>Mate!  I've just spoken with Clement who says that while there has been
notification of the Government's intention that all dive operations on
Sipadan will have to remove themselves by the year's end, the issue is
certainly not "cut and dried" as yet!

That's the impression I got last month.

>As a person who has been active in raising awareness of the plight that
the
island faces through heavy visitor traffic, he appears not to be unduly
concerned by the pronouncement.  Not least, I suspect, because their
nearby,
Mabul Resort will still offer day-diving access to Sipadan.  He said that
he'll update me on developments as and when they occur.<

Well, my view will go on scuba-se tomorrow. 

>At a personal level - and having seen the place in its pristine form -
it's
probably no bad thing!  :-)<

Clement would probably agree with me that 4 resorts need to disappear.

M