CHIEFS of Bua have called on dive companies holding qoliqoli licences for the province to properly train their divers before sending them out to sea.
The call follows reports of four cases of diving accidents at sea in a period of two weeks, all of which happened in the province of Bua early this month.
The incidents have raised the concern of provincial chiefs who discussed the issue at their bose vanua in Nabouwalu last week.
They have also reminded divers not to only think of financial gains but to consider their lives and their families at home who depend on them for support.
Bose vanua secretary and Tui Wainunu Ratu Orisi Baleitavea said having four cases of diving accidents reported within two weeks from Bua was cause for alarm.
"It is a serious issue and we are urging our villagers who dive for seafood and provisions to earn money for their families to take extra care. We know that some of them want more money so they dive deeper for the best product to sell to the market. But as they go deeper, the problem happens. They need to think of their families," Ratu Orisi said.
He said chiefs had been reminded to talk with their villagers and remind them about the importance of knowing how to use underwater apparatus used for diving.
"That is very important and we hope that people involved seriously consider these issues discussed."