KOTA KINABALU (Nov 21): Miss Scuba International 2025 contestants made a powerful statement for ocean conservation as they completed a series of eco-activities guided by the Marine Research Foundation (MRF) and PADI, proving that female divers can be a force for environmental protection.
Under the Dive Against Debris programme, contestants from around the world took part in underwater clean-ups, debris sorting and conservation workshops aimed at raising awareness on marine pollution.
The participants collected, categorized and weighed a total of 42.5kg of rubbish, representing 208 debris items, including 56 plastic bottles in just one morning. They continued their efforts with a beach clean-up at sunset.
MRF Senior Conservation Officer, Liyana Khalid, briefed the group on marine ecosystems and megafauna, explaining the challenges faced by sea turtles, sharks and rays.
She also highlighted MRF's ongoing conservation tools such as the turtle-excluder device and smart by-catch detection system for elasmobranchs. Contestants later visited the turtle hatchery via the iconic Turtle Bridge.
For US contestant Kimber Collins, the programme marked her first visit to Malaysia, and she was captivated by the natural environment of Sabah and the eco-friendly design of Turtle Bridge.
Czech representative Anna Dvorakova, a scuba instructor, stressed that divers can only remove debris found within limited depths, and that reducing waste at the source is crucial to safeguarding oceans.
PADI's Regional Manager for Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore, Mark Hedger, said the hands-on activities equip contestants with practical conservation experience while fostering long-term environmental responsibility. He hopes the participants will champion marine-protection initiatives globally, proving that every local action can create worldwide impact.
Participants shared their personal "catches": UK contestant Bethany Alice Rice hauled up nine plastic bottles, five plastic bags and 11 food wrappers, while Philippines representative Joahnna Lee Longos Ucol collected fishing nets and numerous plastic fragments. Ucol, a yoga instructor, is already planning a "Yoga and Diving" clean-up retreat in her home country.
Ahead of the Grand Finals on 28 November, the contestants will continue with the PADI Mermaid course, underwater photo and video shoots, and catwalk training -- carrying with them not just pageant confidence, but a shared mission to protect Sabah's blue wonders.