Clement Lee and Marty Snyderman are to receive DEMA Reaching Out Awards (ROA) in recognition of significant contributions to scuba diving at the DEMA Awards Party in Las Vegas, October 24, 2008. 

Clement Lee was a pioneer in introducing recreational diving and the dive tourism industry in Sabah, Malaysia where as managing director and a founding partner of Borneo Divers & Sea Sports, in 1989 he was among the first to build a dive resort on Sipadan Island. 

Emmy Award winning cinematographer, Marty Snyderman, a still photographer, film producer, author and speaker specializing in the marine environment for 25-years, was Field Editor for Skin Diver Magazine and is now the Marine Life Editor for Dive Training.   

Philippines
Muroami divers tried to loot capsized ferry  

Some fishermen, locally known in the Philippines as muroami divers, reportedly tried to enter and loot the Sulpicio Lines’ capsized ferry, MV Princess of the Stars. Using improvised air compressors, were able to get near to the vessel despite the presence of the Philippine Marines and Philippine coastguard rescue vessels. 

A radio reporter and a photographer saw at least 11 looters and the photographer was able to take pictures of some them, which police hope to use for identification.

Meanwhile, officials have suspended diving operations aimed at recovering bodies form the stricken ferry after it was disclosed that the vessel was carrying 10 tons of endosulfan, a restricted pesticide.

“We aborted the retrieval operations because of the pesticide inside the ship,” Philippine Vice President Noli De Castro said. “It's dangerous and no divers are allowed in the area now.”

Sulpicio Lines, the owners of the ferry, has come under fire for failing to disclose  the nature of the cargo. 

So far only 56 of the passengers are reported by the Philippine Coast Guard to have been found alive.