Sindbad Submarine in Hurghada: current status, safety and alternatives

Updated on October 18, 2026

The Sindbad tourist submarine, for years one of Hurghada's best-selling trips, stopped running after the sinking of 27 March 2025. That day the Sindbad sank close to the coast while passengers were boarding: six Russian tourists died and several others were injured. The company Sindbad Submarines immediately suspended all its trips and cancelled the departures that followed. According to travel guides consulted in October 2026, the trips have not resumed and no date for resumption has been confirmed. This page therefore gives no price or timetable: any price quoted by an agency must be checked. A technical report by the maritime authority attributed the accident to water entering during dive preparations; Egyptian courts later handed down sentences.

Highlights

Inside a tourist submarine

These submarines have portholes along the walls that let you watch reefs and fish without diving. Before the accident, agencies advertised trips of about two hours with hotel transfer, including around fifty minutes underwater according to one of them: the length varied between offers.

The glass-bottom boat alternative

Glass-bottom boats, like those that leave from hotel beaches, remain a simple way to see the reef without getting wet. They suit children and people who cannot swim; check that life jackets are available.

What to check before booking

An agency may still sell "the submarine": ask in writing for the operator's company name, the official resumption date and the insurance. If they cannot provide them, do not pay.

Snorkelling

To see the fish, snorkelling from the beach or on a boat trip is cheaper and supervised. See our diving and snorkelling sites in Hurghada and Giftun Island.

Practical info

Tips

Check the status of the trip with your hotel or a trusted agency before paying any deposit. For any trip at sea, look at the condition of the boat, the number of life jackets and the presence of crew, and see our advice on scams and safety in Hurghada. Information cross-checked in press reports and travel guides in October 2026.