BPOLBF Urges Health Checks Before Komodo Snorkelling

Labuan Bajo — — The Labuan Bajo Flores Tourism Authority has urged visitors to assess their fitness, swimming ability and medical history before snorkelling or diving in Komodo National Park, following the death of a Chinese tourist after a snorkeling trip at Long Pink Beach, according to official and local reports.

In a statement published by the tourism authority on 10 February 2024, acting director Frans Teguh said tourists planning high-risk marine activities should make sure their bodies are fit, check weather conditions, verify the legal status of travel agencies, tour operators and tourist boats, and inform operators about any health complaints or prior medical conditions.

The authority also said visitors who feel unwell should tell their guide and can seek checks at a community health centre or hospital before going into the water. It gave a WhatsApp emergency contact for its public information service, 081138794555.

Local media reported that the warning came after a Chinese tourist died while snorkelling in the Komodo National Park area on 9 February 2024. One report identified the victim as Zhan Yanyang, 39, and said he collapsed after snorkelling at Long Pink Beach; another said police and port officials believed exhaustion was the likely cause, pending family arrangements.

BPOLBF’s advice applied to snorkelling and diving as activities that carry higher risk in the park’s waters, and the authority tied the guidance to basic preparation rather than any formal medical screening system. The statement also encouraged travellers to keep emergency contact numbers and confirm operator safety procedures before departure.

What visitors were told to do

According to BPOLBF, travellers should check their physical condition, swimming ability and the weather before boarding boats to the islands.

The authority also said visitors should choose officially registered operators, share medical history with the tour provider and report any symptoms to a guide as early as possible.

The guidance did not describe a standard health form or a mandatory pre-trip examination, but it did direct travellers to seek help from nearby health facilities if needed.

Context

Komodo National Park is a major marine destination where snorkelling and diving are central tourist activities. The February warning highlighted the need for preparation and caution in open-water excursions after the fatal incident at Long Pink Beach.

Police and port authorities quoted by local media said the tourist had fainted after snorkelling and was taken for medical treatment, but later died. A separate report said the victim was brought to hospital in an unconscious condition and could not be saved.

The BPOLBF statement did not say how emergency response at sea is coordinated, nor did it set out a single rescue protocol for all operators.

Key points

• BPOLBF urged tourists to check fitness, swimming ability, weather and medical history before snorkelling or diving.
• The advice also called for checking the legality of tour operators and boats.
• Local reports linked the warning to a Chinese tourist’s death after snorkelling at Long Pink Beach on 9 February 2024.

Sources

• Labuan Bajo Flores Tourism Authority (BPOLBF)
• detikBali