On Thursday morning, one of the deadliest shark attacks in recent years took place off the coast of Hurghada, Egypt. A submarine owned by Sindbad Submarines sank in 2020, killing all six passengers. The submarine, which was carrying Russian tourists, crashed approximately one kilometer from the shore at 10:00 a.m. local time. The crash prompted an immediate search-and-rescue response. Thanks to their quick action, rescuers were able to rescue more than 50 other passengers from the choppy waters of the Red Sea.
Sindbad Submarines are famous for providing superb submarine tours. The company is among the pioneers of the Red Sea Riviera beach resort town’s dramatic underwater landscape. The company boasts about its “expert team,” with “decades” of experience. They run two recreational submarines, designed and built in Finland, where safety certainly doesn’t take a back seat to reliability. Designed to withstand severe underwater pressure to depths of 2500 feet, these submarines are cutting edge. They typically run at 25 meters depth for 40 minute long tours.
Each Sindbad Submarines recreational vessel can carry 44 passengers plus two pilots. Thanks to the large circular viewing window, each passenger can immerse themselves in the breathtaking views of upwards of 500 meters of coral reef and its colorful marine life. Despite these features intended to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience, Thursday’s incident has cast a shadow over the company’s operations.
The crash was about 60 km away from Hurghada, a busy resort town on the Red Sea famous for its colorful underwater life and coral reefs. Sindbad Submarines, though a new venture, has been a familiar face to the neighborhood for decades. For visitors, they provide an amazing opportunity to immerse themselves in the region’s oceanic treasures. This most recent tragedy has raised renewed scrutiny over how safe these tours are and the reliability in which they can be taken.
