Egypt

Egyptian authorities have successfully intercepted an illicit operation involving the theft of nearly 450 artefacts recovered from the seabed in the Abu Qir Bay near Alexandria. The artefacts, believed to date back to the Greek and Roman periods, were seized from two suspects who were planning to sell them on the black market.

Despite the conflicts not being close to the main Red Sea dive resorts, many operators we spoke to at the Boot show in Germany reported an increase in cancellations and a noticeable slowdown in bookings.

One operator based in Marsa Alam wrote that after the Boot show they had attended additional exhibitions and met many people who were enthusiastic about diving in Egypt. However, a handful expressed reluctance, choosing not to visit this year due to the political climate.

The museum, a collaborative effort between the local government of the Red Sea province and Egypt's Ministry of Environment, spans three newly designated diving sites near the resort city of Hurghada.

The goal of the new museum

The primary objective of the initiative, as conveyed by the Red Sea province's governor earlier in the week, is to redirect the highly popular diving activities in Hurghada away from coral reefs. These reefs have suffered erosion due to decades of extensive tourism. The strategy involves introducing alternative dive sites in close proximity.

With an estimated weight of 412.3 pounds (187 kilograms) and a length of 8.2 feet (2.5 meters), this newly documented species is roughly the size of a modern-day bottlenose dolphin.

Named Tutcetus rayanensis, this creature belonged to the extinct basilosauridae family, which was one of the earliest groups to become fully aquatic. As revealed in a study published in Communications Biology on Thursday, this diminutive specimen is considerably older than other basilosaurids from the Eocene Epoch.

The boat's operator, Tornado Marine Fleet, said 15 British passengers had been on board along with 12 crew members and two guides. Twenty-six other people, including 12 Britons, were rescued from the boat, called Hurricane, which was off the coast of Marsa Alam, authorities said.

Researchers have discovered that Lake Bardawil in Egypt is the preferred foraging spot for female turtles that lay eggs at key rookeries in Cyprus.

Situated at the northern coast of the Sinai Peninsula, Lake Bardawil is a large, shallow lagoon with an artificial opening that connects to the sea. Initially created as a fishery in the 1950s, it became an ideal seagrass habitat for adult green turtles.

Egyptian nationals and foreign tourists alike have complained that authorities have requested permits for shooting in public areas, and at times seized cameras and forbidden shooting even if a permit is in place.

In a statement, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Khaled El-Enani announced that 'photography enthusiasts', foreign residents in Egypt and tourists will be able to take pictures in public without permits and that “no one will be allowed to ask you why you are filming in public”

The Associated Press reported that the governor of the Red Sea province closed the area for three days.  All "sea activities" have been banned, including diving, snorkelling, wind surfing, kite sailing and fishing boats.

According to reports, an 68-year-old woman from Austria was swimming in the Red Sea near the resort of Sahl Hasheesh when she was attacked by a shark.