The damage appeared on Google Earth, and then was somehow scrubbed: but we have obtained a before and after photo of Qatari development on Assomption Island in the Seychelles. The same images appear on the landsat open source data supplied by EU’s Copernicus. Why this matters? Assomption Island, one of Seychelles’ Outer Islands lying just 25 miles from Aldabra Atoll, is being rapidly transformed by large-scale construction despite global concern over its ecological importance.

Once lightly inhabited and largely recovering after decades of limited human activity, Assomption is now the site of major earthworks, dredging, and runway expansion for an ultra-luxury development on the beach –– that conservationists say could permanently alter the island’s environment and threaten nearby Aldabra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the “outpost of evolution.”

Photographs and satellite images taken between approximately 2023 and June 2025 show widespread clearing of dunes and vegetation, the extension of the airstrip across the center of the island, and the preparation of foundations for as many as 40 villas. The development, backed by Qatari investors through a company Assets Group, aims to create a luxury resort enclave marketed to the ultra-wealthy. Only the ultra wealthy can hope to dive around the atoll. Getting there means a small plane into Assomption and then a charter boat to the island. Guests need to sleep on the boat. Read this personal account of being a dive master at Aldabra Atoll.

Conservation groups, including Friends of Aldabra and Seychelles at Heart, say the project has proceeded without proper environmental oversight and in violation of Seychelles’ own constitutional protections guaranteeing citizens the right to a healthy environment.

Environmentalists have warned that Assomption’s beaches are vital nesting sites for green and hawksbill turtles and that dredging and construction will destroy their breeding grounds. One widely circulated photograph released by Friends of Aldabra shows a dead turtle crushed in the sand by machinery.

Researchers who have studied the island for decades describe it as a key ecological buffer for Aldabra, helping to protect the atoll from pollution, invasive species, and light disturbance. If Assomption’s natural systems collapse, they warn, Aldabra could be next.

In September, two Seychellois citizens, Victoria Duthil and Lucie Harter, filed a constitutional petition in the Supreme Court of Seychelles to halt the project, arguing that it undermines the country’s environmental laws and its international obligations under UNESCO conventions. The petition targets the government, which granted the development lease and continues to issue work permits despite the legal challenge. The lawsuit has become a rallying point for citizens alarmed by the scale of change occurring on the remote island and by the lack of transparency surrounding the project. This issue will probably determine the next election in the Seychelles.

An Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for the resort identified major long-term risks to turtle nesting, dune stability, and coastal habitats, yet many of its recommendations appear to have been ignored. Conservationists say the new lighting and air traffic alone will devastate nocturnal wildlife. Beach dredging, they add, has already altered currents and sediment flows, increasing the risk of erosion and devastating turtle nesting sites. Pollution and runoff from the site in water and by air are expected to travel toward Aldabra, which hosts 100,000 giant tortoises and some of the most diverse coral ecosystems in the world. Every visitor to that island must have their clothing and shoes checked for the tiniest of seeds.

Developers have advertised the Assomption project as a sustainable tourism venture that will bring jobs and foreign revenue to Seychelles. They have hired a British PR firm called the PC Agency headed by Paul Charles and a Swedish “environmentalist” photographer Jesper Anhede to scout locations and to court buyers and “eco” builders. We reached out to Charles and Jesper to which there has been receipt of our inquiries, but no comments made. Jesper blocked us on Instagram.

Environmental groups like Friends of Aldabra are worried because they counter that the resort’s marketing materials promise exclusive access to Aldabra, a strict conservation zone closed to mass tourism. They warn that the development of Assomption creates an open channel—physical and economic—between Aldabra and the luxury market, undermining decades of conservation policy designed to keep the atoll isolated from human disturbance.

The controversy comes at a politically fragile moment. National elections remain undecided, with about 10 candidates facing pressure to define their positions on the Outer Islands. We spoke with one candidate, Marco Francis, candidate of the Seychelles United Movement, who has pledged to strengthen protections for Seychelles’ marine reserves and eradicate corruption. The outcome of the election may determine whether construction on Assomption is paused, reversed, or expanded.

Until recently, Assomption had been protected under national environmental frameworks, serving as a controlled buffer to Aldabra’s strictly protected ecosystem. Conservationists say that status has now been effectively removed. What began as a quiet island has become a construction hub for a luxury enclave which will give access to Aldabra and other isolated islands that most Seychellois, a nation of 120,000, will never see.

Environmental observers argue that the issue is larger than Assomption alone. It symbolizes the growing global tension between development and conservation in fragile island states.  If this project continues unchecked, the “outpost of evolution” may be destroyed.

Aldabra faces another global problem — plastic pollution washing up from across the Indian Ocean. Cleaning it up would cost millions. Even a lost flip-flop from Zanzibar can end up on its beaches.

Get educated about protecting Aldabra Atoll:

• Seychelles activists sue government for Qatari development on turtle nesting sites
• Seychelles’ Assomption Island Sold to Qatar: An Alleged $50M Deal Sparks Uproar
• Seychelles’ UNESCO island under threat from luxury development and Qatari-linked terror funds
• Seychelles and the battle with royalty, rats, and the last truly wild places left on Earth
• Q&A: Dr. Nirmal Jivan Shah on Assomption Island, Qatar, and the state of conservation in the Seychelles
• “They Knew They Shouldn’t Be There”: Journalist Kevin Gepford on rising pressures at Aldabra
• They Call Her Madam Torti. She Might Be the Only One Who Can Save Seychelles Turtles
• Yaniv Levy’s lifelong quest to protect sea turtles in a time of war and greed
• Light pollution on animals
• Flip flops take over shores of the Seychelles

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New investigative findings from German magazine stern and broadcaster RTL confirm what Green Prophet reported on last year: Egypt’s luxury liveaboard dive boat industry has systemic safety problems that put lives at risk. Their joint undercover investigation into the sinking of the Sea Story in November 2024 — a disaster that killed 11 people — reveals a chain of failures by the captain, operator, and authorities.

On November 25, 2024, the Sea Story capsized and sank in the Red Sea with 30 divers and 15 crew aboard. Among the dead were three Germans, two Britons, two Poles, one Slovak, and three Egyptians. Initial official statements blamed a “giant wave,” but stern and RTL’s review of Egyptian prosecutor files found that waves were only about two metres high — far from extreme conditions. One survivor we spoke with said the sea was not rough when the boast started listing and sinking.

According to the Hurghada public prosecutor, the vessel should never have left port. The captain lacked the required operating licence, and the company, Dive Pro Liveaboards, had no authorisation to run the ship on the high seas. People we spoke with said that the captain wasn’t driving the boat, it was the cook and he was stoned.

Despite this, military forces at the port reportedly approved the voyage. Investigators also documented serious structural stability deficiencies in the vessel’s design.

These revelations mirror Green Prophet’s earlier reporting on the Sea Story’s instability and poor safety gear, and on Dive Pro’s previous fatal accident involving the Sea Legend fire in February 2024 (read our coverage here).

Undercover Safety Audit

To investigate wider industry standards, stern and RTL sent undercover reporters onto 17 liveaboard vessels across three Egyptian ports. Their findings — confirmed by international marine safety experts — were damning:

• All vessels had safety deficiencies; most were serious or very serious.
• Life jackets were often unsuitable; life rafts were inadequate.
• Many lower decks lacked proper bulkheads; some ships had missing or inaccessible emergency exits.
• Navigation and communication equipment was missing on some boats.
• Unsafe practices, such as smoking in the engine room while the diesel engine was running, were observed.

Marine engineer Mick Uberti of Maritime Survey International, who reviewed the findings, said these results match his company’s inspections over the past two years — all eight ships they examined in Egypt were “in poor condition.” The UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has also concluded that many Red Sea dive safari ships are “poorly constructed.”

Pattern of Accidents

Green Prophet has tracked a troubling pattern of incidents in the region. In our follow-up report on the rescue site, survivors described missing safety drills and inadequate emergency preparation. Other industry accidents — from dive boat fires to groundings — suggest the Sea Story tragedy is part of a wider safety crisis in Egypt.

In the past three years alone, more than half of the world’s liveaboard dive boats that have run aground, burned, or sunk were operating off Egypt’s Red Sea coast — one of the most popular destinations for European dive tourism.

Unanswered Questions

The stern and RTL investigation raises urgent questions for Egyptian regulators:

• Why were licensing and vessel classification rules ignored?
• What inspections — if any — did the Sea Story pass before departure?
• Were official weather advisories ignored?
• What mechanisms ensure safety compliance for operators?

Until these questions are answered and meaningful reforms are made, divers and tourists face unacceptable risks in Egyptian waters. Dive at your own risk.

The full stern and RTL documentary, “Death Trap Red Sea – Journey into Disaster”, will be available from September 11, 6:45 p.m. CET on stern.de and RTL+.

The post Undercover divers find fatal flaws in Egypt’s dive boat industry appeared first on Green Prophet.

Saudi Arabia is redefining luxury travel, offering an unparalleled blend of exclusivity, sustainability, and innovation. At the heart of this transformation is Shebara Resort, a futuristic getaway in the Red Sea that rivals destinations like the Maldives—without the long-haul flight. Plus the Maldives jailed their environment minister, accusing her of witchcraft. With cutting-edge design, a commitment to sustainability, and stunning marine biodiversity, Shebara is the perfect luxury escape for eco-conscious travelers.

Related: Sindalah resort in Saudi Arabia

What It’s Like to Stay in a Shebara Pod

Imagine waking up to panoramic ocean views in a sleek, mirrored pod floating above the turquoise waters of the Red Sea. Each villa at Shebara Resort is designed to reflect the sea and sky, creating a seamless connection between architecture and nature. The futuristic pods are made of stainless steel, blending into the surroundings while offering luxurious interiors, including floor-to-ceiling windows, plush bedding, and private decks with direct water access.

By day, you can relax in your private infinity pool, gaze at the marine life below, or step straight from your villa into the warm, crystal-clear waters of the Red Sea. The resort is completely off-grid, powered by renewable energy, meaning you can enjoy modern luxuries with a clear conscience.

Swimming and Marine Life in the Red Sea

The Red Sea is one of the world’s most breathtaking underwater paradises, offering exceptional diving and snorkeling opportunities. Unlike the Maldives, which faces rising coral bleaching due to climate change, the Red Sea’s reefs are naturally resilient to higher temperatures, making them some of the most vibrant and well-preserved coral ecosystems in the world.

Related: dive boat sinks in Egypt- a survivor’s story

What can you see while swimming?

• Colorful coral gardens teeming with life
• Schools of tropical fish, from clownfish to angelfish
• Graceful sea turtles gliding through the water
• Majestic manta rays and dolphins

Are There Sharks in the Red Sea?

Yes, but they’re not a threat to humans. The Red Sea is home to reef sharks, whale sharks, and hammerheads, but attacks on swimmers or divers are extremely rare. Reef sharks are shy and typically avoid humans, while the gentle giant whale shark (the world’s largest fish) is a highlight for divers and snorkelers. Every couple of years there is a shark attack in the Red Sea in Egypt. But attacks are rare.

Why Shebara is Better Than the Maldives

1. Closer to Europe → Lower Emissions

   • A shorter flight means less environmental impact compared to the Maldives.
   • Direct flights to Saudi Arabia are easier and faster from Europe and the Middle East.

2. Sustainability

   • 100% solar-powered resort
   • Minimal environmental footprint with floating villas that preserve marine ecosystems

3. Undiscovered Paradise

   • Unlike the Maldives, which can feel overcrowded, Shebara offers exclusivity in a relatively untouched environment.

4. A Key Part of Saudi Vision 2030

   • A prime example of Saudi Arabia’s commitment to sustainable tourism and economic diversification.

Shebara Resort offers a next-level luxury experience that combines futuristic design, unspoiled nature, and sustainable tourism. For those looking for an exclusive getaway without the long-haul travel to the Maldives, this Red Sea gem is the perfect choice. After your island getaway jump on a slow train around Saudi Arabia.

Would you stay in a futuristic floating pod in Saudi Arabia? ?✨ Scroll down for photos.

::Shebara

The post Shebara Resort: The Future of Luxury Travel in Saudi Arabia appeared first on Green Prophet.

Water-poor Jordan is home to numerous organizations dedicated to environmental conservation and sustainability. Here are ten prominent eco-organizations making significant contributions. Jordanians are extremely positive and friendly people. It’s worth a visit.

1. Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN): Established in 1966, RSCN is an independent national organization committed to protecting Jordan’s natural resources. It manages several nature reserves and spearheads efforts in wildlife conservation and environmental education.
   ::myjordanjourney.com
2. EcoPeace Middle East: This unique organization brings together Jordanian, Palestinian, and Israeli environmentalists to promote sustainable development and peace in the region. Their initiatives focus on water conservation, ecological rehabilitation, and fostering cross-border cooperation.
   ::ecopeaceme.org
3. Jordan Environmental Union (JEU): Serving as a national advocacy front, JEU comprises nine of Jordan’s most active environmental NGOs. Their collective efforts cover various environmental sectors, promoting stewardship and conservation across the country.
   :: jordanewe.com
4. Jordan Green Building Council (JGBC): Dedicated to promoting sustainable building practices, JGBC works to raise awareness and implement green building standards in Jordan’s construction industry.
5. Jordanian Friends of the Environment (JOFOE): This organization focuses on environmental education and awareness campaigns, encouraging community involvement in conservation efforts.
6. Energy Conservation and Environment Sustainability Society (ECESS): ECESS advocates for energy efficiency and the adoption of sustainable practices to reduce environmental impact.
7. Jordanian Society for Desertification Control and Badia Development (JSDCBD): Committed to combating desertification, this society implements projects aimed at land rehabilitation and sustainable development in arid regions.
8. Climate Action Network (CAN) Jordan: CAN Jordan works to address climate change by fostering partnerships among local communities, businesses, and government bodies, aiming to transition towards a sustainable society.
   ::prima-med.org
9. Jordanian Royal Ecological Diving Society (JREDS): Focusing on marine conservation, JREDS conducts activities related to the protection of marine ecosystems, particularly in the Gulf of Aqaba.
10. Edama Association: Edama is a business association that seeks innovative solutions in energy, water, and environment sectors, promoting sustainable development in Jordan.

Have an organization to add? Contact us walla@greenprophet.com

The post Jordan’s leading ecological organizations appeared first on Green Prophet.

Europeans have flocked to dive sites in Egypt because of the low cost tourism and liveaboard boats. Sinai and Egyptian Red Sea coral reef diving is a 4-hour plane ride from Europe.

Now that Saudi Arabia is opening up to tourism, westerners can skip the controversial Maldive Islands and head to the Red Sea of Saudi Arabia instead. Built on a pristine island is Sheybara, a series of water pods that offer privacy, and exclusivity.

See more sea pods here.

The post Dive into the Sheybarah sea pods on deserted island in the Red Sea appeared first on Green Prophet.

On November 25, a dive boat called Sea Story with 44 souls capsized an estimated 18 nautical miles south of Marsa Alam, Egypt on the Red Sea. Some were rescued within half a day from rescue boats and the Navy. on November 25 Another 5 people were rescued the following day, some 36 hours after capsizing. Rescue divers went down and pulled 5 living people and 4 bodies from the wreck. Seven people are still missing. In total, 11 people lost their lives on this dive boat.

There are rumors that suggest that some people may have been trapped inside the wreck for the next few days after rescue on November 26 but the divers may have been too afraid to enter the wreck for the sharks circling the craft. Others connected to the rescue say this is nonsense. That the boat was searched from room to room on November 26. Here is a rescue story from one of the rescue team here (in Arabic).

Whatever the rumors, in a sad turn of events a boat of rescue divers were within a “30 minutes” boat ride and they could have assisted in the operation, one diver wrote, after seeing the outcome.

“At the time of the accident we were 30 minutes from the See Story boat full of professional technical divers with experience in salvaging from a sunken ship. One phone call and everything was different,” says Radik Simic in a popular Scuba diving Facebook group.

The families of those lost and those surviving still do not have accountability and closure. “What about foreign embassies and ambassadors? They should be responding because that’s what they’re paid to do. I don’t know what countries the divers were from to assist with this. Feeling incredibly sad to hear these obstacles impeding getting information, accountability and closure,” says one commenter on a recent article we posted to a Scuba diving group.

Could there have been a better outcome if dive boats and rescue divers are connected to a global alerts system? Can there be an app for that? How about a Whatsapp or Telegram chat group (international and country based) so that rescue divers the world over can get a call and rescue when in need? What diving group wants to start such an initiative?

All the Sea Story articles, including a story from a survivor can be found here.

If you have any new details about the Sea Story accident, please email seastory@greenprophet.com

American diver Jeffy Lee has travelled to Egypt: “It makes my blood boil at the fact that a few of us even had knowledge of such a catastrophic event and I personally found out about it from this group,” he says. “None of the media even gave two shits about the incident because it wasn’t an exciting “story” for them. Eleven lives were lost, and could have been prevented had it not been the ignorance and failure to follow standard protocols.

The post Rescue divers need a global rescue alert system, following failed Sea Story incident appeared first on Green Prophet.

Accounts from divers that are in Egypt: the liveaboard boats wating to take divers to exotic dive locations are currently grounded. Could this have something to do with MAIB in the UK?

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) in the United Kingdom has been notified of three accidents within the last 20 months affecting UK citizens on Egyptian dive boats operating in the Red Sea.

MAIB writes that these accidents include: the capsize of Carlton Queen on 24 April 2023 resulting in abandonment of the vessel with all passengers and crew rescued; a fire on Hurricane on 11 June 2023 resulting in the deaths of 3 UK nationals; the capsize of Sea Story on 25 November 2024 resulting in up to 18 fatalities/people missing, including 2 UK nationals, Jenny Cawson, 36, and her husband Tarig Sinada, 49, from Devon.

Another accident occurred this week but all 28 people were rescued. The accident allegedly included a refurbished wooden boat.

A miraculous rescue after 36 hours – a survivor’s story on the Sea Story.

Following the protocols in the IMO Casualty Investigation Code, the MAIB has formally registered the UK as a Substantially Interested State in the Egyptian safety investigations into these accidents.

From the evidence the MAIB has obtained so far, they write that “there is cause for serious concern about the safety of some of the Egyptian dive boats operating in the Red Sea.

“The Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents has written to the Egyptian Authority for Maritime Safety (EAMS) setting out his concerns and seeking full participation in the EAMS investigations. In the meantime, the MAIB is preparing a safety bulletin for publication setting out the areas of concern that individuals intending an afloat-based diving holiday in the region should take into account before booking.”

Follow our Red Sea dive stories here.

If you are a victim of a dive boat accident in the Red Sea reach out seastory@greenprophet.com

The post The UK issues warning about dive boat liveaboards in Egypt appeared first on Green Prophet.

Globe-trotters, divers, sailors, cyclists, pilots on solar airplanes –– those heading around the world like to capture their adventures so their loved ones can follow. That’s what a tourist did when they boarded the M/Y Sea Story on November 24, this year, a liveaboard diving adventure luxury yacht promising 3 dives a day. Egypt’s Red Sea is the most population destination in the world for divers because of its proximity to Europe –– only a 4-hour plane ride to Cairo, then a day bus trip to the seashore town of Marsa Alam.

There were 33 tourists onboard, all seasoned divers, expecting to go on challenging and adventurous dives into the Red Sea coral reefs, with the help of a team of 11, divers, cooks and a captain of the boat. For reasons that no official is yet saying the 3-story yacht listed 3 times and on its third, tipped into the sea and did not recover its balance. At that moment 23 people, including crew managed to jump from the capsized wreck into the sea, and most found life boats back to shore.

The story ends tragically when a day and a half later rescue divers finally went in. They heard knocking on the boat and with a beloved family member inside, one of the Egyptian rescue team insisted they go in. According to some accounts the Navy prevented the rescue divers from going into the boat. According to others the divers were afraid to go in the water because of the sharks. But they did go in but it took 36 hours since the boat started sinking.

After 36 hours from capsizing (varying accounts say an alarm was sent to another boat at 1:30am, others say the sinking happened at 2:30 or 3:30am on November 25) 5 people were rescued from inside their cabins. Those close to the wreck said they were farther out than they should be and saw a ship in the shipping lane passing in the distance.

After reaching out to the booking company (Dive Pro Liveaboard), local divers in the region, some associated with the company and who have local intel, the Navy and the local dive association, The Chamber of Diving and Water Sports, no one was willing to give the exact location when the boat first sent its distress signal. Rumors circulating suggest that the captain was the cook and that perhaps he or others in charge were inebriated (stoned), but since the “Authorities” in Egypt aren’t speaking to anyone, survivors and families of those who have lost their loved ones in the accident, are doing their own guess work.

We did have a diver “insider” reach out to us with the coordinates of the rescue, 36 hours after the boat listed and remained slightly above water. We spoke with a survivor’s daughter and he said his room’s porthole was above the water. The rescue boats following them did not give survivors trapped in Sea Story any indication they weren’t alone. No Navy ship blew its horn. In what could be a tragic story, if true, one anonymous source said the rescue crew followed the boat for 3 days after the 5 people and 4 bodies were pulled from the wreck on November 25. It is possible people were still inside alive.

We still don’t no where the boat first listed and why. We don’t know where the boat finally sank, although one source that can’t be named says it is in 1000 meters of water.

The family of the victim sent us their last Polarstar location, and you can see it here below. They say they were getting a signal as of December 2. This is the last transmission they’ve had. The location was sent at 14:50 November 25, many hours after the boat would leave the Port Ghalib. And it was transmitting until December 2, according to her in-laws that sent us this information. Does this give us any more clues about what happened when the Sea Story sunk?

If you want to follow the story more deeply, we have half a dozen articles that start here> Sea Story sinking.

If you have any more information related to this tragedy, send us a message seastory@greenprophet.com

The post Sea Story victim “last position” captured by Polarstep tracking app appeared first on Green Prophet.

On November 25, a Red Sea dive boat capsized, leaving 44 tourists and crew fending for their lives. We have a saga of stories you can follow here about the Sea Story incident, including interviews with survivors. Timothy, a diver reached out to us hoping to raise concerns he had while diving in Egypt with the same company that charted the ill-fated Sea Story, but he travelled just a week earlier.

“I am a certified PADI divemaster with over 600 worldwide dives. I am not a survivor of the sinking – I was on a different boat the Sea Pearl, operated by the same company, during the week immediately previous to the sinking,” says Timothy, using his first name only.

Like survivors of the Sea Story, Timothy says Dive Pro transferred him to another boat last minute: “This often happens for operational reasons – desire to have boats travel fully booked; mechanical or logistical issues with the boats; crew availability; weather and conditions, etc. I had been booked onto the Tillis but was moved to the Sea Pearl about 48 hours before the trip was due to begin.

“This wasn’t an issue for me, but many others were annoyed that they could not travel on their preferred boat, or that they had paid for an upper-deck cabin but were now on the lower deck,” he says.

What message do you have for other divers booking liveaboard trips anywhere in the world?

“Be very aware of safety concerns when researching a Red Sea live-aboard trip. Review your chosen boat’s safety provisions. Book (and insist upon receiving) an upper-deck cabin.

“Familiarise you and your buddy with your life jackets.”

What message do you have for divers whose intuition tells you the boat isn’t safe? 

“Trust your intuition. However there is little you can do other than take safety into your own hands.”

Will you dive in Egypt again and if yes, with who?

“Likely, but perhaps shore dives, and with a different company, which I will thoroughly research.”

How many diving boat accidents were there in 2024 in Egypt?

The post Dive boat tourist raises concerns and tips for dive safety appeared first on Green Prophet.

Dive Pro Liveaboard has lost 2 boats this year. Another one caught fire in 2022. In November, Sea Story tipped and capsized in open water. Eleven tourists are presumed dead, plus a number of crew.

Dive Pro Liveaboard has lost 2 boats this year in the Red Sea. 12 tourists and a number of crew have died, yet the company is still taking bookings for Christmas

The Red Sea is a magical place. It’s in the mountains of Sinai where God first spoke with Moses and gave him the 10 commandments. The beautiful people, the food, the natural mix between sea and desert. The colors of purple, pinks, yellows, oranges, white and black. The coral reefs everywhere and diving in the Blue Hole is an adventure of a lifetime for many divers who do return again and again. Especially Europeans where Cairo is a 5 hour plane ride away.

But am Egyptian dive holiday went wrong for 33 tourists this past November when the second boat in the same fleet  owned by the dive company Dive Pro Liveaboard listed, capsized and sunk. The accident happened on November 25, a Monday, in the early hours of the morning, as early as 2:30am near the area of Marsa Alam about 20 km out into the Red Sea.

Location of the Sea Story tragedy on the Red Sea

The Egyptian Navy wasn’t called until a reported 5:30am and helicopters didn’t show up until about 10am or 11am, according to survivors. We first reported on the dive boat accident here right after it happened. Soon after, we were made aware that there were suspicious reports of the dive boat not suited to open seas because it had no keel and was refurbished with an extra floor making it top heavy (read here). Soon after a German diver reached out about a thesis a German student was working on documenting the hazards of Red Sea diving. He offered some solutions for fixing the growing concerns among dive boats and a dive boat checklist – you can get it here.

What we do know is that on Monday, 23 people out of 44 onboard, including crew and tourists, made their way to safety on rescue boats. The next day, some 36 hours later rescue crews pulled out 5 survivors, 4 tourists and one crew, a nephew of one of the rescue team. We have the story of one of the survivors, Michael Miles from Vaud, Switzerland, here, as told to us by his daughter.

In total there are 11 dead and/or missing from Germany, the UK, Poland and Egypt.

The dive operating company Dive Pro Liveaboard and the company that has facilitated the bookings of the trips have not responded to survivors requests for compensation or help. They have not responded to our requests to be interviewed. The Egyptian Navy’s emailed bounced. Dive Pro Liveaboard is based in Hurghada and based on its website is run by Ali Aref. They are still taking bookings for their remaining 2 boats.

“Crazy! Insanely bad management,” says a Reddit commenter. “They also ran a boat Sea Legend that caught fire in Feb where one German diver died. And in 2022, another of their boat also caught fire. How are they still allowed to operate? Makes you question the local systems and enforcement too.”

Both companies Dive Pro Liveaboard and the Dutch-based Liveaboard.com are continuing to book dive trips on risky boats despite the concerns. We have here an eyewitness who travelled on the Tillis, one of the boats being offered by Liveaboard.com currently on its Holland-based booking platform noting how they feared for their life on that boat. Yet only positive reviews are shown on the site.

Sea Story survivor Michael Miles told his daughter he booked on the Tillis (read here one tourists account of lack of safety standards on the boat) but was transferred to Sea Story. See screenshots from December 8 below that bookings are still being made for the dive boat company and if you read comments you will see that Liveaboard.com and Dive Pro Liveaboard in Egypt have a history of switching out boats. Why?

Liveaboard.com still carrying on booking holidays for the Dive Pro Liveaboard which lost 2 boats in the last year from catastrophic accidents that have killed 12 tourists and many crew.

Tillis booking liveaboard.com transferred to Sea Story boat on arrival. This was a common thing, as noted in the comments. Guest Michael Miles was switched from Tillis to Sea Story when he goat to the boat. Tillis went out on the trip but was not involved in the accident.

The fatal accident on November 25 has left dozens of survivors and the families of those who have died looking for answers and in the very least some financial compensation. Over the last 2 weeks, there are the questions we have collected, still unanswered. If you have any information about the Sea Story, answer in the comments below or email us seastory@greenprophet.com.

Open questions after the Sea Story dive boat tragedy

Where did the accident actually happen?

By the time the Navy arrived to the sinking boat several hours after it capsized, they cordoned off the area around the boat, and wouldn’t allow rescue crews from other dive companies in for another day, some 36 hours, on Tuesday. The reason is that there was a risk of a diver bubble entering an air pocket and changing the pressure in the boat. The whole boat could go down.

One source says the boat was in 12 to 15 meters of water, another said 1000 meters. What was it? In deep open water or closer to the shore? If you look at the maps of the Indian Ocean/Red Sea areas you don’t need to boat long to get into water reaching hundreds of meters of depth. Why did it take the Navy 36 hours to agree to let divers inside even though survivors could be heard knocking and whistling from the outside?

Eyewitness accounts put the boat as close to 20km to shore and as far as 80km. A shipping boat was seen passing by at 10am by the survivors curious to know the exact location of the wreck. Marsa Alam sea Story dive boat nautical maps by fishing-app.gpsnauticalcharts.com.

Sea Story travelled from Port Ghalib at Marsa Shouna around 9 to 10pm. They were supposed to arrive at Sataya Reef after 6 or 7 hours at sea early in the morning. Around 2:30 am the boat went down within minutes (as many as 10), but the parts of the bottom of the boat floated about the surface. This is information supplied by survivors interviewed by Green Prophet.

Sea Story’s approximate location in the Red Sea/Indian Ocean. One source estimates 80 km out, another 20 km out in the sea. Depths are around 600m. Why is it reported that the boat sunk in 12 to 15 meters? 

One survivor told Green Prophet that at 10:00 am a helicopter arrived at the wreck. Shortly after, he says (maybe one hour), the motor boats of the Masa Nakari, a dive center brought the survivors from the life rafts to the Polish liveaboard.

Why did it take the Navy so long to let rescue divers in?

Rescue divers reported hearing knocking sounds coming out of the boat, meaning there were people trapped inside after the initial rescue. From Monday there was knocking coming out of My Sea Story. Why did the Navy only let the private rescuers in on Tuesday?

Why did it take so long for the Navy to come? The boat started sinking around 2:30 am. The Navy showed up at around 10am or 11.

Why does the Navy have no dive guides? Or equipment?

Questions about the boat operator

Why did the Tillis and My Sea Story go out when there were warnings and advisors against going to sea?

Was the cook driving the boat?

Why was an inexperienced captain in charge of such a large vessel?

Where is the captain of the ship? Is he on the run? A Facebook eulogy by a friend suggested he killed himself; others say he was in jail. Maybe he is in hiding?

Why are people booking on one boat and getting transferred to another?

How are they still booking trips on Tillis?

Why is Liveaboard.com not refunding money to people afraid of the Dive Pro company in the Egypt who have booked trips on boats like Tillus, also unsafe remodeled boats?

Who is certifying an ancient dive boat as seaworthy?

Why was My Sea Story away from the dive site and why did they separate from Tillis, the sister boat on Sunday?

The Navy and the Egyptian Authorities

Why are there no images coming out from the Navy of the boat in the water?

Where is the wreck now?

Why are they hiding the original location of the wreck?

Why has the public not been told if the boat finally sank?

Why were rescued passengers denied their passports to go home unless they signed a waver?

One diver reported a hole in the boat? Was there a hole in the boat?

Why didn’t the marines try to prop up the boat from sinking? Use floatation equipment?

Where is the crew? Why aren’t they allowed to talk with the media?

Why are the actual divers who went into the Sea Story and saved lives, not being celebrated? Their contribution being told?

Who will compensate tourists and the crew who lost their lives?

Some speculate that the Navy has towed the boat from the site where the boat overturned into shore, close to a reef. Why?

The rescue team that went in rescued 5 people. They found 4 bodies. There were no other bodies on the boat. Were there people still alive in their cabins? According to this rescue story (we interviewed the daughter) the rescue crew could not get into all the cabins. Did they give up on them? Were the risks too great?

There is a debate on whether the boat was in 12-15 meters or in 1000 meters of water. This fact could have changed rescue strategies. Some sources say the boat was close to shore near a reef and eventually sunk in 12 to 15 meters of water. Other say 20 to 80km out in the open water, at about 1000 m depth and the boat was towed back to shore and sunk near a reef by the Navy.

December 10, update: We attempted to book a dive trip on the Tillis through Dive Pro directly. The reply from a rep named Zozo was “Which week, which route, here in Egypt or in KSA?”

If you have anything to contribute to this evolving story, send us an email: seastory@greenprophet.com

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