Shark attack puts people off taking a holiday in Sharm el Sheik

Shark attacks caused underwater chaos last week for tourists on holiday in Sharm el Sheik. All diving and snorkelling activities were suspended. Diving enthusiasts flock to Sharm el Sheik, so the decision to cancel trips had an impact on many tourists in the area. Certain dive sites were opened yesterday, but they can only be visited if divers have booked their trip through a Chamber of Diving and Water Sports (CDWS) operator.

The death of a German woman at the weekend, the first shark fatality in Sharm el Sheik in five years, has led to a decline in the number of people searching for a holiday in Sharm el Sheik. Price comparison website, Skyscanner, has experienced a 13% decrease in searches for the Red Sea destination.

Anyone that has booked a holiday in Sharm el Sheik and wishes to cancel will only receive a refund if they have booked a special diving holiday. A spokesman for ABTA commented: "Unless a product is clearly sold as a diving or water sports holiday, normal booking conditions will apply. Travellers who have booked a diving holiday should be entitled to a refund or given the option of rearranging their itinerary."

If you are already on holiday in Sharm el Sheik, pay close attention to the advice of the local authorities and only enter the water if it is safe to do so. While some dive spots have been opened, most swimming areas remain closed.

It was thought that the shark attacks were carried out by a white tip shark, but attacks on humans by these creatures is extremely rare. Two sharks were caught last week, a white tip and a mako, but reports suggest that neither of them matched a photograph of the shark that carried out one of the attacks.

The number of shark attacks that have taken place in such a short space of time in Sharm el Sheik is very unusual, which has led experts to believe the attacks were carried out by one animal with some kind of sensory problem.

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