Portrait of Sandmonkey, Mona, Gigi and I, taken by Platon for Human Rights Watch.

Ismail Marzouk, one of Egypt’s leading technical diving instructors, has died today in Daedalus, during a wreck dive. He was 33. His body was never recovered.

As a young Cairo law student, Ismail was active with the socialist movement, before moving to the Red Sea where he worked in eco-tourism, learned diving and quickly became one of the most prominent IANTD instructors in the Red Sea.

I spent weeks with Ismail last winter in Hurghada, where he introduced me to technical diving. His hospitality, sense of humor were unmatched.

His home in Hurghada, I felt, was mine too thanks to his warm fraternal personality. Ismail, who passionately supported the revolution, has also been active in the ongoing efforts to unionize Egypt’s divers.

He is survived by his wife, Jude, and baby daughter, Aisha. He will be terribly missed by his family and friends. Rest in peace, Ismail.

I received this message from my friend Hannah Allam:

Hi, ya Hossam! …. you’ll never believe what I found while cleaning out old emails. Attached is the sound Challiss McDonough recorded when Amn el Markazi attacked me when I was covering protests back in 2006! Not sure if you remember, but you helped pull me over a car to escape them. Challiss caught it all on tape – my screaming, the blows from the batons, and, best of all, you telling me at the end, “Good girl!” hahahahahahahaha! Classic!
It also reminded me how long you’ve been at this, and how much the revolution must mean to you.
Enjoy,
Hannah

Kristina, a Bulgarian PADI instructor and diving magazine editor.