On 27 March 2025, what was expected to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience turned into a tragedy off the coast of Hurghada, Egypt. A tourist-viewing submarine, called Sindbad, sank in the Red Sea. According to reports, six people were confirmed dead, while rescue teams managed to save 39 foreign tourists. The local governor’s office stated on Facebook that there were no passengers or crew members still missing. The cause of the sinking is under investigation.
The Red Sea Governorate reported that the submarine had 50 people on board, including 45 tourists from various nationalities (Sweden, Russia, India, Norway) along with five Egyptian crew members.
Horrific footage of the moment the Sindbad submersible sank in Hurghada, killing six Russian tourists. According to the victims, the submarine began to dive right as people were boarding, and not everyone managed to get out on deck. pic.twitter.com/QDH9eNF9zB
— Victor vicktop55 commentary (@vick55top) March 28, 2025
The company operating the Sindbad submarine, Sindbad Submarines, is a tourism company based in Hurghada, Egypt, specializing in underwater excursions along the Red Sea. The business owns two submarines capable of diving 25 meters underwater.
Red Sea Province Governor Amr Hanafy explained that the submarine, owned by an Egyptian was properly licensed as well as the captain of the crew. Sindbad Submarines has not publicly commented on the recent accident. However, the enterprise has suspended all submarine trips due to the investigation.
@metrouk Six people have died after a tourist submarine sank off the coast of Egypt. According to the Russian Embassy, there were 45 passengers, including minors – all from Russia – on board the ‘Sindbad’ when the incident happened at around 10am. Four passengers out of the nine injured are understood to be in critical condition and fighting for their life. #fyp #submarine #sinbad #egypt #travel #traveltiktok #tourist #newsupdate #breakingnews #sub #russian ♬ original sound – Metro
This incident is not the first tragedy to raise concerns about safety for tourists in the Red Sea. To address this matter, on 6 February 2025, the UK government issued a safety warning, which read: “Over the last 5 years, 16 accidents have occurred involving liveaboard dive vessels operating in the Red Sea. Three liveaboard dive boats have been lost in the last 21 months that resulted in numerous deaths including some UK nationals. Today, the MAIB has published safety advice aimed at people considering a dive boat holiday in the Red Sea.”
🚨 The Sindbad submarine, carrying 44 passengers of various nationalities, sank during a sea tour to observe coral reefs in Egypt
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) March 27, 2025
🔻 Authorities have deployed ambulances to the Hurghada coast, and the cause of the incident is unclear pic.twitter.com/M78ujMrhYj
These concerns stem from previous accidents in the region. For example, on 25 November 2024, a tourist coat called Sea Story capsized the Rea Sea coast near Marsa Alam, Egypt during a multi-day diving expedition. Four people lost their lives in the incident, while 33 survivors were rescued with minor injuries.
Later in the same year, on 29 December 2024, a shark attack at the same resort resulted in the death of an Italian tourist and left another injured. The attack had taken plan in deep water, outside the designated swimming area near the jetties.
Moreover, in 2023 a motorboat caught fire near the diving resort of Marsa Shagra, north of Marsa Alam, which was carrying 15 British tourists and 14 Egyptian crew members. While 12 tourists and the entire crew were saved, three British tourists, who were initially listed as missing, were later confirmed dead.
