DIVE SPOTS IN DAHAB
Dahab ’s dive spots are stunning and varied. So you know what to expect, and to help you choose which you would like to see, we have compiled a brief description of each of the major sites. If you want our advice though, don’t try and choose between them, dive them all!
NORTH OF DAHAB
Ras Abu Galum
A protected area situated 8 km north of the Blue Hole, suitable for both snorkelling and scuba. One of the attractions of this site is the journey to get there, either by camel or foot along the rugged coastline or by 4×4 through rocky Sinai mountains – all of which take approximately 1.5 hours. The sites here have fantastic underwater landscapes of hard and soft corals and plentiful fish that include snapper, butterfly fish, angelfish and glass fish. This dive site is suitable for advanced divers, tec divers, CCR divers.
El Bells
A spectacular dive situated just north of the famous Blue Hole, which is reachable from Dahab in 30 minutes . The descent is vertical through an ancient volcanic fissure with a cavity that widens and narrows giving it the shape of bells. The chimney opens and closes giving tempting glimpses of the big blue beyond, eventually opening out at 30m from a sheer rock wall. The clarity and colour of the water are always exhilarating. From here you lazily drift south along the rock face ascending gradually to exit at the Blue Hole enjoying the numerous flora and fauna throughout the dive. This dive site is suitable for advanced divers, tec divers, CCR divers.
The Blue Hole
A short 30 minutes 4×4 journey to the north of Dahab, this is one of the most recognised dive sites in the Red Sea, famous for its beauty but infamous for the number of fatalities it has claimed, as divers have attempted to swim the exit at 50+ metres. You need not be concerned; we will guide you competently within safe parameters. Situated directly on land’s edge, the Blue Hole is suitable for both snorkelling and scuba with 150m diameter descending 110m. You might hear a parrot fish crunching his corral lunch or watch schools of masked puffer fish glide by like underwater zeppelins. This dive site is suitable for advanced divers, tec divers, CCR divers.
The Canyon
Located only 1.5km south of the Blue Hole and reachable within 20 minutes from Dahab, Canyon has a simple beach access with only a few meters of reef before you are there. The site itself opens in a north south direction on a reef slope that descends to 54m. Entry is made through its largest point where you descend 28m to the canyon floor to look upwards to watch other divers cruising silhouetted against pristine blue sea- a great photo opportunity! Turning northwards you ascend 10 m to reach a small cave at about 17m where you exit into the big blue. This dive site is suitable for advanced divers, tec divers, CCR divers.
Ras Abu Helal
This site is situated 3 km south of Canyon and 20 minutes from Dahab. Descending to a sandy bed between 7 and 12m, keep the reef on your left side and explore the beautiful coral garden. The western wall of the promontory drops to a depth of 30m. It is best to stick to the coral garden until you reach another sandy seabed where the exit point is. This dive site is suitable for advanced divers, tec divers.
IN DAHAB
Eel Garden
Yes, a garden of eels – a population of hundreds of Red Sea Garden Eels to be exact. They burrow into the white sandy slope, swaying half their bodies in the water to look like living plant stalks. Approach too close or too quickly and the garden disappears as the eels retreat into their holes. Ascending towards the entrance area you will see pretty coral gardens with their populations of resident fish including grey morays hiding in their crevices. Eel Garden is just on the northern edge of Dahab so is popular for day and night dives. This dive site is suitable for open water divers.
Lighthouse
The most frequently visited site in all of Dahab due to the positioning and the fact that it is a great site for beginners as well as more experienced divers. Entry point is from the beach on to an easy sandy slope. The western route has a sandy bottom with many hard coral towers while the Classic route winds in and out of the towers and reaches a depth of 30 metres. Photographers may get the opportunity to take a good shot of an octopus, seahorses, turtles or a puffer fish. This dive site is suitable for open water divers.
The Islands
A really fun site with lots of swim throughs and spectacular coral reef. Once entering through a narrow coral channel you pass through a series of sandy bottom hard coral pools, then you reach some really beautiful swim throughs at a depth of about 7 to 10 meters; maximum depth is about 22m. You get to hang out with a school of resident juvenile barracuda, follow lion fish along the coral ond spot the occasional large puffer fish. It is truly a great dive so make sure you check it out. This dive site is suitable for open water divers.
SOUTH OF DAHAB
Moray Garden (near Three Pools)
If you want to have a really great dive and check out some big beautiful morays, then this dive is for you. It is situated next to the Happy Life Village, directly opposite the Bedouin restaurant Wadi Qnai where you can relax after the dive. The route for this dive allows you to visit another one called Golden Blocks. Swimming down a sandy bottom slope and over a sea grass bed on the right to a depth of 16 to 20m you reach several pinnacles which swarm with some beautiful marine life. This dive site is suitable for open water divers.
The Caves
The last site on the southern coast of El-Qura bay, 30 minutes from Dahab. The entry point is in front of a Bedouin restaurant in a gap in the reef. Descend down a mild slope to a depth of 3m and 2 caves appear. The cave to the right really makes this dive worthwhile with a really nice display of soft corals, black corals and sponges. This dive site is suitable for open water divers.
Gabr El Bint (Grave of the Girl)
This site is absolutely stunning. The boat ride to get there takes approximately 1 hour. Being part of the protected area of Nabq the site has not been affected by tourism. It is situated 7.5km south of the caves and is accessible on foot, by camel or boat from Dahab. With the impressive surrounding mountains and the pretty much intact coral reef the site is truly one to experience. This dive site is suitable for advanced divers, tec divers, CCR divers.
SS THISTLEGORM
It is a one day boattrip to Ras Mohamed and Thistlegorm.
Sunk in 1941 the Thistlegorm was “lost” until 1955 when she was rediscovered by Jacques Cousteau on one of his early explorations of the Red Sea. She was then “lost” again and only discovered again in 1992 to become the diving attraction she is today.
The wreck is normally explored over two dives.
The first is around the outside of the wreck where you will see the mighty flanks of the 126 meter ship. The stern was blown off the main body of the wreck and sits at a 45% angle, looking up you can see the unmistakable shape of the ship’s, ultimately useless, guns. The current normally runs bow to stern and large groupers are often to be found near the prop. Venturing over the debris of the impact area look out for the two upturned Bren-gun carriers and lots of Wellington boots. Up to the deck area we find many fish, locomotive rolling stock and the Thistlegorm’s huge winches which dive boats use for tying on to.
On the second dive we explore the inside of the wreck, your guide will take you through the holds to see the Thistlegorm’s cargo of BSA motorcycles, trucks, munitions and assorted spare parts. Back on the deck area lookout for schools of batfish, large Napoleon wrasse and even the occasional shark.
Diving here does not require specialist training but, due to the depth of the dives and the potential for strong currents, divers need to be experienced and hold a minimum of advanced open water certification.
This dive site is suitable for advanced open water divers, tec divers, CCR divers.
