Red Sea divers to continue

2004-08-09 11:08

Cairo - Five Britons, five Portuguese and two Belgians who were missing in the Red Sea for almost 30 hours are to continue their diving cruise with their 10 companions, Egypt's tourism ministry said on Monday.

The 12 went back to sea after a check-up at a military hospital in the region following their rescue from waters infested by sharks at this time of year.

The ministry said they had underestimated the strength of the current when they went diving off Quseir, some 800km (500 miles) south of the capital Cairo.

They had been swept away and were finally found some 8km away, where they had formed a circle to increase their chances of being spotted.

At least 10 lifeboats and a helicopter were dispatched by the Egyptian authorities to search the area, a paradise for divers and other water sports fans, after the alarm was raised by the divers' colleagues.

- AFP