31 tourists are missing after a boat sank off the Egyptian coast. 

The boat named, Sea Story reportedly sank near Shaab Satayah, a coral reef popular for diving trips, off the tourist resort of Marsa Alam this morning.

A crew member sent a distress signal at 5.30am before dropping off the radar and losing contact, according to local media.

The boat departed on a diving trip from the port of Ghalib in Marsa Alam on November 24 and was scheduled to arrive at Hurghada Marina on November 29.

It had 31 tourists of different nationalities as well as 14 crew members on board. 

Red Sea governor Amr Hanafy said some tourists were rescued in the Ghadeer area of Wai El Gemal, but has not revealed how many others are still missing.

Several survivors were reportedly flown back to shore to receive medical care.  

The search operation involving the Egyptian navy is ongoing and a helicopter has been deployed to scour the area. 

Ship tracking website Marine Traffic showed the last location shared by the boat as somewhere off Hurghada.

The Sea Story is a 144ft pleasure craft built in 2022, which can carry up to 32 passengers.