Deep south closed?

[ArthurGerla]

So here I am, already packing for the flight to Marsa Alam and due to board a boat in 48 hours, and now they tell me there's a safety crackdown going on and all safari ships have to undergo an immediate emergency inspection in dry dock to renew their license. Also, all dive sites beyond Elphinstone are out of bounds for the duration.

Can anyone shed some light on the situation down there?

TIA,

Art

 

[Red Sea Shadow]

Never heard about that. Actually I just returned from a liveaboard on March 11. A friend of mine was planning a liveaboard on March 17 and 18 but he cancelled because he's ill.

 

[Jai Bar]

Also, all dive sites beyond Elphinstone are out of bounds for the duration.

Art

It is true- for Israeli passport holders :sad_2:

 

[Christian]

Exactly where did you recieve this information?

/christian

So here I am, already packing for the flight to Marsa Alam and due to board a boat in 48 hours, and now they tell me there's a safety crackdown going on and all safari ships have to undergo an immediate emergency inspection in dry dock to renew their license. Also, all dive sites beyond Elphinstone are out of bounds for the duration.

Can anyone shed some light on the situation down there?

TIA,

Art

 

[ArthurGerla]

From the owner of the liveaboard, through my travel agent. The story is that liveaboards due to sail from Marsa Alam are sitting in the harbour, not being allowed to leave without new licences which have become much more difficult to acquire since last week.

 

[Christian]

From the owner of the liveaboard, through my travel agent. The story is that liveaboards due to sail from Marsa Alam are sitting in the harbour, not being allowed to leave without new licences which have become much more difficult to acquire since last week.

Sounds fishy. Have you already paid?

/c

 

[SeaHorseWoman]

I'd be pretty sure its security reasons under the current, and probably temporary political situation. These things tend to blow over.

 

[Red Sea Shadow]

From the owner of the liveaboard, through my travel agent. The story is that liveaboards due to sail from Marsa Alam are sitting in the harbour, not being allowed to leave without new licences which have become much more difficult to acquire since last week.

Don't think this is true. Things do not go like that in Egypt.

 

[grazie42]

Has enyone heard of something like this for northern egypt?
I´m flying to sharm on tuesday...would hate not to get a full weeks worth of diving?
there was also a "new" (never had to do that before) requirement for a photocopy of the passport to be sent in advance...supposedly for something about the marineparks...anyone heard of that?

 

[Red Sea Shadow]

Has enyone heard of something like this for northern egypt?
I´m flying to sharm on tuesday...would hate not to get a full weeks worth of diving?
there was also a "new" (never had to do that before) requirement for a photocopy of the passport to be sent in advance...supposedly for something about the marineparks...anyone heard of that?

I was in a liveaboard trip last week. We dove the Thistlegorm, the Small Crack, Dunraven, and Ras Mohamed. Nothing like that. However, some extra cautions are taken now after the ferry's accident.