Sabahan diver makes it into Malaysia Book of Records

BY: Patrick Beech

A 164-metre dive into the waters of Sipadan island in Sabah recently got Sabahan Roihan Ang a place in the Malaysia Book of Records (MBR).

Roihan Ang (left) with the Malaysia Book of Records Deep Dive Attempt program manager, Ag Ahmad Zaki Abu Bakar (clad in white) at MBR office in Kuala Lumpur.

The 31-year-old was recorded as the first person to successfully dive to such a depth and was officially awarded an MBR certificate for the "Deepest Scuba Dive".

Roihan, a native of Semporna, said he took three hours and 30 minutes when deep diving in Sipadan.

"I trained intensively with coach Ahmad Gabr, who is also a Guinness World Record holder, for the past year," he said.

Gabr, a former Egyptian army officer, holds the world record for the deepest scuba dive on an open circuit at 332.35m, a feat he achieved in the Red Sea in September 2014 after 10 years of preparation.

"I was assisted by 18 crew members and used eight diving tanks to achieve the record," Roihan said, adding that he hoped the recognition could create opportunities to make Semporna a technical diving hub in addition to recreational and macro diving.