Malaysian veteran dives water hazards for sunken golf treasure

Shah Alam, Malaysia: After two decades plunging Malaysian seas to defend his country, navy frogman Sumadi Ibrahim has retired to the golf course di...

Shah Alam, Malaysia: After two decades plunging Malaysian seas to defend his country, navy frogman Sumadi Ibrahim has retired to the golf course -- diving water hazards to retrieve mis-hit balls to make a living.

For 22 years Sumadi served in the Royal Malaysian Navy, deployed aboard ships patrolling the shark-riddled waters off the Pacific archipelago.

Now as darkness falls, the 51-year-old roams the suburban fairways of Selangor state outside Kuala Lumpur, splashing into ponds as he hunts for balls sliced astray by day.

On each expedition he collects between 500 and 600 -- selling his haul back to the same frustrated golfers who lost them.

With his seafaring days behind him, Sumadi could have chosen a more conventional life. But he could not resist the call of the deep -- even if the golf course ponds only go two metres (6.5 feet) down.