In the early hours of 25 November 2024, the liveaboard MV Sea Story capsized in the Red Sea south of Marsa Alam. Of the 44 people on board, 31 passengers from eleven countries and 13 Egyptian crew, 33 were rescued. Eleven are now confirmed dead, following Egyptian authorities officially declaring the seven remaining missing persons deceased on 19 May 2025.
It was the worst Red Sea liveaboard disaster in living memory. It was also, by any honest account, preventable.
This is the most complete independent account of what happened, what survivors reported, what the investigation found, and what it means for every diver planning a Red Sea liveaboard trip.
The night it happened
Sea Story departed Port Ghalib on Sunday 24 November on a scheduled diving trip to Hurghada, due to arrive on 29 November. The Egyptian Meteorological Authority had issued warnings of rough conditions for the area, wind speeds of 60–70 km/h and waves of up to 4 metres. Conditions had reportedly eased before departure, then deteriorated again through Sunday evening.
What survivors reported
Survivor accounts paint a picture of a vessel that was showing signs of instability before it ever left port. Multiple passengers reported that items on deck had shifted significantly during the voyage and that a small inflatable zodiac had gone overboard before the capsize. Several described the boat as feeling unstable from the outset.
“The boat appeared unstable before we departed. Things were moving on deck that shouldn't have been moving.”
– Survivor account, reported by international mediaThe distress signal was not received by the Red Sea control centre until 5:30am, at least two and a half hours after the vessel capsized. This delay meant that passengers who survived the initial capsize spent hours in the open sea before rescue vessels reached them. Five survivors were found trapped in air pockets within the hull a full 35 hours after the sinking, rescued by civilian volunteer divers.
Photo: Red Sea Governorate / Search and rescue operation, 25 November 2024Egyptian Navy and Army search and rescue teams were deployed, with military aircraft also involved. 28 survivors were rescued before the search was suspended overnight.
The vessel and the operator
Sea Story was a 44-metre wooden-hulled motor yacht built in 2022 and fitted out for 36 passengers. It was owned and operated by Hurghada-based Dive Pro Liveaboard. According to Egyptian officials, the boat had been inspected in March 2024 and received a one-year certificate of validity.
The vessel passed its March 2024 inspection and was issued a one-year certificate of validity. Following the incident, Dr. S. Boxhall of the University of Southampton stated that waves were likely only 1.5 metres at the time of the capsize, raising questions about the vessel's stability characteristics that survivors and independent analysts have since debated.
Based on publicly available information, Dive Pro Liveaboard has been associated with three serious incidents: Scuba Scene (fire, 2022), Sea Legend (fire with one fatality, 2024), and Sea Story (capsized, 2024). The Atlas aggregates this information as a reference for members and does not list Dive Pro Liveaboard among its recommended operators.
Survivors pressured to sign statements
Among the most troubling aspects of the aftermath was reporting by the BBC that survivors were pressured to sign Arabic-language statements translated by an employee of Dive Pro Liveaboard. Multiple survivors reported they were not allowed to keep copies of their statements and that critical safety concerns raised in discussion were omitted from the official documentation.
This is precisely the kind of accountability failure the Red Sea Atlas exists to document. When the industry investigates itself, the truth is often the first casualty.
Photo: Red Sea Governorate / Aerial search for survivorsMilitary aircraft assisted in the search operation over the Wadi El Gemal area of the Red Sea.
The regulatory response
Following the disaster, Egyptian authorities introduced new mandatory requirements for liveaboard operators. Each vessel must now carry two licensed captains, one with a master mariner patent and one with a minor patent, and two trained mechanics with advanced engineering qualifications. All crew must be formally registered with the vessel's operational permit.
In December 2024, the UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) formally raised serious concerns with the Egyptian Authority for Maritime Safety, noting that Sea Story was the third major Red Sea dive boat accident involving UK citizens in 20 months. In February 2025, the MAIB issued a public safety bulletin warning divers to book only through reputable operators.
A March 2024 Maritime Survey International report, published before the Sea Story disaster, had already found that none of the Red Sea dive boats it inspected had a planned maintenance system, safety management system or stability books on board. All vessels held valid operational certificates. The report concluded that there was a significant gap between certification and operational documentation standards.
What this means for you
If you are planning a Red Sea liveaboard trip, the Atlas's position is clear: the risk is real, the industry is unevenly regulated, and the responsibility for your safety is substantially your own before you step on board.
Book only with operators who have a verifiable safety record. Ask to see the vessel before you commit. Check the MAIB's February 2025 safety bulletin, and read the operator records published in this Log before booking, including the incident history of every operator listed.
The Red Sea Atlas lists only operators we personally trust and have vetted. Dive Pro Liveaboard is not listed. All incidents in this Log are documented permanently and updated as investigations progress. Transparency is not optional, it is the reason this platform exists.
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