In a harrowing tale of survival and tragedy, survivors of the ill-fated dive vessel Sea Story have come forward to share their experiences from the night the boat capsized in the Red Sea. The incident, which occurred on November 25th last year, resulted in the loss of up to 11 lives, including two Britons, Jenny Cawson and Tarig Sinada.
The luxury dive boat had set off from Port Ghaleb on Egypt’s Red Sea Coast on November 24th, carrying 31 international guests, mostly experienced divers, along with three dive guides and 12 Egyptian crew members. Their destination was the renowned Sataya Reef, but disaster struck before they could reach it.
Initial reports from Egyptian authorities attributed the sinking to a massive wave, but survivors and experts have cast doubt on this explanation. Interviews with 11 survivors suggest that a combination of crew error and structural failings may have been the true cause. A leading oceanographer supported these claims, stating that weather data did not indicate conditions severe enough to produce such a wave.
Survivors described the terror of being trapped in a rapidly sinking vessel. “The furniture was shaking around the deck,” recalled Sarah Martin, an NHS doctor from Lancaster. “We asked the crew if it was normal, and they just shrugged.”
As the boat rolled onto its side in the early hours of the morning, chaos ensued. Passengers were thrown from their beds, and exits were blocked by scattered debris. In the darkness, panic spread as water began to flood the cabins.
Lucianna Galetta, one of the last survivors to be rescued, recounted her ordeal from an air pocket in the engine room where she and her partner, Christophe Lemmens, took refuge for 35 hours. “We started to get up and tried to find the life jackets,” she said. “We opened the door, but there was already water in the corridor.”
Outside, those who managed to escape faced further challenges. Life rafts deployed after the sinking were found lacking essential supplies. “We didn’t have any water or food,” said Sarah. “There were flares, but they had already been used.”
Rescue efforts were slow, with survivors waiting hours for help to arrive. Lucianna and Christophe were eventually saved by a local diving instructor who braved the wreck to find them.
The survivors have accused Dive Pro Liveaboard, the company operating the Sea Story, of multiple safety failings. They also criticized the Egyptian authorities for their delayed response, which they believe may have cost lives. Despite repeated inquiries, neither the company nor the government has responded to requests for comment.
This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers of maritime travel and the critical importance of stringent safety measures. As investigations continue, the survivors hope their stories will lead to changes that prevent future tragedies.
