THIS is the horrific moment the Sindbad submarine disaster unfolds as the vessel plunges beneath the waves with its hatches still open.
Harrowing footage shows the sub beginning its dive beneath the Red Sea while tourists are still boarding, leaving them screaming in panic.
Six Russians were killed on Thursday in the Egyptian holiday tragedy – including two children.
Video captured by one of the tourists boarding the submarine shows the moment their jaunt turned into a nightmare.
Water quickly starts to rise around the holidaymakers’ feet as the craft begins to dive.
The woman notices the rising water and remarks: “That’s it the dive has begun, we are already descending slowly.”
Panicked children then begin to scream as the submarine descends fast and within seconds the holidaymakers are left swimming for their lives.
The phone is plunged into the water for several seconds before it cuts out.
The hatch of the craft can still be seen open in the clip, suggesting that seawater would have rushed into the vessel.
Tourist Regina told Russian media that she was on top of the craft with her two children, aged nine and ten, when the disaster happened.
She said: “We were queuing at the boarding, when the submarine began to sink into the water.
“The Egyptian who was responsible for loading shouted ‘Stop, stop!’.
“But naturally no one inside heard him.
“He shouted to us ‘Faster, faster, go to the pontoon’ from which people were boarding.”
The woman then had to swim for her life away from the sub as she feared she would be sucked beneath the waves before managing to reach the pontoon.
She said: “There was not a single life preserver, no lifebuoys, no vests, nothing at all on the pontoon itself.”
Survivors were then rescued by boats which quickly picked them up and delivered them to shore, with 39 rescued.
As well as the six killed, nine others were injured in the disaster, including four said to be in critical condition.
The crew of the sub are now being questioned by Egyptian officials.
Red Sea Governor Amr Hanafy confirmed yesterday the submarine had a valid licence and the crew had all obtained the correct certificates.
Some of those who escaped were able to climb through the open hatches to safety.
One survivor – who escaped the horror with her husband – said: “Some managed to swim out, some didn’t.”
The first victim was named yesterday as a Russian doctor Ravil Valiullin, 40.
Most of the tourists were Russians, but there were also some from India, Norway and Sweden on board, officials said, as well as five Egyptians.
Holidaymakers have left eerie reviews of the Sindbad submarine tour just months before a survivor said staff forgot to close the hatch.
In a Tripadvisor review from a holiday in October, ‘stubbyd’ from Bridgend, said: “They also ‘big up’ the qualifications of the captain.
“But constantly bumping the sub on the sea floor is not good for the sea life, sea floor, my sanity of ultimately I’d say the sub!”
The pleasure sub was operated by Sindbad Submarines which takes tourists up to 85 feet below the balmy waters of the Red Sea for 40 minutes.
An adult ticket costs £53 while a child’s ticket costs £25 for the three-hour journey which includes a boat ride out to the waiting to submersible.
Those on board get to enjoy seeing coral and fish as well as a show performed by divers outside the boat, adverts say.
Hurghada is a popular tourist destination for Brits and Germans and a number of nautical excursions operate from the resort.
Brit’s near-miss with doomed sub
A BRIT on holiday was inside the doomed Sindbad submarine just three days before the deadly disaster.
Kelly Collins, 32, descended 85ft below the surface of the Red Sea in the fated sub on Monday.
The HGV driver dodged death by a whisker with six killed on Thursday when the vessel sank carrying Russian tourists.
She said: “I’m shocked, saddened and in disbelief to hear the news about the poor people on the submarine.
“I think this has put me off submarines.”
Kelly said the trip lasted about 40 minutes, with a 30 minute trip to and from shore before and after the sailing.
Fellow Brit Tom McDowell, 63, travelled on the sub with his daughter last year.
The food producer from Carrickfergus, located in Northern Ireland, admitted feeling anxious about entering the submarine. However, he quickly found himself feeling calm and relaxed once he observed the professional and well-organized setup.
He said: “I was shocked when I read the news that it has sunk – my heart goes out to the victims.
“When i was onboard I was surprised with how safety focused the crew were.
“The boat felt sturdy and the staff and the captain we very friendly and professional.
