DEEP TROUBLE
Doomed Red Sea submarine ‘CRASHED and scraped sea floor’ on trips before deadly sinking killed six, Brit tourist warned
Reviews were scathing about how clean the submarine was
THE DOOMED Red Sea submarine crashed and scraped the sea floor on trips before it killed six people, a Brit tourist has warned.
Six tourists are dead and 39 were rescued after the pleasure submarine sank off the coast of the Red Sea resort city of Hurghada, Egypt, on Thursday.
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Holidaymakers have left eerie reviews of the Sindbad submarine tour just months before a survivor said staff forgot to close the hatch.
In a Tripadvisor review from a holiday in October, 'stubbyd' from Bridgend said: "they also 'big up' the qualifications of the captain.
"But constantly bumping the sub on the sea floor is not good for the sea life, sea floor, my sanity of ultimately I'd say the sub!"
Holidaymaker Alexander S said: "I don't recommend it.
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"The submarine hit the rocks/ corals several times and swirled the sand etc up."
While Kevin K wrote: "I had the feeling several times that we were on the ground".
Another person described it as "the worst experience ever" do to the submarine being dirty.
Other tourists who went on the submarine just several days ago said the vessel was in a “terrible condition”.
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“The glass was broken and scuffed, and visibility was 50/50."
“It was difficult to see the fish and the diving show.”
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There were complaints about “old and damaged life jackets”.
Some 45, mostly Russian, holidaymakers were on board the vessel which sank in the harbour about a kilometre off the Egyptian coast.
A survivor said the disaster happened after the crew didn't close the hatch and an investigation has now been launched by Egyptian authorities into the cause.
The Russian tourists were part of the Biblio Globus company and many were staying at Sindbad hotel - which owned the submarine.
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The sub was operated by Sindbad Submarines which takes tourists up to 85 feet below the balmy waters of the Red Sea for 40 minutes.
An adult ticket costs £53 while a child's ticket costs £25 for the three-hour journey which includes a boat ride out to the waiting to submersible.
Those on board will get to enjoy seeing coral and fish as well as a show performed by divers outside the boat.
The Russian embassy in Cairo said: "On March 27, at about 10:00, the Sindbad bathyscaphe, owned by the hotel of the same name, crashed 1km off the shore. […] In addition to the crew, there were 45 tourists on board, including minors. All of them are Russian citizens."
"Most of those on board were rescued and taken to their hotels and hospitals in Hurghada.
"Their health condition is not a concern. Four people died. The fate of several tourists is being clarified."
Hurghada is a popular tourist destination for Brits and Germans and a number of nautical jaunts operate from the resort.
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It stretches some 25 miles across the Egyptian coast with the Red Sea and is frequented by sun-lovers and divers.
The Sun has contacted Sindbad Submarines for comment.
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