PULAU TIOMAN, 21 October 2026 (The Capital Post) – The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) conducted a three-day working visit to Pulau Tioman from 19 to 21 October to monitor compliance and strengthen safety standards within Malaysia’s scuba diving industry.
The visit was led by MOTAC Deputy Secretary-General (Tourism) Chua Choon Hwa, who engaged with scuba diving centre operators and dive guides to discuss industry challenges and areas for improvement.
The engagement sessions provided an opportunity for industry representatives to share feedback and recommendations on strengthening scuba diving operations and professional standards.
A key focus of the visit was MOTAC’s licensing framework for scuba diving guides, developed to improve regulation and oversight of diving activities.
Under the framework, applicants must hold at least a valid Dive Master or Dive Instructor certification and fulfil the prescribed licensing requirements.
Applications for scuba diving guide licences have been open since 15 April 2026.
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MOTAC also reminded tourism operators of their responsibility to ensure that scuba diving activities are conducted safely and professionally.
Operators and dive guides are required to comply with applicable laws, licensing conditions and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to safeguard tourists participating in diving activities.
The ministry emphasised that tourist safety requires cooperation among regulators, tourism businesses and diving professionals.
According to a post on the official Facebook page of Kementerian Pelancongan, Seni dan Budaya Malaysia, the initiative forms part of efforts to strengthen industry professionalism, improve regulatory compliance and promote safer scuba diving experiences in Malaysia – The Capital Post
