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Reef Strike of the Firebird

Operator
Vessel
Date
Location
north of Sharm El Sheikh, Gulf of Aqaba, Egypt
Fatalities
0

According to DIVE Magazine and Divernet, the liveaboard Firebird, operated by Into The Blue, struck a reef around 1am on 20 April 2025 while heading north up the Gulf of Aqaba toward Dahab, sustaining significant damage. Seven guests and seven crew were evacuated within 16 minutes according to the operator, with no injuries reported. Egypt's Chamber of Diving & Water Sports notified regional naval and land-based emergency services; the cause was under investigation by Egypt's Ministry of Tourism as of the cited reporting.

Conditions that day

Wind
0 to 6 kn from 330°
Strongest gust
17 kn
Hour by hour (24 of 24 hours, UTC)
UTCWindGustFrom
00:006 kn12 kn340°
01:006 kn11 kn340°
02:006 kn11 kn340°
03:006 kn11 kn330°
04:006 kn10 kn330°
05:004 kn10 kn330°
06:004 kn11 kn330°
07:003 kn12 kn340°
08:002 kn13 kn340°
09:000 kn13 kn340°
10:001 kn13 kn150°
11:002 kn14 kn190°
12:003 kn15 knSW
13:004 kn17 kn240°
14:006 kn17 kn260°
15:005 kn15 knW
16:004 kn10 kn280°
17:003 kn11 knNW
18:005 kn13 kn350°
19:006 kn12 knN
20:006 kn12 knN
21:005 kn10 knN
22:005 kn9 kn350°
23:005 kn9 kn340°

ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, sampled 22 km from the recorded position. Modelled conditions across the whole day, not an observation at the vessel: a grid this coarse averages away the localised squall or wave a report may describe. Not a statement of cause.

Photos

Sources

DIVE Magazine
Divers, crew evacuated as Red Sea liveaboard Firebird strikes reef en route to Dahab·21 April 2025
Divernet
Red Sea liveaboard abandoned after striking reef·22 April 2025
The Scuba News
CDWS Issue Statement on Firebird Liveaboard Incident·20 April 2025
Reef Strike of the Firebird | DiveSafe