24. 09. 2008Colona Divers passed CDWS inspection!
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.'
