Vessel UK Issues Safety Warning After Three Fatal Dive Boat Accidents in Red Sea

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The BBC article is powerful, and quite the must-read cautionary tale. Survivors essentially held captive; statements “translated” into Arabic; no batteries in life jacket strobes; not to mention going out against maritime warnings. And yet PADI still advertises the Tillis. Dive Pro Liveaboard’s site says more than they think: “If you are looking for an unforgettable Red Sea liveaboard diving safari then you have come to the right place.”
 
This begs the question, are all Egyptian liveboards bad? Or can we not tell the difference between good operators and bad due to government lack of oversight? I think this is and important question.

I will be in Egypt for work a couple of times in 2025 and planned to dive at the end of each trip. Are shore operations bad as well? A collegue of mine describes a situation where his son nearly died doing a poorly guided shore dive.

Anyone have any suggestions on how to identify a good operator, both liveaboard and shore?
 
Anyone have any suggestions on how to identify a good operator, both liveaboard and shore?
'Would not consider any boat, with more than two decks.
 
This begs the question, are all Egyptian liveboards bad? Or can we not tell the difference between good operators and bad due to government lack of oversight? I think this is and important question.

I will be in Egypt for work a couple of times in 2025 and planned to dive at the end of each trip. Are shore operations bad as well? A collegue of mine describes a situation where his son nearly died doing a poorly guided shore dive.

Anyone have any suggestions on how to identify a good operator, both liveaboard and shore?

Price is probably a good starting point.

I think many of the issues can be traced to the cratering of prices after instability intensified in the region several years ago. Liveaboards had to cut prices in half (or more) in order to compete regionally/globally and attract guests wary of traveling to Egypt. Costs for the operators didn't decrease though, so when a boat goes from charging $3K/week to charging $1500/week a year or two later you have to ask how they're making a profit. And they are, or they wouldn't still be operating. So they've of course cut every expense they can, cheaper staff, basically all maintenance, safety gear, etc... Probably also try to cram more guests per boat or refit their boats for more cabins.

So for anyone eyeing a $1000 Red Sea liveaboard trip and thinking it's a great deal, keep this in mind.
 
This begs the question, are all Egyptian liveboards bad? Or can we not tell the difference between good operators and bad due to government lack of oversight? I think this is and important question.

I will be in Egypt for work a couple of times in 2025 and planned to dive at the end of each trip. Are shore operations bad as well? A collegue of mine describes a situation where his son nearly died doing a poorly guided shore dive.

Anyone have any suggestions on how to identify a good operator, both liveaboard and shore?

A friend of mine who should know, swears by Camel Divers in Sharm but at this point, as always, at all times and everywhere, it behooves us to keep an eye out for ourselves.
 
To be honest I think that going on an Egyptian LOB these days should involve a thorough giving over of all of their safety equipment to ensure they have what they say they have and that it is all functional before the boat leaves the dock.
A friend of mine who should know, swears by Camel Divers in Sharm but at this point, as always, at all times and everywhere, it behooves us to keep an eye out for ourselves.
I used Oonas Divers in Naama Bay a couple of times and they were pretty good, nothing to fault them, but my last trip with them I now realise was 20 years ago

My last trip to Dahab was in July 2021 and that was rather farcical to be honest, with the dive op offering Nitrox to divers without the means to check the mix as well as a very overcrowded (IMHO) day boat to the Thistlegorm.
 
I would be extra cautions and do everything in your power to not be a victim. Know where the exits are, keep important docs in a dry bag that is always handy, keep a torch and mask close to your bunk. Generally the cheaper the worse, but that's not always the case. Since you are there, take advantage of your location, but be smart about it. Go with your instinct and keep your eyes open.
 

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