70% of DCs in Sharm and Dahab reported shut

The Sea Dancer dive centre before the fights stopped. Manager Steve Mills says the centre is still open

Report Max James

An Egyptian newspaper reports that 70 per cent of dive centres in the country have stopped operating and less than 10 per cent are still functioning. The Cairo Post says, according to the body that regulates diving in the country, 170 of the 246 licenced dive centres in the Red Sea governorate have ceased all activities.

It says that Ashraf Saleh, the head of the Egyptian Chamber of Diving and Watersports, says the collapse has been caused by the suspension of flights to Sharm El Sheikh following a Russian plane crashing over Sinai in October killing all 224 passengers and crew.

'The percentage of the working centres does not exceed 10 per cent,' Saled is reported to have said. The Cairo Post went on to say that Saled added that the flight suspensions by Russia are 'desolation' to the tourist sector.

The newspaper said that revenues from tourism represent 11.3 per cent of Egypt’s gross domestic product.

See DIVE's recent reports on the situation in Sharm and Hurghada.