News
Breaking News: MV Hurricane Liveaboard Fire – Official Statement
The Scubaverse Team are devastated to hear of the fire that occurred yesterday, June 11th, on board dive liveaboard MV Hurricane at Elphinstone Reef in the Red Sea. Sadly, the tragic loss of three lives has been confirmed this morning. Our thoughts are with all concerned.
Here is the Official Statement from the Tour Operator, Scuba Travel, dated 12th June:
“Following the fire which broke out on dive ship ‘Hurricane’ at 0630 hrs, BST, on June 11, while off the Elphinstone Reef, on Egypt’s Red Sea , it is understood that the Foreign and Commonwealth Dept have now contacted the families of the three missing divers, all British nationals. The three were among 15 qualified diving enthusiasts who were enjoying a week’s stay on board the dive boat ‘Hurricane’, operated by Tornado Marine, an operation that Scuba Travel had worked with since 2001 and have an excellent safety record with us.
At the time the fire broke out 12 divers were participating in a briefing on board, while those missing had apparently decided not to dive that morning. The severity of the fire meant that the 12 divers were immediately evacuated by rib to another craft nearby and the 14 crew members, including the Captain and two dive guides, having tried to reach the missing guests, also had to abandon ship and were rescued by rib.
It is with great regret that we, as Tour Operator, with heavy hearts, must accept that three of our much -valued dive guests. who had not participated in the dive briefing, early on the morning of June 11, perished in the tragic incident. Our sincere and heartfelt condolences go out to their families and friends at this very sad time.
All the 12 guests who were taken off the dive ship went ashore to Marsa Shagra where they were provided with any medical attention required and gave statements to the local police. As they are without any personal possessions, they will move to a hotel in Hurghada where a representative of Scuba Travel will assist in acquiring clothes and personal effects and where possible, mobile phones.
Scuba Travel wish to thank the Foreign and Commonwealth Department and Consular Office in Cairo for doing all possible to expedite emergency travel documents for the guests wishing to travel back to the UK, something which they hope to achieve early in the coming week.
The local authorities and police are to conduct a full investigation into the cause of the fire, which we and all parties involved are fully supporting.
The dive boat ‘Hurricane’ has been towed to a Port, yet to be nominated, as the vessel is still smouldering with cooling required before entry.”
Voted No. 3 on the Top 10 Ultimate British Isles Bucket List by The Independent, these dives offer the closest marine mammal encounter available to divers in the UK. Friendly and playful, respectful divers are often rewarded by incredible interaction with the Lundy Seals.
Easy Divers has been running guided dive trips to Lundy for nearly 10 years and offers dive equipment hire if required. Trips depart from the stunning harbour town of Ilfracombe in North Devon and Dolphins are often seen during the boat passage.
In addition to diving, Ilfracombe is a great base from which to hike the South West Coast Path, dip into surfing at the UK’s first World Surf reserve, enjoy other water sports or head to Exmoor National Park.
Easy Divers also runs a diver-friendly guest house, with a discount for diving customers and kit rinsing and drying facilities.
The Seal encounter dive sites are shallow and sheltered and are suitable for divers of all levels, making them a great introduction to British diving.
Exclusive Offer for Scubaverse Subscribers
Use your exclusive Scubaverse discount code scubaverse10% before the end of June and join us for a Seal encounter dive trip to Lundy Island, on any trip date with availability this Summer. Visit https://www.easydiversnorthdevon.co.uk/lundy-dive-trips/seal-encounter-dive-trips/ and enter code scubaverse10% at the on-line check out.
Trips book out well ahead, so book now to avoid disappointment. To save 10% on any 1 night stay at our guest house, please call 07833 020424. We offer free cancellation for divers who book a 1 night stay, if we have to re-schedule due to unsafe weather.
Join us for Britain’s best marine mammal diving experience!
Trips run from end of May to mid-October and are bookable via email at info@easydiversnorthdevon.co.uk, on-line via the Easy Divers website, www.easydiversnorthdevon.co.uk, or call 07833 020424 for more info
Divers Alert Network® (DAN®), the world’s leading dive safety organization, has launched a new program called Continuing Education for Dive Professionals. This free program focuses on risk mitigation and is now available to all dive professionals via DAN E-Learning. DAN expects this program will not only enhance divers’ safety but will also help reduce dive operators’ liability risk.
To encourage participation, DAN is offering discounted premiums on individual professional liability and group professional liability insurance to all DAN members who complete the e-learning, which can be done in about an hour.
Any DAN member who has completed the e-learning will be able to claim a discount of nearly 5% on their annual liability policy. This is in addition to the 5% discount that DAN members already receive. If you are on a group professional liability policy, your completion of the e-learning may count toward a discount on the group professional liability premium.
This year we partnered with Tec Clark to create the content of the program. In the future, we will combine Tec’s material with new material created by DAN.
Click here to learn more and access the e-learning.
To qualify for the discount, the e-learning must be completed before you renew your professional liability insurance policy. Refunds will not be given.
We hope you find this program educational and worthwhile. If you have any questions, or need assistance, please contact DAN at liabilityinsuance@dan.org.
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