Dive Boat Sinks

[sunchaser]

A large dive boat recently sank in the Med, off the Egyptian coast, while carrying about 45 people. Many were lost. Adverse weather was mentioned. Any insights from our Euro members?

 

[ScottC]

Here's a bit of a summary...

Two Britons among 16 missing after tourist boat capsizes in Red Sea

Sea Story was on diving trip with 31 tourists and 14 crew when it sent distress signal

www.theguardian.com

 

[Xlantic]

From The Yacht Report:

 

[JackConnick]

I have some friends diving there now off resorts, but they were at Marsa Alam while they were bringing int survivors. I've dove the Red Sea a couple of times. Last time was on the Red Sea Aggressor, which a year later caught fire and sank with one killed. I've been doing some other reading - they rescued 4 people today and recovered 4 bodies. Reports are a "very large wave" capsized the vessel. The area they were at is very open.

Watched the above. Some good info, some bad, I'd say he is a bit of a neophyte as to the area end dive boats in general. Most of these boats are marketed by other agents and wholesalers (such as Aggressor) who don't own them. That they aren't built to some sort of "classification" is sort of immaterial - a European bias that doesn't exist in many other places. AIS isn't required; I don't know why. That they had the absolute minimum amount of life boats is troubling, but not surprising. I don't know if it would of helped. In my experienc Egyptian crews aren't all that well tiraned or adept.

Marsa Alam is not near where the Houthis are operating. His comments are silly.

What is probably to blame is the Port Captain allowing them to leave - the port is commonly closed on and off this time of year. The forecasts were for 60km wind and 3-4 meter seas - also not uncommon. Operator greed also is certainly to blame.

 

[Comodave]

Apparently this dive company had another boat sink this year and two others sink in 2022. Not an enviable record.

 

[Gypsy Island]

Two people were rescued from inside the ship. They survived in an air bubble more than 30 hours.

 

[Delta Riverat]

Two people were rescued from inside the ship. They survived in an air bubble more than 30 hours.

Very cool, Merry Christmas!

 

[Tad Roberts]

Discounting basic safety concerns as "european bias" is ridiculous. Ten of these dive vessels have had life-threatening problems in the past 7 years. That is a clear record of unsafe practice. Most of the problems have been fires at sea, but there are a few capsizes in there. Looking at the arrangement of these boats it is evident that accepted stability standards are not in force. And it's quite apparent that fire regulations are pretty lax. All we can do is talk about it and try to warn people that these boats are dangerous.

 

[Mambo42]

These boats are not operating in the Med, they are operating in the Red Sea, which is basically in the Arabian peninsula.
From what I understand from Yachtreport is that Egypt does not have any safety standards, they don't abide by the international safety standards. Diving in the Red Sea seems to be very popular and although the vessels look nice on the outside, internally they are basically IKEA build quality.
Since diving in the Red Sea does not have my interest I never paid that much attention to this industry in Egypt, but already for decades I refuse to fly with anything that is operated by an African airline. Training, maintenance, basically everything is sub standard. My life is worth a bit more than the $ 300 I pay less for a ticket.
And it is the same with the dive boats in Egypt and other countries along the Red Sea.

 

[Sweet marie]

I watched a video taken on the bridge of that particular boat. It was not equipped with even rudimentary electronics. It had a small gps, looked almost automotive, in a tangle of wires and the antenna was laying next to it. The boat also did not have enough life rafts aboard. I do not think safety was high in the list.

 

[OldDan1943]

Apparently this dive company had another boat sink this year and two others sink in 2022. Not an enviable record.

Need to have a roving watch especially at night.