Specialist UK diving operator Regaldive has welcomed an increased focus on safety in the Red Sea following a spate of disasters.
The UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) issued a warning last week to travellers booking Egyptian dive boat holidays.
It noted 16 accidents involving liveaboard dive boats in the Red Sea in the last five years, seven of which were in the last 21 months and three resulting “in numerous deaths, including [of] UK nationals”.
Carlton Queen capsized near Hurghada on April 24, 2023, with 33 people on board, of whom several were injured, but all were rescued. A second dive boat, Hurricane, was abandoned in the Red Sea following a fire on June 11, 2023, with three UK passengers missing out of 29 on board.
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A third boat, Sea Story, capsized south of Port Ghalib on November 25 last year with 45 people on board. Four bodies were recovered and seven remain missing, including two UK nationals.
A safety bulletin issued by MAIB, which is an agency of the Department for Transport, reported the boats involved “were poorly constructed and often substantially modified which resulted in inadequate stability”. The report said “essential lifesaving equipment was defective, out of date and, in some cases, missing”, and there was “poor fire protection” with “fire detection systems and fire extinguishers either missing or defective”.
In addition, it said emergency escape routes were locked, lacked emergency lighting and “were unmarked”, safety briefings to passengers were “poor or not conducted” and crews were “poorly trained” and unfamiliar with the boats.
MAIB warned: “Safety standards of dive boats in the Red Sea can fall well below those in the UK and Europe. Customers are advised to book liveaboard dive holidays only through recognised vendors.”
It added: “Customers should request crew provide a thorough safety briefing before departure.”
Andrew Moll, MAIB’s chief inspector of marine accidents, said: “We urge extreme caution when choosing a boat.”
Regaldive manager Phil North said: “We have been operating safe and enjoyable diving holidays to the Red Sea for more than 30 years and only work with operators meeting the highest standards of safety and service. We welcome the increased focus on safety and the tighter regulatory controls.”
Destination specialist Red Sea Holidays said it had never offered dive holidays, but a spokesperson added: “We always advise care be taken, particularly in countries that may not have the safety requirements we’re used to.”