Scuba diving continues after horror of blasts in Sharm el Sheikh

Some days after the devastating bombings in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el Sheikh, a picture is emerging of the attack's effects in relation to holiday diving.

Divernet has not received firm news of any diving tourists among those killed or injured, though two divers staying at the Hyatt Regency were feared to be among the Britons reported missing. There were no reported deaths or injuries among dive centre employees.

Diving appears set to continue as normal while, in Britain, divers appear willing to press ahead with holidays to Sharm, following a number of initial holiday cancellations.

Having offered refunds to travellers in the immediate aftermath of the attacks, British tour operators are not offering further refunds. This is because the Foreign Office, while counselling vigilance due to the "high threat of terrorism in Egypt", is not advising Britons not to visit the country.

"We offered refunds to those flying out to Sharm on 24 July, the day after the attack, and 30 bookings were cancelled," Andreas Elia, Director of Regaldive, told Divernet. "Thereafter, our position has been that refunds cannot be made."

Elia has been waiting to hear from customers who might wish to withdraw from flying to Sharm next Sunday, 31 July. Some 110 passengers were due to fly from Manchester and Gatwick but, at mid-week, none have cancelled.

Joanna Kolatsis, Head of Legal at Goldenjoy, has described a similar pattern. "For holidays due to depart immediately after the bombings, 50 per cent of customers cancelled and we refunded them," she told Divernet. Now, refunds are no longer available.

"My information is that this is the pattern across the industry," said Kolatsis. Goldenjoy's cancellations for the next round of flights out to Sharm have numbered just three.

In Sharm, dive centres have been reporting business as usual. A co-owner of Divers Lodge, for instance, has said that things have "calmed down". Red Sea Diving College has stated that boats and diving courses are running "as normal", as are hotels and restaurants.

The reaction of the British public in terms of future bookings is unknown - but divers have a well-established reputation for being among the most unshakeable of holidaymakers.

Source: www.divernet.com