Following yesterday’s reported grounding of the liveaboard Royal Evolution on the reef at Abu Dabbab, the vessel’s management team has released two official statements to clarify the situation and address circulating reports.
The first statement, issued on the evening of the incident, confirmed that Royal Evolution’s keel made light contact with the reef at Abu Dabbab Four Reef during low tide. The team stated that the situation remained “completely calm and under control,” with no injuries and no hull damage — only minor contact to the keel. They added that operations were expected to resume once the tide rose later that evening and emphasized the company’s commitment to transparency, offering to share underwater footage of the incident.
In the same message, Royal Evolution expressed disappointment over what it described as “misleading information” published online about the Red Sea liveaboard industry, highlighting the importance of constructive journalism in maintaining the reputation and safety standards of the region’s dive sector.
The second statement, released approximately one hour ago, provides an update on the actions taken since. The company confirmed that all guests were accommodated at Abu Dabbab Hotel overnight and that a team of specialized marine experts is now working on the safe recovery of the vessel. This process, according to the statement, is being handled “with the utmost care to minimize any potential impact on both the reef and the boat.”
Both statements reaffirm that all guests, crew, and personal belongings remain safe and that Royal Evolution continues to prioritize safety, professionalism, and environmental responsibility.
The full text of both official statements is published below in their entirety for full transparency.
With regret, we inform our friends and followers that this morning, the keel of Royal Evolution made light contact with the reef at Abu Dabab Four Reef. The situation has remained completely calm and under control. We are pleased to confirm that the vessel, guests, and crew are all safe, and there has been no damage to the hull — only the keel made contact with the reef. Due to low tide conditions, we are currently waiting for high tide around 9:00 PM tonight, at which time we expect to continue operations as normal. For full transparency, we will share an underwater video with anyone concerned to verify the situation. Please rest assured that, had there been any risk to the safety of our guests, crew, or vessel, we would have immediately implemented our safety and evacuation procedures and dispatched support vessels as per our protocol. Regarding the recent online reports by the publisher of Taucher.net, we are disappointed by the repeated spread of misleading information about the Red Sea liveaboard industry. Constructive journalism is essential to promote safety and awareness , but unfair and sensational reporting only harms the reputation of this world-class dive destination and the many professionals working hard to maintain its high standards. Over the past year, such negative and biased publications have contributed to a significant downturn in the liveaboard sector, affecting livelihoods and the image of the Red Sea as a premier diving destination. We remain committed to transparency, professionalism, and the safety of all our guests and crew. Thank you to everyone who continues to support responsible diving and fair reporting
Following our previous update, we would like to inform you that we have decided it was most appropriate to accommodate all our guests at Abu Dabab Hotel last evening. In the meantime, we are collaborating with a team of specialized marine experts to ensure the proper and safe salvaging of the vessel, which is taking place today. This process is being carried out with the utmost care to minimize any potential impact on both the reef and the boat. We are pleased to confirm that all guests, their belongings, and the crew remain safe and well. Thank you for your continued support and understanding
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