UK Issues Red Sea Dive Boat Safety Alert Bulletin After Three Deadly Incidents
Following a series of fatal maritime accidents that have tragically claimed the lives of several tourists, the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) issued a stark warning about the safety of Egyptian dive boats operating in the Red Sea.
The most recent catastrophe struck on November 25, 2024, when the dive vessel M/V Sea Story capsized, leaving up to 18 passengers dead or missing, including two UK nationals. However, this event is just the latest in a string of alarming dive boat disasters in the region.
Earlier in June 2023, a fire erupted aboard the M/V Hurricane, a popular liveaboard dive boat, killing three British nationals. Just two months before that, in April 2023, the M/V Carlton Queen capsized under mysterious circumstances. Thankfully, that incident ended without further loss of life.
Now, the UK’s MAIB has made their position clear: these are not isolated freak accidents. They represent a disturbing pattern of safety failures aboard Red Sea dive vessels.
“From the evidence the MAIB has obtained so far, there is cause for serious concern about the safety of some of the Egyptian dive boats operating in the Red Sea,” MAIB officials stated.
Finding Answers—and Accountability
The Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents formally contacted the Egyptian Authority for Maritime Safety (EAMS), urging cooperation and transparency. The UK has registered as a Substantially Interested State, invoking international maritime law under the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Casualty Investigation Code. This grants the state access to the Egyptian-led inquiries.
The MAIB is also preparing a safety bulletin aimed at British tourists planning dive holidays in Egypt, particularly in the Red Sea region, which is a globally-renowned diving hotspot famed for its vibrant coral reefs and shipwrecks.
Rising Safety Fears in a Region on Edge
These safety concerns arrive at a perilous moment for the Red Sea. Beyond the risks posed by aging dive boats and questionable maintenance practices, geopolitical tensions have risen. The area has become dangerous, with Iranian-backed Houthi rebels launching missile and drone strikes on ocean vessels linked to Israel and the west.
With maritime safety under a twofold threat—operational failures and military aggression—the MAIB’s alert is more than a travel advisory. It’s a call for immediate action and international oversight.
Dive Industry at a Crossroads
Egypt’s Red Sea dive tourism industry, worth hundreds of millions of dollars annually, is now at a crossroads. Operators are facing mounting pressure to modernize their fleets, improve crew training, and adhere to stricter safety protocols.
But unless safety oversight is dramatically improved and fully enforced, experts warn that more tragedies are inevitable.
As the MAIB continues its work and families mourn the lives already lost, one thing is clear: the allure of the Red Sea must not come at the expense of human life.
We at the Herd Law Firm are proud to fight for seamen, maritime workers and passengers in all types of personal injury and death claims. As maritime personal injury attorneys (and sailors ourselves!) located in northwest Houston, we never waver in our commitment to help these maritime workers, passengers, and their families when they are injured or mistreated.
4/21/25
Image credit: MAIB
