Dive boat sinks !

[Rod]

A dive boat sank today in the Northern Red Sea.

Apparently they were on their way back to port in rough weather when the boat shipped some water and sank immediately. There were no life jackets or life-rafts on the boat but the divers managed to grab their BCDs before it sank.
No time for a Mayday message but fortunately the divers were plucked from the sea by another dive boat that saw them sink.
The boat and divers were all out of Dahab, fingers crossed nobody is seriously hurt.

[wilbo]

bloody hell.. sounds like a lucky escape.. was it a day boat?

[Rod]

Yes it was a day boat.

It would seem everyone is OK but shocked. Most concerned that the crew did nothing until it was too late and there were no life jackets.

One diver who is just 16 had his passport in his rucksack which went down with the boat. Local officials have been no help and he has been told to make his own way to Cairo to get a replacement next week. His group were all due to fly back on this Saturday.

[rustferret]

Shit I'm off on a livabourd on the 23rd .......I'll be checking for life jackets rafts etc.

I know this might sound daft but is it not possible the craft could be dived to recover lost property?

Rustferret

[trini-diver]

yikes.. i am off on the snapdragon tomorrow!!!.. (note to self.. self check for life jackets!!)

"I know this might sound daft but is it not possible the craft could be dived to recover lost property?"

that will all depend on where the boat is now resting!

i feel very sorry for the 16 yr old..that is the last thing you want.

[Aquatic Mammal]

Originally Posted by Rod

A dive boat sank today in the Northern Red Sea.

Apparently they were on their way back to port in rough weather when the boat shipped some water and sank immediately. There were no life jackets or life-rafts on the boat but the divers managed to grab their BCDs before it sank.
No time for a Mayday message but fortunately the divers were plucked from the sea by another dive boat that saw them sink.
The boat and divers were all out of Dahab, fingers crossed nobody is seriously hurt.

OMG, as far as I know there's only one dayboat working out of Dahab (home of shore diving) so there's a fair chance that's the boat I took to Gabr el Bint at Easter. I didn't seem any worse than the boats out of Sharm.

[Red Sea Shadow]

That was yesterday (November 9th).

The boat is Nabq Explorer and the rescuer was Ghazala. Nabq Explorer sank in El Sheheera area between Dahab and Gabr El Bint on her way back to the jetty.

[Rod]

I have just spoken to some of the divers on the phone:-

Most have escaped with mostly cuts and bruises. They managed to get only a few of the BCDs before the boat sank so made a human 'ring' to all keep together and sang songs.
Apparently the boat took about 2 minutes from taking on water to sinking completely.
The people who took charge during the rescue were from Diverse Scuba in Essex. There were 13 people including 2 crew and a dive guide on the boat.
The lad who no longer has his passport is being looked after by one of the group who will stay in Egypt until he can get a replacement passport. The Embassy has been no help at all and do not seem to care and there is nothing they can do until next week.
Now that sounds like complete cobblers to me. A 16 year old lad in a foreign country is expected to make his own way to Cairo to get a replacement passport.
Well done the Embassy, Kind of make you proud to be British

[Scuby]

Originally Posted by Rod

I Now that sounds like complete cobblers to me. A 16 year old lad in a foreign country is expected to make his own way to Cairo to get a replacement passport.

Presumably not actually "alone" though? Where are his parents / guardians / trip leaders?

I assume a 16 year old kid wasn't packed off on his own for a holiday in Egypt without any kind of supervision / parents / friends / travelling companions / organisers who have taken responsibility for him?

David

[Rod]

Originally Posted by Scuby

Presumably not actually "alone" though? Where are his parents / guardians / trip leaders?

I assume a 16 year old kid wasn't packed off on his own for a holiday in Egypt without any kind of supervision / parents / friends / travelling companions / organisers who have taken responsibility for him?

David

No you are right he was with a group of adults who are booked on a flight for today. The British Embassy suggested they all flew home and he went to Cairo on his own. Obviously the trip leader is staying with him to sort it all out.