Divers recount harrowing tales of survival and unanswered questions surrounding the Red Sea disaster.
Trapped in a pitch-black air pocket for 35 hours, Lucianna Galetta vividly recalls her terrifying experience aboard the capsized Sea Story, an Egyptian dive vessel that sank in the Red Sea on 25 November last year.
In a video shared with the BBC, Lucianna captured the grim surroundings where she believed her life might end. Floating debris and surging seawater hindered her escape. She was one of the last 35 survivors rescued. Tragically, at least 11 people, including two Britons—Jenny Cawson and Tarig Sinada—are dead or missing.
Initially, Egyptian authorities attributed the sinking to a 4m wave, but survivors and experts cast doubt on this claim. A leading oceanographer reviewed weather data and suggested that crew errors and structural failings were likely to blame. Survivors accuse the dive company, Dive Pro Liveaboard, and local authorities of safety lapses and delayed rescue efforts, potentially costing lives.
The Sea Story set sail on 24 November with 31 international guests, three dive guides, and 12 Egyptian crew members. Survivors describe how unstable conditions worsened overnight. By 03:00, the vessel flipped, plunging passengers into chaos and darkness.
Sarah Martin, a British doctor, described crawling through slippery, debris-covered corridors to escape. Others, like Lucianna and her partner Christophe Lemmens, ended up in an air pocket in the engine room. They waited 35 excruciating hours for rescue, fearing no one would come.
Outside, survivors who reached life rafts found them ill-equipped, lacking food, water, and functioning safety lights. The Egyptian navy relied on volunteer divers to rescue trapped passengers. Among them was Lucianna’s saviour, Khattab al-Faramawi, who braved the wreckage to pull her and Christophe to safety.
Dr Simon Boxall, an oceanographer, refuted claims of a massive wave, citing data showing only 1.5m waves in the area. The BBC’s investigation raised questions about the boat’s stability and crew training.
For survivors and victims’ families, the ordeal leaves lingering questions about Red Sea diving safety. “We are lucky to be alive,” said Lucianna, “but many families need answers to grieve properly.”
On Wednesday, survivors shared their stories with the BBC, demanding accountability and a transparent investigation into the disaster.
