British tourists should beware Egyptian diving holidays following 11 feared deaths last month, a watchdog has warned.
Married Devon couple Jenny Cawson, 36, and Tarig Sinada, 49, are among those missing presumed drowned after a boat capsized in the Red Sea during a reef safari holiday.
They are among up to 11 now believed to have died in the sinking of the 144ft Sea Story yacht – which had set sail on a five day voyage despite bad weather warnings. Two other Britons escaped alive.
That disaster came on top of a fire on a dive boat, called Hurricane, in the Red Sea in June last year that killed three British holidaymakers. Another boat, the Carlton Queen, capsized in April, although all on board were rescued.
Now Britain’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has said evidence from the incidents means ‘there is cause for serious concern about the safety of some of the Egyptian dive boats operating in the Red Sea’.
In its rare public warning, the sea safety body, which works alongside the Department of Transport, said: ‘The MAIB has been notified of three accidents within the last 20 months affecting UK citizens on Egyptian dive boats operating in the Red Sea.
‘The Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents has written to the Egyptian Authority for Maritime Safety setting out his concerns and seeking full participation in its investigations.
‘In the meantime, the MAIB is preparing a safety bulletin for publication setting out the areas of concern that individuals intending an afloat-based diving holiday in the region should take into account before booking.’
Jenny Cawson and Tarig Sinada are currently missing after tourist dive boat capsized in the Red Sea
Rescuers found five survivors in air bubbles in cabins underwater 30 hours later
Last night the MAIB checklist for divers was not yet available for publication.
But the Sea Story had last month set off on its voyage regardless of an official warning from Egypt’s weather service that there would be high winds and waves making marine pursuits unwise.
In the event, on the second day of the trip the yacht was struck by a large wave that knocked it on to its size before it sank in as little as five minutes.
Rescue frogmen found five survivors in air bubbles in cabins underwater 30 hours later – and four bodies.
As those still alive were brought to the surface, one of the hero divers told the Daily Mail three Oceanic Whitetip sharks were constantly circling.
Whitetips are also known as ‘shipwreck sharks’, for their habit of preying on stricken sailors.
The Egyptian authorities were keen to stress that some were rescued.
Rescue efforts after the Sea Story yacht capsized in the Red Sea off Egypt’s coast
Rescuers recovered four bodies and three survivors after a the boat capsized in Egypt
The Egyptian-owned Sea Story, with four decks above sea level, was only a few years old, and had recently passed a safety check.
Still-missing couple Ms Cawson and Mr Sinada, a software expert, both of Newton Abbot in Devon, had actually worked as diving instructors overseas themselves, but it seemed even their proficiency was not enough to save them.
British tourists Colin Sharratt, 65, and partner Sally Jones, 58 were picked up close to the scene of the Sea Story’s sinking by another boat luckily in the area.
British survivors of the 2023 Red Sea capsize with no fatalities told the Daily Mail last week their boat had been dangerously tilting even while still in dock – and that local police and courts refused to accept reports detailing problems.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
