Safety first for Egypt's diving watchdog

Egypt's newly established Chamber of Diving and Watersports (CDWS) says improving safety and protecting the marine environment are its main priorities, as it aims to ensure the entire industry meets European Underwater Federation (EUF) standards.

Operating under the Egyptian Tourist Federation's governmental umbrella, the CDWS is the first body to officially regulate Egypt's diving and watersports industry.

'We have a responsibility to try to put order into a sector which until now has not been officially regulated,' Hesham Gabr Ali, CDWS board member and manager of Sharm El Sheikh's Camel Dive Club, told DIVE. 'We looked for existing laws and regulations in Europe. The CDWS signed an agreement with the Austrian Standards Institute [the certification arm of the EUF] so we could have a clear, internationally recognised standard set. The chamber will also be the mechanism of communication between the sector and Ministry of Tourism.'

From November 2008, all dive centres and safari boats must be members of the CDWS to apply for a mandatory Egyptian Ministry of Tourism licence to legally operate in the country. Currently, about 320 dive centres and 80 safari boats are CDWS members.

Independent auditors have already begun what is expected to be an 18-month process of checking that every dive business meets EN 14467/ISO 24803 regulations. Everything from training standards to hire equipment and air fills must meet the European requirements. Audits take two to four days to complete, and operators must pass inspections to qualify for or renew CDWS membership.

There are also plans to train skippers and crews on Egyptian leisure industry boats in seamanship to recognised standards, first aid skills and environmental awareness.

It is hoped that these measures will increase safety standards in the Egyptian watersports industry. Under its government-backed remit, the CDWS can technically investigate incidents and accidents and provide recommendations, statistics and data to help minimise accidents and improve service and safety.

However, one of the greatest challenges facing the CDWS, according to Hesham Gabr, is the push for legislation to protect and monitor the marine environment of the Red Sea.

Among the representatives on the CDWS board is the Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association (HEPCA). Together, the organisations are calling on the government to declare the Red Sea a 'no catch zone'.

'The environmental side is a much bigger problem,' said Hesham Gabr. 'The aim is to bring the issue of illegal fishing to the surface as fish stocks in the Red Sea are under serious threat, but the fishing lobby is powerful.

'I want to see illegal fishing stopped - this would be the biggest achievement of my life.'


Source - Dive Magazine