• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
  • Briefing
  • In Depth
  • Travel
    • Americas & Caribbean
    • Asia Pacific
    • Europe
    • Red Sea & Africa
    • DIVE Travel Awards
  • Equipment
    • Kit Reviews
  • Learning
  • UW Photography
    • Featured Photographers
    • Featured Videographer
    • Underwater Camera Gear
  • Destination Guides
    • Egypt
      • Introduction
      • Sinai, Sharm & Dahab
      • Hurghada and the Bays
      • Liveaboards
      • Marine life
      • Wreck Dives
    • St Helena
      • Introduction
      • Topside
      • Dive Sites
      • Marine Life
      • Wreck Dives
      • Whale Sharks
    • Fiji
      • Introduction
      • Bligh Water, Lomativiti, Lau Groups
      • Beqa Lagoon & Kadavu Group
      • Taveuni & The Somosomo Strait
      • Mamanuca & Yasawa Group
      • Marine Life
    • Mexico
      • Introduction
      • Revillagigedos & Guadalupe
      • Sea of Cortez & Baja California
      • Cozumel • Riviera Maya • Isla Mujeres
      • Central Pacific
      • Cenote diving
    • Philippines
      • Philippines Introduction
      • Need to Know
      • Top dives
      • Marine Life
      • Coron Bay wrecks
      • Topside
      • Video playlist
DIVE Magazine logo

DIVE Magazine

Scuba Diving Luxury Travel Magazine

Ras Mohammed diving suspended due to shark attack risk

2 May 2022
2 minutes

Shark Observatory in Ras Mohammed National Park
Despite the name, sharks are rarely observed at the ‘Shark Observatory’ (Photo: Shutterstock)

By Mark 'Crowley' Russell

All watersports activities in Egypt’s Ras Mohammed National Park were temporarily suspended on Sunday due to a heightened risk of shark attacks in the area.

Advertisement

The warning was given after sheep carcasses were found floating at the surface, with a number of sharks – including at least one tiger shark – being spotted feeding on the dead animals.

The sheep were likely discarded by a vessel transporting livestock to the region in advance of this weekend’s Eid al-Fitr celebrations. The incident is reminiscent of the 2010 shark attacks during which five snorkellers were severely injured by sharks thought to have been attracted to the area by a similar disposal of animal carcasses.

Five snorkellers were attacked by two different sharks during 2010, with the final attack by an oceanic whitetip resulting in the tragic death of an elderly German woman.

A similar suspension of marine activities was imposed in 2020, after two Ukrainian tourists – including a young boy – and their Egyptian guide were seriously injured by an oceanic whitetip while snorkelling in a prohibited area.

Ras Mohammed’s reefs – including the world-famous twin pinnacles of Shark & Yolanda, situated at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula and mostly dived by daily boats from Sharm El Sheikh, are not (despite the name) typically classed as hotspots for large shark sightings. Most encounters are with whitetip reef and grey reef sharks, and although larger species such as oceanic whitetips and tiger sharks are known to be present in the area, they rarely venture close to the reefs. The presence of an immediate food source, however, is known to change that behaviour.

The CDWS announced that Ras Mohammed would be reopened for diving as of Monday morning. However, dive guides are being advised to ensure their divers are correctly briefed on shark diving safety, and to remain alert and report any unusual shark behaviour to local authorities.

Advertisement

  • About
  • Latest Posts
Mark 'Crowley' Russell
Mark 'Crowley' Russell
Crowley (known to his mum as Mark), packed in his IT job in 2005 and spent the next nine years working as a full-time scuba diving professional. He started writing for DIVE in 2010 and hasn't stopped since.
Mark 'Crowley' Russell
Latest posts by Mark 'Crowley' Russell (see all)
  • Endangered Species Day profile: Andrea Marshall - 20 May 2022
  • Aqualung i330 dive computer recall - 18 May 2022
  • Komodo manta aggregations among largest in the world - 17 May 2022

Filed Under: Briefing, Red Sea & Africa Tagged With: Egypt, Sharks, Sharm El Sheikh

Related articles

International shipping threat to endangered whale sharks

International shipping threat to endangered whale sharks

Emperor Divers’ new Marsa Alam location

Emperor Divers’ new Marsa Alam location

Egypt rescinds registration requirement

Egypt rescinds registration requirement

Urgent Egypt travel update

Urgent Egypt travel update

Shark Trust’s great Easter eggcase hunt

Shark Trust’s great Easter eggcase hunt

Study shows need for whale shark population monitoring

Study shows need for whale shark population monitoring

  • About
  • Latest Posts
Mark 'Crowley' Russell
Mark 'Crowley' Russell
Crowley (known to his mum as Mark), packed in his IT job in 2005 and spent the next nine years working as a full-time scuba diving professional. He started writing for DIVE in 2010 and hasn't stopped since.
Mark 'Crowley' Russell
Latest posts by Mark 'Crowley' Russell (see all)
  • Endangered Species Day profile: Andrea Marshall - 20 May 2022
  • Aqualung i330 dive computer recall - 18 May 2022
  • Komodo manta aggregations among largest in the world - 17 May 2022

Footer

sq kemps ridleys

FOLLOW DIVE

  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Want to access DIVE on your tablet or smartphone? Press the Apple, Android or PC/Mac image below to download the app for your device

Footer Apple Footer Android Footer Mac-PC

More from DIVE

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With DIVE Magazine
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Copyright © 2022 · Site by Syon Media