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Here is the newest CDWS update about diving in Sharm el Sheikh.

The press release can be found here

CDWS update: 8 December diving possible in Sharm el Sheikh

7 December 16.00

The majority of areas in Sharm el Sheikh will once again be open to diving activities for CDWS members and their clients tomorrow (8 December), however, please note that
the same restrictions will apply on where these can take place and on client experience. All snorkelling activities and other watersports – with the exception of glass bottom boat operations – remain suspended in the whole of the Sharm el Sheikh coastal area.

Qualified diving clients, who must have a minimum of 50 logged dives, are permitted to participate in scuba activities run by boat by CDWS members in the following areas:

- area of Tiran

- all dive sites south of Naama Bay to Ras Mohamed National Park

- the entire area of Ras Mohamed National Park

Diving remains completely banned at this time in the area between Ras Nasrani to the north of Naama Bay.

No shore diving is permitted anywhere in the Sharm el Sheikh area.

Under NO circumstances are introductory or training dives permitted to take place in the sea anywhere in Sharm el Sheikh until CDWS members are notified otherwise.

However, training and introductory diving activities are able to take place in other resorts, such as Dahab.

CDWS has asked divers to remain vigilant and report any shark behaviour they see to the organisation’s office in Sharm el Sheikh. This information – where possible – should include location, time and specific type of shark. Please also note down the behaviour, depth, duration at particular depths and how long the sighting lasts for.

This information should be emailed to one of the following people at the CDWS office:

Amr Elbendary: amr.elbendary@cdws.travel Tel: 012 1115508
Ahmed Mansour: ahmed.mansour@cdws.travel Tel: 018 126 8686

Nabil Fadlallah: nabil@cdws.travel Tel: 012 338 7779

Pictures of sharks taken should by sent by email to: sinai.tec@cdws.travel. For videos, please copy these on to a disc and take this directly to the CDWS office in Hadaba.

Three world renowned shark experts have arrived in Sharm el Sheikh and are currently working with the CDWS. These experts are: Dr Marie Levine, head of the Shark Research Institute in Princeton, USA; Dr George H Burgess, the director of the Florida Program and curator of the International Shark Attack File at the Florida Museum of Natural History for Shark Research; and Dr Ralph Collier, of the Shark Research Committee and author of Shark Attacks of the Twentieth Century. Shark behavioural expert Dr Erich Ritter is assisting from his research centre based in the USA.

They have already begun to work together to analyse all the data collected. Further updates on the situation will be provided as soon as available.

CDWS would like to assure all members that the organisation is working continuously with all the relevant authorities and shark experts to try to resolve this situation in the most appropriate and safe way for all concerned. The CDWS also stresses to all members and the public that it does not in any way condone the random killing of sharks.

For further information please contact Laura Coppa by email laura.coppa@cdws.travel or Mary Gleeson mary.gleeson@cdws.travel

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A Danish newspaper posted an interesting article about the situation in Sharm.

Here is the english translation: English Translation

And here is the original in danish: Danish Article

Jesper Kjøller who was interviewed, is a Padi Course director and DIR diver with many thousands of dives in the Red Sea.

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Here is the newest press release about diving in Sharm el Sheikh:

CDWS shark incident update: diving possible tomorrow in Sharm el Sheikh

6 December 2010 14:00

The majority of areas in Sharm el Sheikh will be open to diving activities for CDWS members and their clients tomorrow (7 December), however, please note a series of restrictions apply on where these can take place and on client experience. All snorkel activities and other watersports – with the exception of glass bottom boat operations – remain suspended in the whole of the Sharm el Sheikh coastal area.

Qualified diving clients, who must have a minimum of 50 logged dives, are permitted to participate in scuba activities run by CDWS members in the areas of Tiran and all sites south of Naama Bay. Diving remains completely banned at this time in the area between Ras Nasrani to the north of Naama Bay where the Ras Mohammed National Park teams are currently working.

Under NO circumstances are introductory or training dives permitted to take place in the sea anywhere in Sharm el Sheikh until CDWS members are notified otherwise.

Following discussions with sharks experts and a series of exploratory dives, it was decided that the areas to be opened, which include the Ras Mohammed National Park and popular sites such as the Thistlegorm, were safe for experienced diving activities. CDWS would like to make it clear that no divers have been involved in any of the incidents reported.

CDWS is working with four world-renowned shark experts at this time. Three of the experts will be arriving over the next two days in Sharm el Sheikh to form an advisory team to try to assess and advise on the best course of action following the four shark attacks in areas north of Naama Bay this week.

Dr George H Burgess, the director of the Florida Program and curator of the International Shark Attack File at the Florida Museum of Natural History for Shark Research, is flying to the resort today. Arriving tomorrow are: Dr Marie Levine, head of the Shark Research Institute in Princeton, USA, and Dr Ralph Collier, of the Shark Research Committee and author of Shark Attacks of the Twentieth Century. Shark behavioural expert Dr Erich Ritter is assisting from his research centre based in the USA. The Ministry of Tourism (MoT) is funding all the costs involved.

A Swedish research vessel is currently surveying the topography of the ocean around Sharm el Sheikh in order to supply data to shark experts to assist their work. CDWS enlisted the help of this vessel to carry out the topography survey and secured all the relevant permissions.

CDWS would like to assure all members that the organisation is working continuously with all the relevant authorities and shark experts to try to resolve this situation in the most appropriate and safe way for all concerned. The CDWS also stresses to all members and the public that it does not in any way condone the random killing of sharks.

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A German lady unfortunatly died after a shark attack at Middle garden. Codolences to the lady’s family.

Therefore CDWS has again suspended diving and all watersport activities in the Sharm area.

Here is the latest press release: From the CDWS site

CDWS statement update Sunday 5 December 22:00

- Diving and all watersports activities suspended in Sharm el Sheikh

- CDWS call in US Shark Experts

CDWS announced this evening that all diving and watersports activities have been suspended along the Sharm El Sheikh coastline tomorrow (Monday 6 December 2010).

The suspension comes following a 4th incident in less than one week involving a shark attack on a tourist. Today’s event took place off the beach in front of the Hyatt hotel, Naama Bay. Unfortunately, the 71 year old German woman did not survive.

Last week, three similar attacks took place involving one Ukranian and two Russian snorkellers. These incidents led to severe injuries, but no loss of life.

CDWS is the regulatory body for diving and watersports in Egypt and would like to emphasise that such attacks are extremely rare and this kind of shark behaviour is causing disbelief amongst the Red Sea diving community.

CDWS has over recent days called upon a number of experts from around the world including Dr Marie Levine (Head of the Shark Research Institute in Princeton), Dr Erich Ritter (a specialist in behavioural ecology), Dr Ralph Collier (Shark Research Committee and author of Shark Attacks of the Twentieth Century) and Dr. George H. Burgess (director of the Florida Program for Shark Research) in order to build a team of professionals in the field of shark behaviour.

Dr Burgess is also the director of the Florida Program for Shark Research and the curator of the International Shark Attack File (Florida Museum of National History) and will be the first to arrive in Sharm el Sheikh on Monday evening to join the team here in the resort. Together they will establish the best way to deal with this highly unusual situation and attempt to find the root of its cause.

CDWS chairman Hesham Gabr has called on the organisation’s members to conduct further exploratory dives tomorrow along the Sharm el Sheikh coast in order to report back to the shark experts. He would also like to express his sympathies to the family of today’s victim.

-ends-

For further information from CDWS please contact Laura Coppa by email laura.coppa@cdws.travel

Official Egyptian government spokesman, Mr Ahmed Saleh, Deputy Governor for South Sinai. Tel. +20 10 164 0440

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Just got this news, from a friend working as an Instructor in Sharm el Sheikh. It should happened 1.5 hours ago:

Another shark incident….reports of 2 sharks attacking snorklers in Middle Garden today. All boats recalled….not good news….
about an hour ago.

This is very bad news, lets hope the egyptians dont start to hunt every shark in the red sea.

More information here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-11922032

At around 14:40 today there has been an artacin at Nabq 30 km north of Sharm as well.

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