Question Egypt Safety due ongoing War in the region

[Rafael Moreira]

Hello everyone,

I have a Liveaboard booked for next year in Hurghada, Egypt. Obviously, I have DAN insurance and added trip insurance for this trip, which would cover 75% in case of cancellation for any reason.

My question for my friends here is, considering everything that is happening in the region, what are your thoughts regarding safety?
If you have been there recently, could you share your experience, especially in light of the ongoing war?
What brought me this concern recently was reading that a US Navy Destroyer has shot down missiles in the Red Sea and how this has been perceived locally.

I am considering cancelling this trip and going to Cairns in Australia instead.

Thank you,

 

[BoltSnap]

I am going to Hurghada in February and taking family with me. Just keep a low profile, keep your political and religious views to yourself and all will be ok Inshallah.

Water will be cold in February there. I am taking my semidry suit with me.

 

[Josh the diver]

I have friends that just got back from Egypt, they where in Cairo and dove the south end of the red sea out of Marsa Alam I believe. they felt safe through out there 2 week trip.

 

[rick00001967]

next year? when next year?

if we are talking about early in 2024 i would think you should seriously be making other plans. i certainly would. or at least find out what your options are so you are prepared.

if we are talking about late next year, this conversation is premature.

 

[Sensorone]

Went to Townsville Australia in 1992 with my US Navy patrol squadron. Didn't get to dive do to flying restrictions but the Great Barrier Reef looked beautiful from the air. So close. The people were great. I vote Australia.

 

[MB NZ]

As per a recent similar thread, if cancelling without losing money is an option, I would go down that route, otherwise, I would plan to go, but be ready to cancel if things take a turn for the worse. Given the history of the Middle East, that is not entirely unlikely.

For reference, I have been to Egypt over a dozens times and have never had any problems related to personal safety.

 

[DavidFL]

It's a tough call. I was on a liveaboard from Hurghada this year in March, well before the current situation developed. One of the things I noticed, and I've seen other people use this as a reason for asserting it is safe there: members of our group who went on various tours in Egypt by hired car had police escorts for the full length of daytrips that venture from Hurghada to the more traditional Egypt tourist sites. To me it's troubling that the trip operators and the police (no doubt money changed hands in return for the official police escort, but still) thought that was a necessary precaution. In fairness, there may also be an element of using the police escort to partially overcome the traffic chaos when the route goes through more dense areas.. Nonetheless there is a high level of abject poverty in Egypt, aggravated significantly by 50+ % inflation and other manifestations of the current economic situation that leaves a very large number of natives right on the edge of basic survival. Add to that some religious fervor (regardless of which, if any, side of the fervor you may be) resulting from war in the Middle East and I believe that increases the risk of travel there. If I were in your situation and had "cancel for any reason insurance", I might wait a little longer since I think you can cancel up to or pretty close to the departure date, but I would certainly strongly consider cancelling and going elsewhere.

 

[crofrog]

It’s safe until it’s not. Have a plan to E&E.

 

[gmerick]

Gaza strip - 140 sq miles - 1/10 size of long island. population 2.1 million
NYC crime rate 5.21 / 1000 residents

It's a very small regional conflict. The news media makes a big deal out of it. I'd worry more about pirates off the coast of Africa, and even that doesn't cause great concern.

Enjoy your trip. Take trip insurance. Check the armed conflict exclusion.

 

[Troglodyti 4.0]

If I were travelling with my family, I would cancel. I read on the news an Egyptian policemen shot two Israeli's dead on the street. The tourist areas have a large police presence, but with hatred being fueled on both sides, can you risk it?