Overview
- The four-deck tourist vessel Big Boss Diamond began taking on water near Akvaryum Bay en route to Paradise Island and sank within about an hour on Friday, May 29, 2026.
- Nearby private boats and Turkish rescue teams evacuated all 148 people on board, including about 20 children, and local authorities confirmed there were no casualties or reported injuries.
- Passengers and bystanders recorded dramatic video of people jumping into the sea and clinging to the listing ship, footage that circulated widely on social media and helped document the rescue.
- The operator, Yagna Tourism, posted that everyone was safe and said tours would continue on a sister ship, Big Boss Yagna, while the Diamond is repaired.
- Investigators are working to determine the cause of the sinking after passengers reported an engine problem, a line of inquiry that could prompt inspections or regulatory scrutiny of commercial tour boats in the region.