http://www.oysterdiving.com/availability.html
The Real Story As Lived from the Head Office
- 10.50 AM, Khaled Samy, president of the owning company received call
from Amr Bary, Dive Instructor and Manager on board of Oyster informing
that a group of 11 divers + dive guide that started a dive at 7.45 has
failed to show at the expected time.
- The Oyster and the two ribs, had started the search in the area.
- 11.00 information has been relayed to : Karim Helal, Chairman of the
Red Sea Association For Diving And Water Sports, which in turn started
to inform all authorities involved as well as starting the necessary
procedures.
- 11.30 AM, A request from Khaled Samy to the search and recovery
service (Almaza Air Base) to start an air born search and recovery
operation in the brothers island area. A cash deposit was requested
before the take off could start.
- 12.30 Hrs, A fax from H.E. Dr. Saad Abou Reida - Red Sea Governor, to
the air base had accelerated the start of the search operation.
- 13.00 Hrs, Khaled Samy was in Almaza base assuring the payment for the
flight cost as well following up the search operation from the control
room. The time set for the flight was left open as needed and until last
light.
- 13.12 Hrs, a C130 plane took off Alamaza Base to the search area.
- H.E. Dr. Saad Abou Reida - Red Sea Governor, followed by the minute
with the air base and gave the instructions to continue the search
operations until last light and to start the following day if needed.
- H.E. Dr. Saad Abou Reida - Red Sea Governor, Gave instructions to all
boats in the area to stop their diving activity and to assist in the
search operation. The response from boats and diving centers was
instantaneous, having to mention here the Dune dive centre for their
sincere efforts.
- Captain Hossam Helmy, an expert in this specific area, had been of
great help in advising both the airborn and sea search processes .
- 17.25 Hrs, A message from the plane reporting a target of 8 to 9
people floating in near circle shape with orange buoys and flash lights
at N26 15/E34 49. the report also mentioned that a boat is at 4 miles
away from the target but moving away from it, the plane could not
establish a communication with the boat.
- 18.40 Hrs, The plane had to refuel before coming back to the target
location at 18:55 to find that the target has disappeared.
- 19.40 Hrs, End of air born search, with plan to restart the air search
operation the following morning at the first light, as per instructions
of H.E. Dr. Saad Abou Reida - Red Sea Governor, while assuring the funds
needed by the the Oyster owning company.
- 20.15 Hrs, A call from the dive boat "thunderbird" confirmed the pick
up of the 12 divers in good conditions at the location.
- 21.20 Hrs, The Oyster joined the Thunderbird to pick up the divers.
- Assessment of diver conditions showed that they are in good shape and
were given the choice of aborting the trip and returning to dock, but
they all decided to go on with their trip.
- A full investigation will take place as soon as Oyster is back to
port, and will be published on this site.
