Six Russian tourists, including two children, died after a tourist submarine called the Sinbad sank in the Egyptian Red Sea near the coastal city of Hurghada on Thursday, March 27, 2025. The incident occurred around 10:00 local time (08:00 GMT), approximately 1km offshore.
Thirty-nine people were rescued from the vessel, with nine reported injured and four in critical condition. Young children on oxygen are among those being treated in the hospital. The submarine was carrying 45 passengers and 5 crew members at the time of the incident.
Passengers and Rescue Efforts
According to Red Sea Governor Amr Hanafy, the 45 passengers on the Sinbad were from Russia, India, Norway, and Sweden, with five Egyptian crew members also on board. The six who died were all Russian nationals, including two married doctors. Their daughters remain hospitalized.
Rescue teams responded quickly to the emergency, bringing survivors to nearby hotels and hospitals in Hurghada. Authorities are still investigating what caused the submarine to sink, though early reports from the Association of Tour Operators of Russia suggest the submarine hit a reef and subsequently lost pressure while at a depth of 20 meters (65 feet).
The Submarine Experience
Sindbad Submarines, which operated the tourist vessel, offered underwater tours to explore coral reefs near the Hurghada coastline. According to their advertisements, the submarine could travel 25 meters (82 feet) underwater and provided “air-conditioned comfort and safety” with 44 passenger seats, two pilots’ seats, and viewing windows for each passenger.
A British tourist, Dr. James Aldridge from Bristol, who had taken the same submarine tour in February 2025, described it as “well-maintained” with “modern equipment and attentive and professional English-speaking staff.” He mentioned that passengers received a safety briefing in multiple languages, but life jackets were not issued.
Previous Incidents
This is the second incident involving a tourist vessel in the Red Sea in recent months. In November, a boat capsized near Marsa Allam, leaving 11 people missing and presumed dead.