Scuba Junkie was founded by divers who are passionate about the marine and terrestrial environments. We believe that as divers and snorkelers, we are fortunate to be able to experience the joy and beauty of the underwater world, and that it is our responsibility to protect and conserve what we see.

Care for the local environment is therefore at the core of all our business operations. We hold ourselves to high responsible and eco-tourism standards, and we strive to reduce our own adverse impacts on the marine environment by implementing eco-friendly practices and technologies.

This responsible, sustainable ethos begins with our resort and dive operations and extends to the work of Scuba Junkie S.E.A.S, the dive center's dedicated conservation arm founded in 2009. Scuba Junkie S.E.A.S. ,now a registered non-governmental organization (NGO), has grown to have an extensive portfolio of conservation programs in place, including eco-resort, turtle conservation, shark conservation, coral conservation, cetacean conservation, tackling marine debris, and outreach.

Our goal is to ensure that the tropical coral reef ecosystem in our key areas thrives and is protected from further degradation, as well as that it is used in a sustainable manner that not only protects the ecosystem but also helps to protect the livelihoods of the local communities who rely on the ocean for sustenance and survival.
It has taken a lot of hard work to get where we are today, and it will take even more hard work to keep it going, but hopefully through the collaborative work of passionate individuals, we can make a difference to our beautiful oceans and the lives of those who rely on them.

Due to a variety of threats worldwide, all species of sea turtles are now threatened with extinction. Scuba Junkie S.E.A.S. has launched a number of projects aimed at preventing some of the threats to sea turtles and working proactively to conserve them.

The Mabul Turtle Hatchery was established in 2011 to prevent the exploitation of turtle nests on the island, and it has since released over 17,000 turtle hatchlings. Many Scuba Junkie guests have the opportunity to witness the release of turtle hatchlings by our dedicated team of Honorary Wildlife Wardens.

In May 2015, the Mabul Turtle Rehabilitation Centre opened in collaboration with the Sabah Wildlife Department's (SWD) Wildlife Rescue Unit. To date, 15 turtles have been successfully re-released after recovering from various injuries and illnesses.

Marine conservation starts at home. We have made our resorts and dive operations as eco-friendly as possible.

We have taken several key steps to achieve this, including at minimum the installation of zero efflux sewage systems and renewable energy systems, as well as dedicated recycling and water refill stations, and we have banned the use of single use plastics in our resorts. All of our resorts also have a "no seafood" policy.

We are proud to be in the Top Ten Members of Green Fins since our initial assessment in 2016. Green Fins, internationally coordinated by the Reef-World Foundation, promotes a comprehensive approach that encourages dive centres and snorkel operators to reduce their environmental impacts.

Shark conservation was where it all began for Scuba Junkie S.E.A.S in 2009, to encourage better protection for sharks and rays within Sabah. Through the work of the Sabah Shark and Ray Initiative, Scuba Junkie S.E.A.S' shark conservation efforts now revolve around three key areas: pushing for better protection of particularly vulnerable species, pushing for the establishment of more Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), and raising awareness of the importance of these apex predators.

Our resorts are all fortunate to be located within the Coral Triangle, the world's most biodiverse marine environment. Coral reefs have survived tens of thousands of years of natural change, but many of them may not survive the devastation caused by mankind. Scuba Junkie S.E.A.S. have several ongoing coral health and conservation projects.

We collaborate with Reef Check Malaysia to conduct annual Reef Check surveys in the Semporna region as a Reef Check Malaysia EcoDiver Trainer center. These surveys allow us to monitor the long-term health of our reefs and can be used to guide management decisions. Our regular surveys have enabled us to respond to threats to our reefs, such as crown of thorn outbreaks.

We also have an ongoing coral reef restoration project that is testing various techniques to determine the most appropriate and successful cultivation method in our area using corals of opportunity.

Plastic pollution is a major global issue, with an estimated 8 million tonnes of new plastic entering the world's oceans each year. It is not only a global issue, but it is also a major local issue.

We are committed to being a part of the solution, and we will start by setting a good example. Prevention is better than cure, so we reduce the amount of trash produced on-site and recycle/upcycle what we can, as well as prohibiting single-use plastic in our resorts.

We also hold weekly clean-ups in which we gather as many people as possible to remove rubbish from the beaches, forests, and reefs surrounding our resorts. We frequently collaborate with local community members, grass-roots community organizations, NGOs, and other dive operators on these efforts.

We are also researching technologies that would provide alternative methods for dealing with plastic waste and create a situation in which plastics have commercial value in the local community.

As a dive company, we have a responsibility to do our best to preserve the underwater environment, and minimize our impact on the sites we visit. During our dives we follow a strict set of guidelines to ensure we dive responsibly. 

We have two separate documents that outline responsible diving practices – a comprehensive document for our dive staff and a guest friendly version for display in resorts and on our boats. Both documents provide explanations to ensure people fully understand the reason behind the recommendations. 

The most important aspect of Scuba Junkie S.E.A.S' work is to engage as many people as possible in conservation issues and solutions. We reach out to people from all walks of life – tourists, the local community, local and international students, and businesses – in the hope that by sharing our passion for the marine environment, we can inspire more people to take action.

Throughout the year, we hold five conservation weeks, each focusing on a different conservation topic: Shark Week, Turtle Week, Marine Week, Whale Shark Week, and Manta Week. We also organise weekly presentations, fundraising quizzes, and documentary screenings. We also provide one-day conservation workshops as well as longer conservation internships that cover all key areas of work.