A solo female traveller has alleged that a scuba diving instructor touched her inappropriately during a training session in Hurghada, sharing an underwater video of the incident on social media.
The woman, identified online as Mediene, posted the clip-on Instagram and said the contact occurred during a dive lesson. In the footage, the instructor is seen touching different parts of her body while the pair practised underwater skills.
Also Read | When is Eid al-Fitr 2026 in India? Expected date, Chand Raat and moon sighting- all details here
Mediene said the physical contact was "extremely inappropriate" and unrelated to safety procedures or normal scuba training practices.
"In this clip you can see my instructor touching different parts of my body in ways that had nothing to do with safety or proper diving instruction," she wrote in the caption accompanying the video. She said she pushed the instructor’s hand away and repositioned it during the dive to stop the contact.
Instructor identified in the post
The mediene identified the instructor as Haithem M. Abd El Hamied and stated her reason for sharing the video, which was to caution other women travelling alone. She further emphasised the power imbalance between the instructor and the learner, especially in activities such as diving, where the learners are forced to rely on the instructor for their safety.
"When you are underwater, there is a huge power dynamic. The instructor controls the dive, and many people feel like they have to stay quiet or go along with whatever is happening," she wrote.
The traveller cautioned other women to always trust their instincts and establish boundaries while participating in activities such as diving, among others. She further cautioned women to always scrutinise diving centres and the credentials of freelance diving instructors before enrolling for classes.
Social media reactions and expert responses
This video has quickly gone viral, and many are encouraging this woman to report this incident to the dive center and diving authorities.
There are also professional diving instructors who have commented on this video, and they have stated that although there is a need for physical contact during training, this video is quite unusual.
One instructor wrote that contact during training is typically limited to equipment straps or fins in order to prevent divers from ascending too quickly or losing control underwater. Another instructor said that although instructors may occasionally adjust a student’s position or buoyancy, the behaviour in the clip did not appear consistent with standard teaching practices.
