You book a flight to Hurghada or Sharm El Sheikh for the crystal clear water and the promise of a peaceful dive. You trust your instructor. They’re the professional. They’re the person keeping you alive forty feet under the surface. But a recent, sickening incident in Egypt has ripped that trust apart. A young woman’s holiday turned into a living nightmare when her scuba instructor allegedly groped her repeatedly underwater—a place where she was literally unable to scream for help.
This isn't just about one bad apple. It’s a wake-up call for anyone planning a diving trip. If you think your wetsuit or the presence of other divers makes you safe, you’re wrong. Predator instructors rely on the fact that you’re vulnerable and focused on breathing. We need to talk about what happened and how you can actually protect yourself because the "official" safety briefings clearly aren't enough.
The Underwater Assault That Should Have Never Happened
The details of the incident are enough to make your blood boil. While on a guided dive, the instructor supposedly used the guise of "adjusting equipment" or "checking buoyancy" to touch the victim inappropriately. Think about the physical reality of that for a second. You’re submerged. You’re reliant on your air supply. Your movement is restricted by the water and your gear. You can't just run away.
The alleged predator didn't stop at the water's edge either. Reports indicate he followed up the assault with a "creepy offer" to visit the victim's hotel room later. This shows a terrifying level of boldness. He wasn't afraid of consequences. He wasn't worried about the dive center's reputation. He saw a tourist as a target.
This happens way more than the travel industry wants to admit. Egypt’s Red Sea is a massive economy. Tourism is the lifeblood. When stories like this break, they’re often suppressed or dismissed as "misunderstandings" to keep the money flowing. But for the woman involved, this wasn't a misunderstanding. It was a violation of her body and her safety in an environment where she was most at risk.
Why Diving Instructors Can Get Away With Harassment
I've seen the internal culture of some of these dive resorts. It’s often a boys' club. Instructors are often viewed as local celebrities or "cool" adventure types. This power dynamic is dangerous. When a student is nervous—which most are—they cling to their instructor's every move. Predators sniff out that anxiety.
They use "safety touches" to test boundaries. A hand on the waist to "steady" you. A brush against the chest to "check a valve." If you don't recoil—which is hard to do when you’re trying not to drown—they push further. They know that by the time you're back on the boat, you're often too shocked or confused to speak up. You start gaslighting yourself. Was that an accident? Maybe he was just checking my BCD? No. If it felt wrong, it was wrong.
The industry standard for PADI or SSI certification is high, but the individual dive shops? They’re a mixed bag. Some are world-class. Others are literal death traps with predatory staff who have been fired from three other shops and just hopped over to the next one. Background checks are basically non-existent in many of these coastal towns.
Red Flags You Need to Spot Before You Get in the Water
Don't wait until you're at thirty feet to decide if you trust your guide. You have to be an aggressive advocate for your own safety from the moment you walk into the shop. If the vibe is off, leave.
Check how the instructor talks to other women. Are they making "jokes"? Are they overly touchy during the gear-fitting process? If they're "joking" about your body while you’re putting on a wetsuit, they'll be ten times worse under the waves.
Ask the shop about their harassment policy. I'm serious. Ask it. Watch their faces. If they laugh or act like you're being dramatic, walk out. A professional shop will have a clear protocol and likely female instructors on staff. If a shop is 100% male and dismissive of safety concerns, they don't deserve your money or your life.
How to Handle a Situation Underwater
If someone touches you inappropriately while diving, the "professional" advice is often to use hand signals. But let’s be real. When you’re panicked, you’re not thinking about the "stop" signal.
- Create physical distance immediately. Use your fins. Kick away. It doesn't matter if it ruins the "flow" of the dive.
- Find another diver. Swim toward a buddy or even another group. Predators hate witnesses.
- End the dive. Give the thumbs-up signal (ascend) immediately. Do not stay down. Do not "finish the tour." If the instructor tries to pull you back down, fight for the surface.
- Make a scene on the boat. This is the hardest part. You're surrounded by other tourists. You don't want to be "that person." Be that person. Loudly state what happened. When there are witnesses on the boat hearing your accusation, it’s much harder for the shop to bury the report.
The Problem With Egypt's Tourism Police
Reporting crimes in Egypt is a bureaucratic nightmare. The "Tourism Police" exist, but their primary goal is often protecting the image of the country, not necessarily the individual victim. If you are assaulted, you need to contact your embassy immediately. Do not rely solely on local authorities to do the right thing.
Document everything. Take photos of the instructor’s ID or the shop’s license. Get the names of other divers on the boat who might have seen the instructor acting strangely. You need a paper trail because the dive center will likely try to delete your booking records or claim you were never there if things get legal.
Choosing a Safe Dive Center in the Red Sea
Stop picking the cheapest option. Those "budget" dive packages often cut costs on staff training and safety standards. Look for "Five Star Career Development Centers." These shops are under more scrutiny from international diving organizations.
Read the reviews, but look for the "bad" ones. Search for keywords like "uncomfortable," "creepy," or "unprofessional." Sometimes people are too scared to use the word "assault" in a public review, so they use coded language. Pay attention to that.
Demand a female instructor if that makes you feel safer. Any reputable shop in Hurghada or Sharm should be able to accommodate this, or at least have a female divemaster on the boat. If they say no, ask why.
Moving Forward Without Fear
Diving is an incredible experience. The Red Sea is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. You shouldn't have to give that up because of a few disgusting predators. But you do have to change how you approach it.
The era of "blindly trusting the expert" is over. You are the client. You are the one in charge of your body. If an instructor makes a "creepy offer" or touches you in a way that feels intentional, it’s a crime. Treat it like one.
Before your next trip, research the specific dive center on independent forums like ScubaBoard or Reddit’s r/scuba. Ask people who have been there recently. Don't just look at the pretty pictures on Instagram. Real safety is found in the experiences of other divers who have been in those same waters.
If you're in Egypt right now and feeling unsafe, contact your consulate. Don't worry about being "polite" to a dive shop that makes your skin crawl. Grab your gear and get out. There are plenty of professional, respectful instructors who actually care about the sport and your safety. Find them and ignore the rest.
