Mark Hedger

PADI Regional Manager

Mark has worked and lived in Malaysia for more than 20 years as a PADI Course Director and in recent years the PADI Regional Manager.  Mark has dived all over Malaysia, managed 5star dive centres and owned a successful dive business in Kota Kinabalu for more than 8 years. Mark brings with him a wealth of dive industry experience and professional skills to support PADI Members in the region.

https://www.facebook.com/hedger9uk

Lee Kian Lie

Malaysia Cave Diving Association Advisor

A Technical Underwater Cave Explorer who currently conducting underwater cave and mines exploration project in Malaysia.  Currently, he is working on a cave exploration project in Sg Lembing and Kinta Valley, Malaysia with his exploration Team. Sg Lembing Mines is one of the deepest tin mines in the world at about 700m depth.  Currently, the team had lay the permanent line about 1km and explored till 50m at the mining area.

At 2021, he and his team discovered new abandoned mines which flooded at Perak. He and his team had revisited the mines and explored till 33m, Which is considered one of the deepest mines discover so far at Kinta Valley, Perak.

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TOM CHAN

PADI Course Director, Official RAZOR Instructor & PADI TecRec Deep Instructor

Tom became a PADI Instructor in 2008, while working in an investment bank. A certified Chartered Accountant by training, he turned his passion for scuba diving into a business income generator.

Since 2022, he turned PADI Course Director, and actively grooms future PADI Instructors into potential leaders and business development managers. He actively teaches both side mount and technical diving, and is also, the managing director of Scuba DoBeDo Divers, a PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Center, which operates scuba diving retail, PADI courses, dive travel and maintenance of scuba equipment.

http://www.facebook.com/tomchan88

NORHAYATI AHMAD

Professor, Faculty of Science and Technology, University Kebangsaan Malaysia

A Professor of the Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science & Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia since 2014, Norhayati’s interest is in zoology, especially on frogs and reptiles. Her interest is also on assessing and developing geoparks and public education modules for students, tour guides and the general public. She has enjoyed diving since 2010 under NAUI and Reef Check Eco diver certification. Through her photos and publications, Norjayati hopes to educate the public on our marine wonders.

Takuya Torii

Messenger boy INON INC

Takuya is a corporate messenger boy of INON INC., manufacturer of underwater imaging gears.
Over the last 20 years of developing a global market for INON products, there isn't a question about
the brand he cannot help you with. So come along to his presentation to gain insights to the gear on
INON’s cutting edge imaging products. Feel free to bring your INON gears as well.
Check out Takuya’s profile at https://www.facebook.com/inon.toriisan.

Dr Wirdati Mohd Radzi

Advisor/Founder

Wirdati is the Advisor for the Sport Management & Administration Association of Malaysia. She is also currently a practising sport lawyer at an established law firm in Kuala Lumpur, Messrs. Zahir Khailani after leaving her senior lecturer’s post in University of Malaya. She taught sport law and governance for more than 25 years and published several book chapters and articles of sport industry along the way. As a former Sport Commissioner of Malaysia, she worked closely with national sport federations previously, including the Football Association of Malaysia  (FAM), the Malaysian E-sports Federations (MESF) and is currently the Malaysian Scuba Diving Association (MSDA)’s Advisor. Internationally she was a member of sport fraternity  such as the Women in Sport Law Association (WisLAW) of Switzerland and Asian Sepaktakraw Federation (ASTAF) of Singapore. She nows a hold an Executive Committee member post in the Asian Association for Sport Management (AASM) of Taiwan.

Nurul Yazid

Professional Underwater Photographer

I’ve always been fascinated by the ocean. I started snorkelling with fishes when I was 5 and knew that one day, I would be a part of the underwater world.

When a stint in the corporate world didn’t work out, I went on to become a dive instructor at various locations. At some point, I picked up underwater photography and my life changed. Fast forward 11 years, I have been featured in numerous diving magazines and websites, and have won multiple awards for my work. 

Whether I am swimming with sharks or fighting against the strong currents, it is always with a camera in one hand and my eyes wide open.

Imran & Izabell Ahmad

Director Escapeinc / Underwater Photographer

Imran Ahmad is Asia’s most celebrated and internationally published underwater photographer.

He has been capturing the magnificence of life both below and above the water’s surface for over 20 years. His style is different from anything seen. He is known for his Experimental Photography with light and motion. Imran graduated from Middlesex University with a Bachelor of Arts in Film-Making. He is an ambassador for Mares, Nikon, Blancpain , SEACAM, RGB Lights (Japan), and a member of the Ocean Artist Society. He spends much of his time as a professional photographer giving presentations, promoting photography in all its aspect, both as an art and documentation.

His work has been published in National Geographic, Edition Fifty Fathoms, Straits Times and more Besides diving the ocean, he is the in-house professional at ESCAPEINC ASIA, a photographically inspired showroom located in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore that runs photo inspired adventures around the world and a distributor for some of the best underwater photographic equipment

Dr Nik Nadirah Nik Azis

Ummc Sports Medical Clinical Specialist              

I’m a UMMC sports medicine clinical specialist with a Master’s Degree in the field of Sports (and

Exercise) Medicine. A doctor with a passion for the great outdoors and keeping active for health. With more than ten years of clinical experience as well as first hand research experience on cardiorespiratory fitness and recreational diving I am committed to improving health and fitness through applied medical knowledge.

MONICA CHIN

Managing Director/Founder

ONE OCEAN EMPIRE

Monica believes it is important to impart knowledge and shared experiences with the wider community via education and awareness activities. She believes that when people know, they will care, and when they start to care, they will protect. “All of us depend on a healthy & sustainable lifestyle to survive for generations to come”. Nature is our only lifetime asset and must be fully protected.

Swen Becht

PADI & AIDA Freediving Instructor & Freediving Adventure Malaysia Founder

A Freediving Instructor for PADI and AIDA, Swen has been freediving since 2018. Apart from teaching freediving, he also has a keen interest in underwater freediving photography. Swen spends most of his time in the pool or in the ocean training or teaching this beautiful sport and never misses a day talking about freediving! 

IRWAN ISMAIL

PADI Master Instructor

Irwan Ismail is a PADI instructor, EFR instructor trainer, underwater photographer as well as an underwater videographer whose work has been published in both local print and electronic media (New Straits Times, Harian Metro, The Heat and Astro Awani). Some of his career highlights include work carried out for Tourism Malaysia; the Borneo Reef World in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah; underwater photography of swimmers at the recent SEA games; as an underwater cameraman for a local TV production company – The Pluto Project; capturing underwater scenes for the Malaysia Day movie titled “MAJU Kuala Lumpur – Selamat Hari Malaysia” in Semporna, Sabah; and even as the official underwater videographer for the “Petronas-SFC Eco Marine Project” in Miri, Sarawak, for Astro Awani (a Malaysian 24-hour news channel). In addition, Irwan was the first underwater videography speaker at Malaysia International Dive Expo (MIDE). He also owns a dive centre in Kg. Genting, Tioman Island, Malaysia – Sorte Met Stella Scuba dive centre.

Brendon Sing

Director of Shark Guardian. UK Charity for shark and marine conservation worldwide

Brendon has been diving with and researching sharks for over 25 years. Whilst achieving the highest qualifications in the scuba diving industry, he has been leading shark diving expeditions focusing on conservation, education and research. Together with his wife Liz, Brendon created Shark Guardian as a UK Charity. His goal is to inspire everyone worldwide to protect sharks – our ocean guardians.

KEN CHANG

Managing Partner, Akuana Malaysia

An avid scuba diver for the better part of the last two decades, Ken is not only a PADI Divemaster and an EFR Instructor, but also a passionate technical diver. His love for the sport and acute commercial acumen has led him to seek out equipment manufacturers globally to enhance the experience in the sport he is most passionate about. Scuba diving to him is more than just a leisurely experience; this is also evident in his experience with salvage and conservation efforts by making every dive, one with a unique purpose and encourages everybody around him to do the same.

http://www.facebook.com/akuanamalaysia

NOORTASHA DEVI

 Co-owner Tevana House Reef and Founder of GaiaOne Project. 

Previously practiced as a lawyer before entering the eco-tourism field in 2017 to create Tevan House Reef, the first sustainable resort in South Sulawesi. 

Thereafter GaiaOne Project – a project that focuses on coral restoration and trash collection from the beach was born and powered by Tevana House Reef.

JULIA AVELINE RABENJORO

PADI Ambassador

I am a French 15 year old PADI Ambassador since 2022. I’ve been living in Malaysia for eleven years and started my scuba diving journey in Kota Kinabalu on my 8th birthday. This is how I fell in love with the ocean and never looked back. Over the years, I’ve witnessed both the beauty the ocean has to offer and the issues it is facing. This is why I decided to create a group of teen divers called Bubbles of Hope to give youths a true sense of purpose, encouraging them to contribute positively towards the issue affecting our future

STEFANIE HIRSCHFELD

Head of Member Support DiveAssist

Stefanie is from Germany and joined Dive Assist in early 2020. Stefanie role is Member Support around the world and is passionate about the Diving Market and particularly with suppling Divers with their Insurance requirements.

Baki Zainal

PADI Ambassadiver

Fluent in Malay, English and Chinese and definitely an adventurous individual, Baki Zainal is a notable celebrity host & TV presenter who has hosted numerous TV shows and Asian Television Awards. With his love for the ocean and diving, Baki accepted the position of PADI Ambassadiver for Malaysia and managed to pull together conservation programs and activities in his home country to educate school children, divers and the public on the importance of keeping our ocean clean.

Syamsyahidah Samsol

Ms. Syam has a background in science and education that allows her to connect the public with SEATRU’s research and conservation work. She is actively assisting researchers at the Chagar Hutang Turtle Sanctuary in Malaysia and received training in sea turtle rehabilitation and medicine during an internship at the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium (NMMBA), Taiwan. Ms. Syam is currently leading sea turtle health assessments focusing on human-animal interactions in Malaysia to gain insights for a better understanding of sustainable tourism practices management.

Robert Partridge

Technical Director

Technical Training Qualifications:
• Scubapro Technician Trainer
• Certificate IV in Training & Assessment
• Bauer Kompressoren Technician Trainer
• CCR Rebreather Diver and Technician
• TDI Technical SCUBA Instructor
• First Aid Instructor Trainer
• NAUI Dive Instructor
• PADI Master Instructor
• Marine Mechanical Technician
• Automotive and Electrical Degrees

Dr. Achier Chung is a distinguished Lead Marine Biologist/Advisor at Reef Guardian Sdn Bhd, entrusted with the management of the Sugud Islands Marine Conservation Area located in Sandakan, Sabah. Possessing a wealth of experience and knowledge, Dr. Chung has dedicated 19 years of her professional career to working alongside Reef Guardian, demonstrating exceptional leadership in the field of marine conservation. Dr. Chung has effectively collaborated with numerous international organizations to enhance the management of marine resources and has made notable contributions by spearheading enforcement efforts in the conservation area, whilst actively engaging and partnering with local enforcement agencies to combat illegal fishing. Recognized for her passion and significant contributions in the field, Dr. Chung was awarded the first Malaysia SeaKeepers award by the International SeaKeepers Society, USA in 2019. Furthermore, under her astute guidance and leadership, the Sugud Islands Marine Conservation Area (SIMCA) was granted the first IUCN Green List certification in Malaysia in 2022, establishing it as the first marine park in the Coral Triangle Region to be recognized as such. Notably, Dr. Chung is an active member of the IUCN SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group and the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas.

Nate Porter

• Captain & Creative Director of Expedition Drenched a USA marine educational non-profit.
• Professional Underwater Videographer
• YouTuber
• 2023 PADI AmbassaDive

Siti Khadijah Binti Sabturani

• Assistant Director – Public Private Partnership Unit, Prime Minister Department (2016-2020)
• Assistant Secretary – Tourism Licensing and Enforcement Division, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture
• Bachelor (Sc) Degree, Food Studies (Foodservice Administration)
• Master in Business Administration