Passengers and crew on board the Egyptian Red Sea liveaboard M/V Firebird were forced to abandon ship after the vessel struck a reef off the northern part of Sharm El Sheikh in the early hours of Sunday, 20 April.
According to a statement by the CDWS, the boat was carrying seven divers – four Germans, one Swiss and two Egyptians – and seven crew when it sustained ‘significant damage’ while en route to Dahab, approximately 80km north of Sharm.
All passengers and crew were safely evacuated and returned to shore. It is unclear at this time if the vessel has sunk or remains trapped on the reef.
Firebird and sister vessel, Thunderbird, are owned by Hurghada-based company Deep Blue Cruises, which has recently rebranded as Into the Blue with the addition of a third boat, the MV Katana.
According to the boat’s information page, Firebird is a 32m long wooden-hulled motor yacht with a maximum capacity of 16 passengers that specialises in economy Red Sea liveaboard diving cruises around the Sinai Peninsula and the northern wrecks near Hurghada.
Deep Blue Cruises released an official statement on its Facebook Page, saying:
In the early hours of this morning, at approximately 1:00 AM, our liveaboard vessel M/Y Firebird encountered a reef collision in the northern area of Sharm El Sheikh.
Thanks to the swift and professional response of our crew and dive guide, all guests were safely evacuated within 16 minutes, along with their passports and essential belongings. Guests were immediately transferred to land and accompanied by their guide.
Following the successful guest evacuation, our crew members were also safely evacuated after securing additional personal items and equipment.
By around 2:30 – 3:00 am, military and land-based assistance arrived to support the operation and ensure a smooth transfer of everyone to a nearby hotel for rest and safety.
We are relieved and proud to confirm that all guests and crew are safe and in good condition.
By Monday, we aim to transfer all guests to Hurghada, where they will be accommodated in a hotel until their scheduled departure.
We thank the authorities and our dedicated team for their exceptional handling of the situation, and we remain committed to the safety and well-being of all those who sail with us.
Firebird is now the third Egyptian liveaboard to be lost in 2025 alone, following the destruction by fire of Emperor Seven Seas in March and the sinking of the MV Triton, a newly-built liveaboard on its way to Hurghada from the boatyard in Port Rashid.
The latest incident is going to raise yet more questions over liveaboard safety in Egypt, which has been intensely scrutinised following the loss of eleven lives when Sea Story sank in November 2024.
In February, the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) issued a safety bulletin warning divers to be cautious when booking liveaboards in the country.
No information is available as yet as to the cause of the collision, however, the Chamber of Diving and Watersports (CDWS), the governing body for diving and watersports in Egypt, released the following statement.
Following a distress call today, Sunday, April 20, 2025, at 1:30 am, the Chamber of Diving and Water Sports (CDWS) received a report stating that the Firebird safari boat had had an accident that sustained significant damage to the boat.
The incident is still under investigation to determine the circumstances and the cause of the accident.
The boat carried seven divers (four German tourists, one Swiss tourist, and two Egyptian divers), in addition to seven crew members, and it was en route to the city of Dahab when the accident happened. We can confirm that all passengers are well and in good health.
Upon receiving the distress call, the CDWS acted immediately by notifying the relevant authorities and initiating a rescue operation for all those on board the boat.
Ensuring the safety and well-being of all the passengers and providing them with the necessary care and suitable accommodation until the completion of the investigation.
Currently, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the CDWS, and other relevant authorities are collaborating to provide comprehensive support to the passengers and investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident.
