A holidaymaker has shamed a ‘creepy’ scuba diving instructor after filming him repeatedly ‘touching her inappropriately’ while underwater.
Rasha Mediene travelled solo to Egypt and attended the first day of a €350 scuba diving course on March 1.
The 31-year-old said she met with the instructor who refrained from hugging her due to it being Ramadan and her being a Muslim.
But when the two went underwater, she said the man started holding her hand as she recorded their dive on her camera.
The content creator claims the instructor touched her bottom while in the water, making her feel uncomfortable.
Shocking footage shows the two swimming while holding hands, before the teacher turns round and puts his hand around Rasha – appearing to place his hand on her behind and then her leg.
While Rasha tries to push him away, the instructor grasps hold of her legs again in what appears to be an attempt to stop her moving away.
Rasha said the instructor ‘showed off’ and even offered to drive her home once they were back on land, but she refused and returned to her hotel.
A holidaymaker has shamed a ‘creepy’ scuba diving instructor after filming him repeatedly ‘touching her inappropriately’ while underwater
Rasha Mediene travelled solo to Egypt and attended the first day of a Euro 350 scuba diving course on March 1
The 31-year-old said she met with the instructor who refrained from hugging her due to it being Ramadan and her being a Muslim
Rasha, from Los Angeles, California, US, said: ‘I was trying to show Egypt is one of the cheapest places to do scuba diving.
‘It was my first day, I met the instructor and it was Ramadan. I am a Muslim. When he met me, he found out I was Middle Eastern and said ‘I would hug you but it’s Ramadan.’
‘There was a camera and still chose to do what he did. He held my hand, normal, this has happened before.
‘But then when he went into the dance move, I thought, I’m pretty sure we shouldn’t be doing this.
‘I was new to learning. I didn’t know what his intentions were. I thought he might be doing something to grab the oxygen, I don’t know.
‘Until I do know, he was touching my butt and there was no reason for that. I was p****d. I have a really bad temper.
‘I tried to bite my tongue and handle it outside. I thought, ‘just breathe, you’re okay’. He understood to let it go.
‘We got out of the water and I didn’t even know what to say, so I went home to see the footage. Even when we got out of the water he was trying to show off.
But when the two went underwater, she said the man started holding her hand as she recorded their dive on her camera
The content creator claims the instructor touched her bottom while in the water, making her feel uncomfortable
‘He was like, ‘I wish I knew you were staying around here. I would have dropped you off. My car is really fast, it has this much horsepower’.’
Rasha, who also works as a lifeguard, said she was vulnerable as she did not know how to use her oxygen equipment and was alone in the water with the instructor.
The solo traveller posted the footage on social media, which has gathered over three million views.
Rasha said the instructor got in touch after seeing the footage online and claimed he did not touch her inappropriately.
Rasha said: ‘The twisted part of this is that I am a lifeguard and I teach swimming. I am comfortable in the water.
‘But I had this gear and oxygen thing and I didn’t know how deep I was. You can die from the pressure, I don’t know that stuff.
‘I was in a vulnerable state with this man, it was just me and him in the water.
‘I was extremely p*ssed off, I was mad that I was in the water. If I was on land, whatever sport I was doing, I could just walk away, get in my car and go.
‘I might have hit him at that moment, I don’t know. It was Ramadan and you are supposed to be calm.
Shocking footage shows the two swimming while holding hands, before the teacher turns round and puts his hand around Rasha – appearing to place his hand on her behind and then her leg
Rasha, who also works as a lifeguard, said she was vulnerable as she did not know how to use her oxygen equipment and was alone in the water with the instructor
‘I didn’t have a choice. Just a man thinking he can do whatever he wants.
‘I went home and it fizzled out. I went on social media and he messaged me saying ‘what is this, why are people saying I am touching you?’
‘I didn’t respond to him because if he doesn’t think he is touching me that is crazy.’
The holidaymaker said she did not show any signs of ‘flirtation’ before getting in the water.
Rasha is now urging women to research before booking scuba diving and choose a female instructor.
Rasha said: ‘I wasn’t interested, I didn’t show him any flirtatiousness. I don’t understand why he felt that way.
‘I’m very strict and direct, I don’t flirt with people I’m not interested in, it’s not in my nature. There’s no reason for him to have thought anything.
‘I am a strong girl, I can stand up for myself. Research the spot and preferably get a female instructor.’
Commenters on Rasha’s video were shocked by the instructor’s behaviour and branded him a ‘creep’ and his behaviour even more ‘unacceptable’ due to it being underwater where people are ‘vulnerable’.
One said: ‘This made me angry.’
A second said: ‘This is so wrong. I’m a certified diver. You did the right thing girl.’
A third said: ‘They are preying on us even underwater?’
A fourth said: ‘When I went scuba diving the instructor stayed nearby, I didn’t even touch him.’
Another added: ‘There is literally no need to touch other divers unless something is wrong / they need help. Diving is already a vulnerable space to be in without being touched inappropriately.’
