PERHENTIAN, 27 September 2022 – Diveheart, a non-profit organisation run by volunteers to help children, veterans and the disabled through scuba opportunities and scuba therapy, has chosen Malaysia as the host country for its Diveheart Adaptive programme in the Asian region.

Taking place at Mimpi Perhentian Resort, Pulau Perhentian Kecil, Terengganu, from 3^rd to 5^th September 2022, the programme was a collaborative effort between Diveheart, University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), and Tourism Malaysia, bringing together the dedicated UMMC Rehabilitation Medicine Team to assist the disabled divers above and underwater.

Joining the programme were the Diveheart leaders, Mr. Jim Elliott (President), Mr. Syed Abd Rahman (Diveheart Malaysia Ambassador), and Mr. Ernest C. Teo (Diveheart Borneo Lead). The programme was also attended by Datuk Musa Yusof, Deputy Director General (Promotion) of Tourism Malaysia, Prof. Dr. Nazirah Hasnan, Director of UMMC, Dr. Chris Jones from Gold Coast, Australia, and Mr. Max Missbichler from Austria.

Participants were guided throughout the zero-gravity scuba diving and completed the session with kindred spirits. “My sincere appreciation goes to the Diveheart team, especially Mr. Jim Elliot and Mr. Syed Abd Rahman for this unforgettable experience for our non-verbal autistic son. By using the Full Face Mask (FFM), Arash got to scuba dive and thoroughly enjoyed the underwater world,” said Rozie Majid, mother to one of the participants, 17-year-old Mohamad Arash Anique.

Suhaili Yusof, a double amputee PADI-certified scuba diver, also expressed her gratitude: “I am truly thankful to Mr. Syed and the Diveheart team for this opportunity to witness the unmatched beauty of Perhentian Island, its crystal clear waters and colourful marine life. It is indeed one of my most beautiful and meaningful experiences.”

Diveheart continues to dedicate themselves to empowering individuals and building their self-esteem through scuba diving. Mimpi Perhentian Resort is a proud partner that has been working closely with Diveheart on their annual trips this time.

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About Tourism Malaysia

Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board, also known as Tourism Malaysia, is an agency under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture Malaysia. It focuses on the specific task of promoting Malaysia as a preferred tourism destination. Since its inception, it has emerged as a major player in the international tourism scene. For more information, visit Tourism Malaysia’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.

For inquiries, please contact:

Nur Farhana Yahaya
Senior Tourism Officer
Corporate Communications Division
nurfarhana@tourism.gov.my
Tel: +603 8891 8757

Muadz Samat
Assistant Director
Corporate Communications Division
muadz@tourism.gov.my
Tel: +603 8891 8755