A HOLIDAYMAKER has shamed a “creepy” scuba diving instructor who was filmed repeatedly touching her underwater.
Rasha Mediene travelled solo to Egypt and attended the first day of a €350 scuba diving course.
Rasha Mediene filmed the disturbing interaction on the first day of her scuba diving course Credit: Kennedy News & Media
The scuba diving instructor appears to grab Rasha’s behind Credit: Kennedy News & Media
The 31-year-old said she met with the instructor who made a point not to hug her due to it being Ramadan and her being a Muslim.
But when the two went underwater, she said the man’s behaviour took a turn.
The content creator, who filmed the interaction, claims the instructor touched her bottom while in the water.
Disturbing footage shows the two swimming while holding hands, before the teacher turns round and puts his hand around Rasha.
He appears 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, from Los Angeles, California, US, said: “I was trying to show Egypt is one of the cheapest places to do scuba diving.
“There was a camera and still chose to do what he did.”
Rasha had travelled solo to Egypt when the incident occurred Credit: Kennedy News & Media
The holidaymaker said the ordeal left her feeling ‘p*issed’ Credit: Kennedy News & Media
Once back on land, Rasha said the instructor “showed off” and even offered to drive her home.
She said she refused and returned to her hotel.
Rasha said: “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*ssed. 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.
“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’.”
After getting home, Rasha looked back through the footage of the ordeal.
The instructor appears to check Rasha’s equipment Credit: Kennedy News & Media
But the divers hands continuously grab at Rasha throughout the footage Credit: Kennedy News & Media
“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.”
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 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.
“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.”
The content creator advises other holidaymakers to research a scuba diving spot before signing up.
She also urged young women to “preferably get a female instructor”.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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