Suspension of all diving and watersports activities in Sharm el Sheikh

[bubbles01]

'might brief that safety stops should be done with all divers in a circle around their guide... so that they can get a better view, of course!' Love this idea Crowly - very funny! I would be the diver joining you in the middle of the circle! LOL

Seriously though, I was going to book a liveaboard in January for later in the year - my first ever liveaboard and now I am very concerned. How worried should I be? Should I be booking or choosing some other destination? Blue 02 who I was going to book with say that they aren't operating in that area but I am sure a shark could swim a long way!!! Eeek

 

[vladimir]

The number of "attacks" would be higher if they counted the many sailors eaten by them, like those from the USS Indianapolis.

Yes, I agree, and I highly recommend this account of the USS Indianapolis sinking to anybody interested:

Amazon.com: In Harm's Way: The Sinking of the USS Indianapolis and the Extraordinary Story of Its Survivors (9780805066326): Doug Stanton: Books

 

[jorgensen]

-sorry, this was back in october! misleading article.

 

[tonyN]

/.../

Seriously though, I was going to book a liveaboard in January for later in the year - my first ever liveaboard and now I am very concerned. How worried should I be? Should I be booking or choosing some other destination? Blue 02 who I was going to book with say that they aren't operating in that area but I am sure a shark could swim a long way!!! Eeek

Seriously, don't worry about it and if you see a longimanus, count yourself lucky. Under normal circumstances (what happen i Sharm is not normal) the longimanus is a curious fish that might come up close to you just to check you out. Thousands of divers have had the opportunity to experience this at Elphinstone Reef off Masra Alam the last couple of years and there's been no attacks to my knowledge.

Also, BlueOTwo are known for their excellent guides. These are the ones that will prepare you and make you enjoy encounters that might make you uncomfortable under other circumstances.

Book your liveaboard and have a good time, you will enjoy it.

 

[Red Sea Shadow]

Of all the sharks, these guys are a true pelagic. They can't afford to miss an opportunity, so anything that swims near them becomes dinner.

We used to play with them on our safety stops. Will see what happens from now on.

 

[peterbj7]

To be honest, I've been with oceanic white tips countless times and have never had any concerns. The one species that really worries me is the Tiger, the only shark that has ever attacked any of my friends - twice.

 

[oceJANic]

CDWS shark incident update: diving possible tomorrow in Sharm el Sheikh

Monday, 6 December 2010

CDWS shark incident update: diving possible tomorrow in Sharm el Sheikh zoom

PRESS RELEASE



CDWS shark incident update: diving possible tomorrow in Sharm el Sheikh

6 December 2010 14:00

The majority of areas in Sharm el Sheikh will be open to diving activities for CDWS members and their clients tomorrow (7 December), however, please note a series of restrictions apply on where these can take place and on client experience. All snorkel activities and other watersports - with the exception of glass bottom boat operations - remain suspended in the whole of the Sharm el Sheikh coastal area.

Qualified diving clients, who must have a minimum of 50 logged dives, are permitted to participate in scuba activities run by CDWS members in the areas of Tiran and all sites south of Naama Bay. Diving remains completely banned at this time in the area between Ras Nasrani to the north of Naama Bay where the Ras Mohammed National Park teams are currently working.

Under NO circumstances are introductory or training dives permitted to take place in the sea anywhere in Sharm el Sheikh until CDWS members are notified otherwise.

Following discussions with sharks experts and a series of exploratory dives, it was decided that the areas to be opened, which include the Ras Mohammed National Park and popular sites such as the Thistlegorm, were safe for experienced diving activities. CDWS would like to make it clear that no divers have been involved in any of the incidents reported.

CDWS is working with four world-renowned shark experts at this time. Three of the experts will be arriving over the next two days in Sharm el Sheikh to form an advisory team to try to assess and advise on the best course of action following the four shark attacks in areas north of Naama Bay this week.

Dr George H Burgess, the director of the Florida Program and curator of the International Shark Attack File at the Florida Museum of Natural History for Shark Research, is flying to the resort today. Arriving tomorrow are: Dr Marie Levine, head of the Shark Research Institute in Princeton, USA, and Dr Ralph Collier, of the Shark Research Committee and author of Shark Attacks of the Twentieth Century. Shark behavioural expert Dr Erich Ritter is assisting from his research centre based in the USA. The Ministry of Tourism (MoT) is funding all the costs involved.

A Swedish research vessel is currently surveying the topography of the ocean around Sharm el Sheikh in order to supply data to shark experts to assist their work. CDWS enlisted the help of this vessel to carry out the topography survey and secured all the relevant permissions.

CDWS would like to assure all members that the organisation is working continuously with all the relevant authorities and shark experts to try to resolve this situation in the most appropriate and safe way for all concerned. The CDWS also stresses to all members and the public that it does not in any way condone the random killing of sharks.

 

[peterbj7]

Yes, mostly thanks to this post by Bret Gilliam.

That link simply gives an error message. Where is Brett's post?

 

[Quinch]

Try this link, had to look that story up as well.
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/marine-life-ecosystems/27499-shark-attack-stories-3.html

 

[Red Sea Shadow]

CDWS update: 8 December diving possible in Sharm el Sheikh
7 December 16.00

The majority of areas in Sharm el Sheikh will once again be open to diving activities for CDWS members and their clients tomorrow (8 December), however, please note that
the same restrictions will apply on where these can take place and on client experience. All snorkelling activities and other watersports - with the exception of glass bottom boat operations - remain suspended in the whole of the Sharm el Sheikh coastal area.

Qualified diving clients, who must have a minimum of 50 logged dives, are permitted to participate in scuba activities run by boat by CDWS members in the following areas:
- area of Tiran
- all dive sites south of Naama Bay to Ras Mohamed National Park
- the entire area of Ras Mohamed National Park

Diving remains completely banned at this time in the area between Ras Nasrani to the north of Naama Bay.

No shore diving is permitted anywhere in the Sharm el Sheikh area.

Under NO circumstances are introductory or training dives permitted to take place in the sea anywhere in Sharm el Sheikh until CDWS members are notified otherwise.

However, training and introductory diving activities are able to take place in other resorts, such as Dahab.

CDWS has asked divers to remain vigilant and report any shark behaviour they see to the organisation's office in Sharm el Sheikh. This information - where possible - should include location, time and specific type of shark. Please also note down the behaviour, depth, duration at particular depths and how long the sighting lasts for.

This information should be emailed to one of the following people at the CDWS office:
Amr Elbendary: amr.elbendary@cdws.travel Tel: 012 1115508
Ahmed Mansour: ahmed.mansour@cdws.travel Tel: 018 126 8686
Nabil Fadlallah: nabil@cdws.travel Tel: 012 338 7779

Pictures of sharks taken should by sent by email to: sinai.tec@cdws.travel. For videos, please copy these on to a disc and take this directly to the CDWS office in Hadaba.

Three world renowned shark experts have arrived in Sharm el Sheikh and are currently working with the CDWS. These experts are: Dr Marie Levine, head of the Shark Research Institute in Princeton, USA; Dr George H Burgess, the director of the Florida Program and curator of the International Shark Attack File at the Florida Museum of Natural History for Shark Research; and Dr Ralph Collier, of the Shark Research Committee and author of Shark Attacks of the Twentieth Century. Shark behavioural expert Dr Erich Ritter is assisting from his research centre based in the USA.

They have already begun to work together to analyse all the data collected. Further updates on the situation will be provided as soon as available.

CDWS would like to assure all members that the organisation is working continuously with all the relevant authorities and shark experts to try to resolve this situation in the most appropriate and safe way for all concerned. The CDWS also stresses to all members and the public that it does not in any way condone the random killing of sharks.