Daedalus: the shadow of Shark Finning
Daedalus Reef has always been the hub of diving cruises in Egypt. For years, diving at its “Punta Nord” was a guarantee, not a gamble: the encounter with the large school of hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini).
Before 2020, sighting density was impressive. It wasn’t just about spotting silhouettes in the blue, but about interacting with compact schools of 10, 15, or even 25 specimens. That was the norm for this site. To illustrate that period, I am sharing a video shot in August 2017 by Alberto, who was diving with me (at the time, I wasn’t filming yet), which documents the emotions experienced.
The hammerhead school at Daedalus in 2017 (video by Alberto Trinca).
The reopening of the dive site in the post-Covid era revealed a drastically changed scenario. Over my three dives after the pandemic, the “wall” of hammerheads disappeared. The outcome of my dives was disheartening: in three different holidays, the maximum number of individuals sighted at the same time was two. Often, there was nothing at all.
Initially, I hypothesized environmental causes. I analyzed the historical data from my logbook on water temperatures, comparing them with current figures: no significant anomalies. This year I even dove in November, with lower temperatures and conditions theoretically ideal for pelagics. The result was the worst: zero sightings, not even one.
Excluding natural causes, I delved deeper into the matter with local guides and instructors. The information collected depicts a worrying reality. During the lockdown, the total absence of cruise boats deprived the Marine Park of any surveillance. Multiple sources confirm that, during that silence, industrial fishing vessels (probably of Yemeni origin) operated undisturbed in the waters of Daedalus Reef.
Supporting this hypothesis are the findings of some guides: upon the site’s reopening, large fishing nets were found on the seabed at Punta Nord.
Solo sighting in August 2025. This is what remains today of one of the most spectacular pelagic gatherings in the Red Sea.
During the Covid period, especially in St. John’s, there were reports of a Yemeni boat loaded with shark fins. The conclusion is as brutal as it is logical: the schools did not move to deeper waters nor did they migrate elsewhere—they were fished. The fins of sharks that once populated our videos ended up on the Asian market, used to stimulate the sexual arousal of the local population.
Covid took the eyes off the sea for two years, and human predators took advantage of that to wipe out its inhabitants.
We hope that nature, with its incredible resilience, can one day repopulate Daedalus with hammerheads, but for now, all we can do is watch old videos and remember what we lost due to human greed.
From the elegance of Silky sharks to the majesty of Oceanic Whitetips, along with Threshers sharks, oceanic mantas, turtles, and breathtaking coral gardens, this place retains a unique magic. Even orphaned of its historic school, Daedalus remains one of the most beautiful sites on the planet for me.
I won’t stop coming back: I will do it for everything that is still here, and with the constant hope of seeing, one day, the Hammerheads reclaim their home.
My next date with Daedalus is set for May 30th, 2026, when our group cruise departs for the BDE itinerary. We are returning to Egypt aboard one of the finest vessels in the entire Red Sea: the MY Anemone.
It will also be a learning opportunity: I will be hosting a free seminar on board specifically dedicated to GoPro. We will cover the correct settings for underwater filming, with a special focus on the advanced capabilities that GoPro Labs offers to the most demanding creators. If you want to join us, drop me a line: send me a message and I’ll share all the details.