PomMalaysia’s Pom Island — Diving the Text and photos by Larry Cohen and Olga Torrey

70 X-RAY MAG : 63 : 2014 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO LARRY COHEN travel Pom Pom

OLGA TORREY dive boat ready for departure (above); Light filtering through structure, Mataking House Reef (right). PREVIOUS PAGE: Hypselodoris bullockii 2 nudibranch

Borneo is the third largest island in the world. It is the home to three countries— to the south, Brunei and in the north. The Malaysian states of and are located on the island. Our journey to Pom Pom Island took us to the air- port in the state of Sabah.

This was a two hour and LARRY COHEN 40 minute flight. We then Prior to the journey, my part- Beach Resort. This would be the many exhibitors including dive had to take a van another ner, Olga Torrey, and I were perfect trip to see how my new operators, gear manufactures, hour to the port city of invited to do presentations camera system would perform. shops and training organizations. . This is the start- at the Asia Dive Conference It was the nineth year Ness Velu During the conference there were ing point for all dive resorts (ADCON) in and her staff have been run- many speakers including Michael Malaysia and dive at Pom ning the Malaysia International Aw from Ocean Geographic in Malaysia. OLGA TORREY Pom Island with the Celebes Dive Expo (MIDE). The expo has Magazine. Non-divers could Clown fish on night dive in front of Celebes Beach Resort

71 X-RAY MAG : 63 : 2014 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO travel Pom Pom

OLGA TORREY

OLGA TORREY

OLGA TORREY

pher with Scubazoo Panasonic 7-14mm allowed a wide Christian Loader, view without the distinctive curve of editor-in-chief of a fisheye lens. The King’s Palace is Action Asia Magazine behind a gate, but from the hill, one Steve White, techni- could get a clear view. The Palace

LARRY COHEN cal dive instructor with was in the distance, but by using the Blue Label Diving Ben 40-150mm lens, it was possible to get TOP LEFT TO RIGHT: Petronas Twin Reymenants, ITDA an image without cropping. Towers; Fountain on Dataran Regional Director Just like most major cities, the resi- Merdeka (Independence William Ong and dents are the true soul of the city Square); Guard at the King’s underwater photogra- and need to be documented. Most Palace; Kuala Lumpur is a major pher Ab Lee. people are extremely friendly and cosmopolitan city; View from OLGA TORREY Kuala Lumpur is a are more than happy to be photo- the Petronas Twin Towers with LARRY COHEN Panasonic 8mm Fisheye lens (top try scuba in the pool with a PADI major cosmopolitan city that is worth graphed. Sometimes the problem far right); The Olympus 40-150mm instructor. This is the first year Ness exploring with many photo opportu- was to get a natural candid look. choice for these images. The lenses lens was used to photograph added the Asia Dive Conference nities. From Chinatown, the Petronas When faced with a camera many are wide enough for environmental a dance performance at the (ADCON) were experts gave pre- Twin Towers to the King’s Palace, the people would look directly in the portraits and street photography. National Museum (inset far right); sentations on photography and architecture is varied and interest- camera, smile and make gestures. The 40-150mm was useful when pho- Mother and child watch dance technical diving. Olga and I were ing. Working close, the 8mm fisheye The 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO and tographing scenes in the distance performance (right) honored to be among the present- could be used to create an interest- Olympus 12-50mm f/3.5-6.3 ED such as the dance performance at ers that also included photogra- ing prospective with distortion. The M.Zuiko EZ were usually the lenses of the National Museum.

OLGA TORREY

72 X-RAY MAG : 63 : 2014 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO travel Pom Pom

LARRY COHEN

OLGA TORREY LARRY COHEN

LEFT TO RIGHT: Chromodoris willani nudibranch; Pom Pom Island places to hang wetsuits and BCs. Olga Torrey with cuttlefish, Mantabuan Island; Pom Pom Island is small, with two There were also wash bins dedi- Lionfish at Cleaning Station, leaf scorpionfish during resorts on the Island. Celebes cated to certain gear. One was night dive, and the pier at Celebes Beach Resort LARRY COHEN Beach Resort is three and half for cameras, another for regula- years old at this writing. The cli- tors and another for wetsuits. At small huts all along its length. traveling from Island to island, lucky and got little rain. The hour ental were mostly from Mainland the time of our visit, air was the Each hut was the office for a dif- they have now settled in the we spent on this dock, there was China, Europe and Malaysia. only gas available. Getting heavy ferent resort. The Celebes Beach area. According to the January a downpour. The OM-D E-M1 Being from the United States, we gear onto the island was not Resort’s office was a nice space 2007 Monthly Statistical Bulletin, and OM-D E-M5 are weather were in the minority. The 16 rooms easy. The staff at Celebes Beach to relax out of the heat and have Department of Statistics Malaysia, sealed. But not all Olympus and were in eight different buildings. Resort had been waiting patiently some water while the final paper they are the second-largest eth- Panasonic lenses are. So it is The rooms were modest but clean for their new nitrox system to be work was taken care of. nic group in the Malaysian state important to keep your rig dry and comfortable. The air-condi- delivered. The nitrox system was To the right and left of this dock of Sabah, making up 13.4 percent when using a non-weather sealed tioning was strong and there was installed just after our visit. LARRY COHEN were many shacks on stilts. The of the total population. lens. Luckily the dock with all the plenty of room to store extra gear. We had already met our dive Leaving this interesting urban residents of these structures are Using the 40-150mm lens, we dive resorts offices was covered. The main pavilion housed the guides for the week—Sherwin center we went to the outskirts the Bajau people also known as were able to zoom into these So was the small boat we board- dinning area and dive center Shim, Jackson John and resort of to go diving. Our van Sea Gypsies. Once nomads who people’s lives. June is the rainy ed for the 45-minute ride to Pom office. The gear area had plenty manager, Nurul Yazid—at ADCON pulled up to a long dock with spent their entire lives on boats season in Malaysia. We were very Pom Island in the Celebes Sea. of bins for gear storage and and on the plane to Tawau.

73 X-RAY MAG : 63 : 2014 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO travel Pom Pom

LARRY COHEN

LARRY COHEN

directly to my lens port. Then I would have been able to pro- duce an image with a 50 per- cent increase in magnification. Of course, actually getting it in LARRY COHEN the frame is another matter. The waters around Pom Pom Moving on, I was able to pho- LARRY COHEN Island are known for macro life. tograph many small creatures Nurul, Jackson and Sherwin are banged on their tanks to get nothing of interest in the frame. that I could see. Tiny clown- skilled at spotting the tiniest of our attention. Using their point- Later, when looking at the fish would dart in and out of creatures. Exhausted from our ers they pointed in excitement. images on the computer, an anemone for protection. travels we still decided to do a I saw nothing. Not wanting to everyone said you got the Anemones are poisonous to 6PM dive on our first day at the insult our guides, I blindly point- pygmy seahorse; I still did not most marine life, but they have resort. The site directly in front ed my camera in the direction see it. A life size 1:1 image of a symbiotic relationship with the of the resort is known as the of their pointers. Figuring there a creature that is smaller than clown fish. Cleaning Station. I set up my was something really small, I your thumbnail was still too Whenever you have on a housing with the 60mm macro manually set the camera to the small. After doing some crop- macro lens, you see interest- and Olga had the Olympus closest focusing distance. ping, I finally saw that I got my ing large subjects. A large sea 12-50mm lens with macro but- This would give me a life-size first image of this tiny creature. turtle and a blue spotted sting- ton on her Olympus OM-D image on my camera sen- Not a very good image but to ray allowed us to get extremely LARRY COHEN E-M5. sor. This is known as shooting a my surprise it was in the frame. close. With the 60mm macro, TOP LEFT TO RIGHT: Huge barrel sponge at Sherwin and Jackson started 1:1 magnification ratio. I then For this subject I should have all I could do was a turtle head- D’Wall; Close-up of blue spotted stingray searching a gorgonian for moved in. When what looked used the Aquatica +10 Wet shot and a close-up of the ray’s with Olympus 60MM Macro lens; A large pygmy seahorses. While they to me like just a coral stem Diopter Close Up Lens. This lens eye. Not bad for the first dive of anemone with clown fish sits on deck searched we took portraits of was sharp, I pressed the shut- has a 67mm filter thread and the trip! behind cabin of Mermaid wreck; at Aquarium; Giant frog- LARRY COHEN a nearby lionfish. Our guides ter release, expecting to have would have been mounted fish at Dulang Island’s Two Sisters (above) Clown frogfish

74 X-RAY MAG : 63 : 2014 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO travel Pom Pom silver

cinema of dreams

LARRY COHEN

Mataking Island bad vis, nor gloom of night dives ship’s engines were worth photo- The first dive of day two was off stays these couriers from the swift graphing. To add a human touch on the Sipadan completion of their appointed to the wreck photos, Sherwin and Mermaid wreck, also known as the rounds!” Jackson were willing models. Shipwreck Post. This artificial reef Setting my camera up with the Diving in shallow water under was once a liveaboard and is now 8mm fisheye lens, I was now in piers is always very productive. an underwater post office. One my comfort zone. The Sipadan These structures attract marine life can seal a postcard in a water- Mermaid was a wonderful back- and also add to the background. proof pouch and place it in the ground for capturing images of The pier known as Mataking House mail slot on the wreck. the marine life that call this wreck Reef was outstanding. The light The inscription on the main Post home. A large anemone with filtering through the structure Office in New York City reads: clownfish sat on the deck just nicely illuminated schools of bat- “Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, behind the cabin, and lionfish fish and huge schools of bait fish. nor gloom of night stays these picked at the growth for food. Scorpionfish rested on the bottom couriers from the swift comple- Spotted hind, butterflyfish and while trumpetfish did their best to www.seacam.com tion of their appointed rounds.” In other tropicals were easy to cap- look like part of the structure. Malaysia it could read, “Neither ture. Large schools of fish inside This site was very tide depen- 5-knot current, nor high seas, nor the wreck were good subjects. The dent. We did this dive when the TOP RIGHT: Diver at mailbox on the Sipadan Mermaid wreck, also known as Shipwreck Post

75 X-RAY MAG : 63 : 2014 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO travel Pom Pom

LARRY COHEN

LARRY COHEN

tide was going out. So we had to deal wreck without marine growth. It was fun with a two-knot current. The boat to place our models inside the wheel- LARRY COHEN dropped us off up current, so we eas- house next to the engine throttles and ily drifted under the pier. Once we got around the construction machinery on to our destination, we had to hold on the deck. for dear life. The technique that worked The boat sits right side up. In the stern was to brace our backs against part of we photographed our dive guides next the structure so we could stay steady to the propeller. It would be interesting and frame our images. to come back in six months to see how After a brief rest back at the resort, much marine growth develops on the we went out to dive the Sipadan Pom wreck. Next to the wreck was a healthy Pom Resort wreck. This was the supply reef filled with colorful hard corals and OLGA TORREY boat for Pom Pom Island Resort. The sea fans. Anemones with clownfish were boat was sunk on the house reef just a layered on top of large plate coral, giv- LEFT TO RIGHT: Large schools of sweepers, slender grouper few days before we arrived. This gave us ing us plenty of opportunity to use wide- and lionfish on Sipadan Mermaid wreck; Sipadan Pom Pom the opportunity to photograph a clean angle or fisheye lenses. Resort wreck was sunk a few days before we dove it; Divers at engine throttles and by propeller (far right) LARRY COHEN LARRY COHEN

76 X-RAY MAG : 63 : 2014 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO travel Pom Pom

THIS PAGE: Cuttlefish at the Aquarium, Mantabuan Island; Using a 4-inch dome with Panasonic 8mm fisheye dome allowed this shy cuttlefish to be photographed (left); Cuttlefish and tridacna clam (below); Sea stars at North Point (center inset)

LARRY COHEN

usually they were too far away to photograph. When we did get close enough, the turtles were not happy to be photographed and only gave us a few minutes to set up the shot. Being able to use the zoom, Olga had better results with the 7-14mm lens than I did with the 8mm fisheye. I decided I would add the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm f/4.0-5.6 lens and

OLGA TORREY they stayed their ground. This gave us time to prop-

LARRY COHEN erly set up our cameras for each photograph. One Mantabuan shy cuttlefish did back Island himself up into a small On our third day of coral overhang. Having diving, we decided the small 4-inch fisheye to stay with the fish- dome attached to my eye and wide angle housing, I was able to pull lenses. Heading to in my strobe arms and OLGA TORREY Mantabuan Island, position my rig in front of we would dive in the Malaysian Aquatica SW8 dome, 30602 exten- the opening. I blindly fired national park site known as the sion ring and 30505 zoom gear to the shutter and moved to Aquarium. Our first dive would be my underwater toolbox. a second opening on the on the side of the reef with large The highlight on these two dives side. I again fired blindly, numbers of hard corals while our was the cuttlefish encounters. figuring it was worth a try. OLGA TORREY second dive would be in an area These intelligent cephalopods are To my surprise, I got two with soft corals. The area was also closely related to octopuses and perfectly framed images. down the wall to 120 feet and known for a large population of squid. We saw them on both dives. worked our way up. The coral was turtles. They changed color and did not North Point. Our third dive of the lush on the deeper part of the wall. OLGA TORREY We did see many turtles but seem pleased to model for us but day was on North Point. We went As we reached the shallows, the Green sea turtle with remora at North Point, Mantabuan Island

77 X-RAY MAG : 63 : 2014 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO Where modern technology enhances old fashion diving travel Pom Pom W4 5mm

STYLISH SILVER DESIGN LOADED WITH FEATURES.

W4 is the latest back-zip wetsuit from Waterproof. After nearly 30 years of experience of making wetsuits we have put all our knowledge into this LARRY COHEN high-quality suit with an eye-catching retro-futuristic design. THIS PAGE: Macro life at The 3D anatomical design, with pre-bent arms Two Brothers, Bohey Dulang and legs with stretch panels and gender Island. CLOCKWISE FROM specific construction ensures a comfortable TOP LEFT: School of juve- fit and a relaxing body position in the water. nile striped eel catfish; 3D-moulded real rubber kneepads are perfect for the diving instructor who LARRY COHEN Nembrotha milleri nudi- spends a lot of time on his/her knees branch (left inset); Boxfish; in the water while teaching. reef showed signs of stress. El Nino, You could Giant frogfish on reef; dynamite fishing and industrial run- spend one Commensal shrimp on Double smooth-skin seals at arms off were the causes. Even though hour and anemone and legs, adjustable neck and a 10mm spinepad, with an extra seal at the coral was not in the best shape. only move a the backzipper work together to keep There was a nice variety of tropical few feet on large school of juvenile the cold water out. Seals are designed to fit fish, nudibranchs and turtles. Still we these sites. catfish and a variety of WP boots and gloves. OLGA TORREY All zippers in top class Vislon from YKK. The wished we had nitrox, so we could The variety different frogfish. We also Bronze slider in the back zipper ensures trouble- have stayed deep longer. of nudibranchs was staggering. We saw leaf fish and orangutan crabs. free function for many years. also photographed many tiny fish On the third dive, we went back ToughTex panels at elbows and knees, Bonded HiQ Nylon Thread and 100% CR Neoprene in all Bohey Dulang Island including a boxfish that looked like a to the Mataking House Reef and panels - quality in every detail. The next day we decided to arm cartoon character. There was also a the pier. We tried to time this so we ourselves with our macro lenses so The W4 also features double computer strap anchors with anti slip, comfort front neck zipper, we could capture the tiny creatures inner plush lining, seat and shoulder antislip for which this area is known. Our des- reinforcement. tination for the first two dives of the day was Bohey Dulang Island’s Two Brothers and Two Sisters. We joked, asking where the uncles, aunts and cousins where.

The WPAD™, or the Waterproof Personal Accessory Dock, is a soft artfully constructed docking station located on the right thigh used for attaching our expandable pocket.

www.w a t er pr o o f.eu OLGA TORREY OLGA TORREY

78 X-RAY MAG : 63 : 2014 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO travel Pom Pom

LARRY COHEN

LEFT TO RIGHT: Celebrating Olga’s 400th dive with a group photo; Mugshot of bearded scorpion- fish on night dive in front of resort; Banded sea urchin (right inset); Juvenile golden batfish at Mataking LARRY COHEN House Reef pier LARRY COHEN

would have less current than our previ- to help me by dragging the current. ous dive. This was also a special day me to the pier. I figured Once I blew being Olga’s 400th dive. The Celebes with the current this strong, back to an Beach Resort staff created a Happy being under the pier would area with

400th Dive slate. We did group photos not be productive. I tried OLGA TORREY less current, to celebrate this landmark dive in her to communicate that I I concen- career. Arranging a group of four divers wanted to stay in the area with less cur- trated on shooting coral formations and is a bit of a challenge even if you are rent. They proceeded to drag me to the sea fans. In some of the images, I used an experienced event photographer on pier as I was shaking my head nooooo! Sherwin as a model. Just like photos of land. Since there is no gravity restriction With the pier in site, they finally realized wrecks, models add scale and a human one could position some of the divers I wanted to go back to the reef. When element to the photo. We now know above the group without needing steps. they let go of me and the rocks, the that sea fan is larger than the diver’s Just like on land, the slate has to be three of us flew back in the current like head. angled down so it does not pick up the an out-of-control airplane. Meanwhile With one more day of diving left, we reflection from your strobes. Olga and Nurul, crawling hand over decided a forth dive was in order. I usu- After the group photo we preceded hand, did make it to the pier. ally am not a fan of night dives. I enjoy to swim to the pier. We seemed to have The current was so strong, Olga’s balancing my strobe lights with the miscalculated the tide. The current was Beneath The Surface Flex strobes arms available light underwater to create a even stronger than our first dive at this swayed back and forth like they were natural balance. When shooting inside a site. We were also now down current being blown in a strong wind. She did cave or shipwreck, we will use three to and I felt like a salmon swimming up get stunning photographs of the school four strobes. This way we could still light OLGA TORREY stream. Jackson and Sherwin decided of baitfish creating living patterns in the background by bouncing the extra OLGA TORREY Nembrotha nudibranch, Celebes Beach Resort Colorful reef fish at Cleaning Station

79 X-RAY MAG : 63 : 2014 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO travel Pom Pom

OLGA TORREY

OLGA TORREY

OLGA TORREY

OLGA TORREY look like moving Easter bonnets, inching along the bottom. Ghost pipefish, eels and other nocturnal animals come out to feed. The autofocus on our cameras worked well in low light. But a good focus light helps espe- cially on night dives. Since there was no avail- able light, we used a fast shutter speed. This stops moving subjects and you do not see the effect of the focus light.

D’ Wall. On our last day of diving, we head- ed back to Mataking Island to dive D’ Wall. Large coral formations and sea fans were all along the wall and there were also huge bar- rel sponges. Blue sea stars, giant calms and shrimps could be seen at this site. OLGA TORREY strobes off the cave or wreck wall. This is not Mandarin Playground. That evening we did possible when shooting on a reef at night. a twilight dive at Mandarin Playground back After dark the waters just in front of Celebes at Pom Pom Island. The plan was to photo- OLGA TORREY Beach Resort come alive with some of the graph mandarinfish mating. You really need CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: Octopus at Mandarin Playground, Pom wildest creatures you can imagine. Different the patience of a saint, staying in one spot for Pom Island; Juvenile solar powered nudibranch at D’ Wall, Mataking varieties of lionfish, frogfish and scorpionfish what seems like an eternity. Finally the very Island; Christmas tree worms, Celebes Beach Resort; Tires and other struc- LARRY COHEN can be found everywhere. Decorator crabs colorful and speedy mandarinfish started to tures used to rebuild reef, Mataking Island; Mandarinfish at Mandarin Saddled toby at Mandarin Playground, Pom Pom Island Playground, Pom Pom Island; Hermit crab, Celebes Beach Resort

80 X-RAY MAG : 63 : 2014 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO travel Pom Pom

OLGA TORREY

Bell in Chinese temple (left); Entrance of Chinese temple (above)

Portuguese took control of back to New York, with 30 feet vis aver-

OLGA TORREY the area in 1511. We visit- age and water so cold we need dry- ed and photographed his- suits. We are looking forward to heading dart in and out of the coral. The camera toric buildings and forts in the very busy back to Malaysia where both the water has to be ready since mating happens tourist area. The streets were crowded and the people are warm. ■ extremely fast. With all the other nudi- and families were stuffed into bicycle branchs and colorful fish around, I only rickshaws decorated with Hello Kitty Larry Cohen and Olga Torrey are well- lasted at the site as long as an excited dolls. traveled and published underwater male mandarinfish. Being more patient, In order to get clean photos without photographers based in New York City, Olga stood her ground and was reward- the hordes of tourists, we had to use New York. They offer underwater pho- ed with a single male mandarinfish look- the 40-150mm lens and shoot up from tography courses and presentations to ing for his honey. a distance. At times we did use the dive shops, clubs and events. For more 12-40mm, 12-50mm and 7-14mm lenses. information, visit: Liquidimagesuw.com Topside excursions But this required patience. We had to The plan for our last day on Pom Pom wait until the extra people and Hello Island was to go over to Bohey Dulang Kitty vehicles exited our viewfinders. Island to hike up 600 meters to the peak. Exploring the side streets, we were Due to bad weather, this was not pos- able to find areas of interest that were sible. We did a small hike around Pom less crowed. There was a Chinese Pom Island and spent the day relaxing Temple, which we were allowed to and sharing the week’s stories with our enter and photograph. A mosque up new friends. the street from the temple was closed, From the Kuala Lumpur airport, but we were able to photograph the we drove two hours to the historic exterior. We talked to two men that city of Melaka. This city is a UNESCO were freediving without gear in the river. World Heritage Site since 7 July 2008. On every breath hold, they would sur- was a fishing village inhab- face with coins and broken pottery from ited by local Malays people and was times long ago. the location of the first Sultan. The local After diving in warm 30ºC water with OLGA TORREY monarchy was abolished when the 100 feet visibility, it was time to head Ancient coins found by freedivers LARRY COHEN without gear in the river Historic Melaka is an UNESCO World Heritage Site

81 X-RAY MAG : 63 : 2014 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO NASA

recommended that expecially women travelling alone hail taxis by phone rather than flag- ging one down on the street fact file and then checking the cab driver’s license upon entry, Malaysia as there have been recent RIGHT: Global map violent incidents against for- with location of the eigners by local taxi drivers. Malaysian state of Sabah For more detailed informa- on the island of Borneo tion, check with your state BELOW: Location of Pom department for the latest Pom Island on map of SOURCES: U.S. CIA WORLD FACTBOOK, XE.COM, updates on security issues Malaysia TRAVEL.STATE.GOV, POMPOMISLAND.COM, in Malaysia. PANDA.ORG History Great Britain established of Vietnam. Coastline: 4,675 km. launched the new Health Contact VIETNAM colonies and protectorates in the Terrain: coastal plains that rise to Bumiputra Economic your state’s Gulf of area of current Malaysia during hills and mountains. Lowest point: Empowerment Program THAILAND SPRATLY health advisory Thailand ISLANDS the late 18th and 19th centuries. Indian Ocean 0m. Highest point: (BEEP), policies that Sea for updates on Japan occupied these areas from Gunung Kinabalu 4,100m. Note: favor and advance the Kudat warnings and 1942 to 1945. The British-ruled ter- Malaysia lies in a strategic loca- economic condition of Kota appropriate Baharu Kota ritories on the Malay Peninsula tion along the Strait of Malacca ethnic Malays. Pulau Kinabalu innoculations Pinang Kuala Gunung formed the Federation of Malaya and the southern end of the Pulau Kinabalu for travelers. In George South China Sea Lahad Datu in 1948. In 1957, it became inde- South China Sea. Climate Malaysia Town Taiping BRUNEI Sabah Malaysia, there is Ipoh pendent. When the former British enjoys a tropical climate Miri Tawau an intermediate Lumut colonies of Singapore and the Economy Malaysia, a middle- with high tempera- KUALA Kuantan degree of risk for Strait of Pulau East Malaysian states of Sabah income country, has transformed tures and humidity year Malacca LUMPUR food or water- Bintulu and Sarawak on the north- itself since 70’s from a producer round. There is an annu- Klang Seremban borne diseases Celebes Port Dickson ern coast of Borneo joined the of raw materials into an emerg- al southwest monsoon Sibu Sarawak such as bacterial Melaka Kuching Federation in 1963, Malaysia was ing multi-sector economy. Under from April to October, Bahru BORNEO Sea diarrhea, mosqui- formed. The new nation faced current Prime Minister Najib, and a northeast mon- to-borne diseases SINGAPORE faced challenges in its first sev- Malaysia is attempting to achieve soon from October to such as dengue INDONESIA eral years including a Communist high-income status by 2020 and February. Natural haz- Equator INDONESIA fever, and water insurgency, Singapore’s seces- to move farther up the value- zards include flooding, contact disease sion from the Federation in added production chain by landslides and forest fires such as leptospi- 1965, Indonesian confrontation, attracting investments in Islamic 0.7%, non-citizens 8.2% (2010 est.) for stays less than 90 days. Note: rosis. The highly pathogenic H5N1 and Philippine claims to Sabah. finance, high technology indus- Environmental issues Religions: Muslim (official) 61.3%, There are strict laws against drug avian influenza was identified in However, Malaysia was success- tries, biotechnology, and services. Malaysia has a relatively positive Buddhist 19.8%, Christian 9.2%, trafficking, including possession of Malaysia but there is a negligible ful in diversifying its economy from The government has also taken track record on the environment, Hindu 6.3%, Confucianism, Taoism, heroin and marijuana, with con- risk with very rare cases possible dependence on exports of raw steps to liberalize some services but still faces challenges includ- other traditional Chinese religions victions leading to a mandatory among visitors who get in close materials to expansion in manu- sub-sectors as well as boost ing deforestation, soil and coastal 1.3% (2010 est.) Internet users: death penalty. contact with birds (2013). facturing, services, and tourism domestic demand and reduce erosion, overfishing and destruc- 15.355 million (2009) Make sure you bring adequate during the 22-year term of Prime the economy’s dependence on tion of coral reefs, as well as air Travel advisory There have travel health insurance and repa- Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad exports. Nevertheless, exports— and water pollution, and prob- Language Bahasa Malaysia been recent attacks by terror- triation funds. (1981-2003). Government: consti- particularly of electronics, oil lems in the disposal of waste. (official), English, Chinese ists and extremist groups against tutional monarchy. Capital: Kuala and gas, palm oil and rubber — (Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, foreigners in the region. The U.S. Decompression chamber Lumpur remain a significant driver of the Currency Ringgits (MYR) Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, State Department warns citizens Decompression Chamber economy. Bank Negara Malaysia Exchange rates: 1EUR=4.15MYR; Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai. to avoid travel to coastal east- Chamber Geography Malaysia is (central bank) maintains healthy 1USD=3.27MYR; 1GBP=5.32; There are several indigenous lan- ern Sabah (Eastern Malaysia). (60) 88 251326 located in southeastern Asia. It foreign exchange reserves, and 1AUD= 2.86MYR; 1SGD=2.57MYR guages in ; Iban and However, the Malaysian govern- includes the peninsula that bor- a well-developed regulatory Kadazan are most widely spoken ment has placed added security Links ders Thailand and the northern regime has limited Malaysia’s Population 30,073,353 (July (police and military personnel) at Tourism Malaysia one-third of the island of Borneo, exposure to riskier financial instru- 2014 est.) Ethnic groups: Malay Visa Passport valid for six months, the resorts in this area. Direct tran- tourismmalaysiausa.com which borders Indonesia, Brunei, ments and the global financial 50.1%, Chinese 22.6%, indig- with at least one blank page for sit with reputable tour companies Sabah Tourism and the South China Sea, south crisis. In September 2013 Najib enous 11.8%, Indian 6.7%, other entry stamp. No tourist visa required is advised. In urban areas, it is www.sabahtourism.com ■

82 X-RAY MAG : 63 : 2014 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO