Tourist dies after losing consciousness during Tioman scuba dive

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 1 — A 55-year-old Afghan man, Mohammed Seyar Musazay, lost his life while participating in a scuba diving activity off the coast of Kampung Salang, Pulau Tioman, according to Rompin police chief Supt Sharif Shai Sharif Mondoi. The victim, who resided in California, United States, was found deceased at the Kampung Tekek Health Clinic around 12.40pm on October 1.

The chief stated that the deceased had been on holiday in Tioman with his 24-year-old daughter from Kuala Lumpur since September 26. On October 1, the victim, his daughter, and a scuba instructor embarked on the Discovery Scuba Diving (DSD) activity at 11am. Before the dive, they were briefed on the use of diving equipment and underwent practical training in the sea.

Sharif Shai noted that the dive lasted approximately 20 minutes at a depth of six meters, during which the victim appeared to be in good health. However, as the activity neared its conclusion, the instructor assisted the daughter in ascending from a depth of around three meters before noticing the victim struggling to surface approximately three meters away.

The instructor approached the victim and discovered that his breathing apparatus (regulator) had detached from his mouth, rendering him unconscious. The victim was promptly taken to the beach and subsequently transported by a villager's boat to the Kampung Tekek Health Clinic, where he was pronounced dead. The body was then transferred to Teluk Gading by a Marine Police boat at 4.50pm and subsequently sent to Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital (HTAA) in Kuantan for a post-mortem examination.