OP
The Red Sea is calling - Join us on Hurghada Splash Boat
- Thread starter e_badawi
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Bookworm11
Contributor
Did you ACTUALLY READ ALL OF MY QUOTE???
I said I am going to Egypt again in 2025, but can't possibly recommend booking an Egyptian liveaboard!!!! I am diving from land based dive shops-NOT A LIVEBOARD! And after the story of about what the British survivors told, my recommendation has dropped further. The Egyptian government did a horrific job of rescue and the boat company tried to do a huge coverup!!!
I said I am going to Egypt again in 2025, but can't possibly recommend booking an Egyptian liveaboard!!!! I am diving from land based dive shops-NOT A LIVEBOARD! And after the story of about what the British survivors told, my recommendation has dropped further. The Egyptian government did a horrific job of rescue and the boat company tried to do a huge coverup!!!
@e_badawi
Curious to hear your thoughts on your captains’ and crew’s training and readiness to overcome the UK government’s warning to divers and to also overcome the perceptions that will be cast reading first person accounts of the latest incident.
gcaptain.com
www.bbc.com
Curious to hear your thoughts on your captains’ and crew’s training and readiness to overcome the UK government’s warning to divers and to also overcome the perceptions that will be cast reading first person accounts of the latest incident.
UK Issues Safety Warning After Three Fatal Dive Boat Accidents in Red Sea
The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has raised serious concerns about the safety of Egyptian dive boats operating in the Red Sea following a series of tragic accidents that...
gcaptain.com
Red Sea dive-boat survivors accuse authorities of cover up
The group say their official witness statements were translated into Arabic by a boat company employee.
www.bbc.com
tiacalypso
Registered
I just wanted to add that I have dived with Splash from Hurghada a few times and I always had a good time with them, excellent food and good diving.We are not just a "daily" boat!
We are the most luxurious "daily" boat in the Red Sea.
We mix our own gasses onboard (even Trimix!), which doesn't even happen on the best live aboard in the whole continent.
With our private 24/7 emergency evacuation contract, we also separate ourselves FAR for the usual "daily" boats you might have been on in the past
That emergency evacuation service does cover our crew too, not only for guests use.
We have our own water desailnation station and 2 generators unlike any other "daily" boats.
I think you should try our service once to better get the full scale of what a luxurious "daily" boat really stands for.
OP
e_badawi
Contributor
@e_badawi
Curious to hear your thoughts on your captains’ and crew’s training and readiness to overcome the UK government’s warning to divers and to also overcome the perceptions that will be cast reading first person accounts of the latest incident.
UK Issues Safety Warning After Three Fatal Dive Boat Accidents in Red Sea
The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has raised serious concerns about the safety of Egyptian dive boats operating in the Red Sea following a series of tragic accidents that...
Red Sea dive-boat survivors accuse authorities of cover up
The group say their official witness statements were translated into Arabic by a boat company employee.
Splash was one of only few boats remained operational after the government crackdown on safety standards and crew readiness.
I can only speak about my boat, but beside out private SOS service which is an independent contract that has nothing to do with government services, we have all safety requirements listed by the national naval society.
Also, our men are well trained on emergency plans and evacuation.
Not to mention, that yesterday was the perfect example of our dedication to safety, the sea was open, but we knew that wind gust will reach 60 Km/h. We informed all our passengers that we will be cancelling our daily trip. Yesterday, all boats went out, suffered a lot coming back, because wind was calm in the morning, but reached the peak by noon.
Today, the government shutdown the sea for boat activities. Point is, we are few steps ahead of others when it comes to safety.
If we analyse "incidents", then let fear of the unknown hunt us, then we all shall ride no planes. Have you seen how many passengers have been killed on planes (the most sophisticated vehicles on planet) over the past two months alone?!!
OP
e_badawi
Contributor
Thank you for your feedback.
encarnizado
Registered
Is it just a coincidence that there was a DivePro label (the company that caused lasting damage to the Egyptian diving scene with the Sea Story incident) on your boat?
Also, another weird coincidence: DivePro's president Ali Aref mentioned "Splash" as one of their boats in 2020.
I don't know man...do you really think that it will all go back to normal after that incident, and you can open a "Red Sea is Calling" thread just a couple of weeks after one of the most tragic incidents there, promoting trips that are obviously affiliated to the company that caused all this?
Also, another weird coincidence: DivePro's president Ali Aref mentioned "Splash" as one of their boats in 2020.
I don't know man...do you really think that it will all go back to normal after that incident, and you can open a "Red Sea is Calling" thread just a couple of weeks after one of the most tragic incidents there, promoting trips that are obviously affiliated to the company that caused all this?
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OP
e_badawi
Contributor
There are no coincidences... I bought this boat from Ali 3 years ago. It was the only boat in his fleet operates as "daily" trips boat, and he has no time for it. Because he was "and probably still" focusing on liveaboard business portfolio/boats.
Ali probably mentioned "Splash" on his older posts because he was marketing for it. Normal I guess!!!
Promoting a business safety after such tragic accident is vital. Hence a lot of individuals were talking about how "unsafe" is diving in the Red Sea. There shall be balance, and since we are doing everything by the book as an "independent" owner of Splash, it is very normal to voice out how "safe" and "professional" are we conducting our business day in and day out.
And by the way, Ali Aref is a good friend of mine. But he nor "Divepro" has anything to do with Splash for the past 3 years almost.
Good police work "I guess". Keep up the good work
encarnizado
Registered
Ah, good to know, thanks for your clarification.
Perhaps remind your good friend Ali that events of this magnitude typically come with responsibilities. His continuing silence towards those whose lives were forever changed by his decisions speaks volumes.
Perhaps remind your good friend Ali that events of this magnitude typically come with responsibilities. His continuing silence towards those whose lives were forever changed by his decisions speaks volumes.
OP
e_badawi
Contributor
I completely agree with you.
Such event has impacted Ali's personal life equally. When few clients gets food poisoning at a restaurant, it is not fair to hold the restaurant owner accountable for the whole supply chain defects.
I can only speak for myself, but I am aware that Ali has paid large sums already for the impacted families. Not to mention insurance companies etc.
In such cases, silence is a wisdom. Nothing could be done or said that could reverse such an event. a "Sorry" or "100000 Sorry" for something he as a person has no control over will not help anyone.
That boat, went out and back safely before disaster 150 trips over the span of 2 years. This is not me saying, this is the government investigation records.
That same boat went out on dry dock maintenance twice per year instead of once as law requires. Mainly to make sure that it is running in an optimal manner given the number of trips it has performed.
I also witnessed Ali changing a whole trip bath to something a bit more relaxed after two hard days in rough waters. That was last year, and one of the guest was VERY upset that he is changing the trip bath without "consulting" passengers. Today, I think that same guest could share that story if she reads these threads. I remember that she was an older American Lady.
No one in his right mind wants to destroy his own business and repetition. Especially if he / she is doing well. Trust me, Ali was doing VERY WELL.
May God bless us all and protect all our loved ones.
