely careful whenever we handled him. His poor condition led to the development of a hole in his plastron, with cartilage beginning to protrude. Over time, the wound worsened. The hole became larger and more surrounding tissue died, reducing the chances of successful healing.

Turtles are particularly difficult patients to work with. Their body shape makes wound management challenging, and because they spend their lives in water, keeping wounds clean, encouraging healing and preventing water from entering the body cavity can be incredibly difficult. On top of this, Harry remained frustratingly inconsistent with feeding. Some days he would eagerly accept food, while on others he would refuse it completely.

It was at this stage that our amazing veterinarian, Dr Nabila, advised that Harry was likely to become a palliative care case. It was heartbreaking news to hear.

When Hope Started to Return

Still, we carried on doing everything we could. We encouraged him to eat with plenty of his favourite foods, carefully cleaned and managed his wound, and hoped for the best.

Then something changed.

Harry started eating consistently. He developed a particular love for squid and quickly learned that seeing us usually meant more squid was on the way. Better still, he started gaining weight, growing stronger and showing signs that his wound was finally healing.

Our boy chonked up beautifully and transformed into a feisty, stroppy teenager who occasionally reminded us exactly how much strength he had regained.

Back to the Ocean

Watching Harry swim back into the ocean marked the end of a long and challenging journey. It was a moment of immense pride for everyone involved.

Not every rehabilitation story ends this way. Wildlife rehabilitation is often difficult, and not every patient can be saved. But moments like Harry’s release remind us why we do this work. Seeing a turtle that once seemed to have no chance return to the ocean makes every setback worthwhile and gives us the motivation to keep fighting for the next one.

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2025 was a year shaped by collaboration, consistency, and small actions adding up to meaningful change. Across turtle conservation, coral restoration, marine debris work, research, and community engagement, SEAS continued working to protect marine ecosystems around Mabul Island and beyond. This deep dive looks back at the key milestones, challenges, and impact from the year.

🐢 Turtle Conservation: Protecting the Next Generation

Turtle conservation remained a core focus throughout 2025. Nest monitoring and protection continued across the nesting season, with multiple nests successfully safeguarded from threats such as predation, flooding, and human disturbance. Hatchling success rates remained consistently high, with the majority of protected nests achieving over 90% hatching success.

In-water turtle monitoring also played an important role. Sightings logged through SIPs contributed to long-term datasets that help track turtle health, behaviour, and site fidelity. Guest and diver participation continued to strengthen this citizen science approach, expanding the understanding of turtles using local reefs as feeding and resting grounds.

Beyond data, rehabilitation and rescue efforts ensured that injured or entangled turtles received timely care, reinforcing the importance of rapid local response in conservation outcomes.

🪸 Coral Restoration: Building Resilience on the Reef

Coral restoration efforts progressed steadily in 2025, with coral nurseries maintained and expanded throughout the year. Regular monitoring of coral fragments allowed growth rates, survival, and health to be tracked over time, providing valuable insight into which species and methods perform best under local conditions.

Artificial reef structures and coral trees continued to support reef recovery by providing stable substrates for coral growth and shelter for marine life. These sites increasingly functioned as living classrooms, demonstrating how active restoration can support damaged reef systems when combined with long-term monitoring and protection.

♻️ Marine Debris & Plastic: From Clean-Ups to Circular Solutions

Marine debris remained a visible challenge in 2025, particularly following seasonal storms. Regular beach and reef clean-ups removed significant amounts of waste from the island’s shoreline, with staff, volunteers, guests, and community members all contributing.

Importantly, 2025 marked progress beyond clean-ups alone. Sorting, documenting, and repurposing plastic waste became an increasing focus, laying the groundwork for the plastic project developed in collaboration with partners. This shift reflects a broader approach to marine debris — addressing not only removal, but also awareness, reduction, and reuse.

📊 Research, Monitoring & Data

Scientific monitoring underpinned all SEAS projects in 2025. From turtle sightings and nest data to coral growth measurements and clean-up records, consistent data collection helped transform individual actions into measurable impact.

These datasets support adaptive management — allowing conservation efforts to evolve based on evidence — and contribute to wider regional understanding of marine ecosystems in the Coral Triangle.

🏝️ Community, Education & Capacity Building

Community engagement continued to be a vital component of SEAS work in 2025. Outreach sessions, youth programmes, and capacity-building initiatives helped build local skills, foster ocean stewardship, and strengthen connections between conservation and daily life on the island.

Volunteer and guest involvement remained central, demonstrating how tourism, education, and conservation can work together to create positive outcomes for both people and the environment.

🌊 Looking Ahead

The work carried out in 2025 highlights an important truth: lasting conservation is built through consistency, collaboration, and shared responsibility. While challenges remain, the progress made this year shows what is possible when people come together with a shared commitment to the ocean.

Only by working together can change happen.

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