World renowned dive sites, which can be experienced by all levels:
The Blue Hole
The Blue Hole is probably the most famous and infamous dive site in Dahab. We usually dive the site from the 'bells' entrance - from the surface it appears to be a large rock pool but on descent this becomes an upside down bell shape at first open to the blue, but ending in a chimney which spectacularly spits you out at 26m.
The rest of the dive is along a vertical bottomless wall with fantastic overhangs to the right and views into the blue on the left. Keep an eye out to see what might cruise past? We finish at the Blue Hole itself, a circular hole in the coral table by the shore reaching depths of over100m. The coral at the 7m saddle here is spotless.
Transport: Jeep
Travel time: 30minutes
Entrance rating: Strenuous, involves a short walk
Qualification level: Advanced open water
Depth: 26-30m
The Canyon
This along with the Blue Hole is quite rightly one of the most talked about sites in Dahab. You enter the dive via a shallow sandy lagoon; even here the fish are eager to meet you! You will continue to the main part of the reef until, at 18m, you come to the entrance of a deep ravine from which the site takes its name. Here we free fall down to the bottom of the chamber at 30m. Looking up at the light pouring in through the crack is beautiful, a photographers dream!
To exit the canyon we ascend into a second chamber known as the 'fishbowl' at 18m.
This area is often inhabited by glassfish and lionfish can usually be seen hunting them. The outside of the fishbowl is equally spectacular covered in gold anthias. Look out for the 'champagne bubbles' created by your swim through.
Transport: Jeep
Travel time: 20minutes
Entrance rating: Sheltered, although occasional strong current on exit
Qualification level: Advanced open water (Full Canyon) Open Water (Fishbowl)
Depth: 30m
Coral Gardens
The entry and exit points here are through the same shallow lagoon as for the 'Canyon'.
The dive site is to the right where there is a garden full of coral pinnacles and cabbage corals between 8 and 12 metres. You begin your dive along a steep drop-off, looking into the blue for sighting of rays and turtles, and return through the coral gardens where eels and octopus are commonly found as well as giant puffer fish lounging on the bottom and abundant reef fish surrounding you.
Transport: Jeep
Travel time: 20 minutes
Entrance rating: Sheltered, although occasional strong current on exit
Qualification level: Open Water
Depth: 12 – 30m
Eel Garden
Located at the north end of the local village of Assalah this site is named for its huge field of garden eels. The entrance and exit is through a shallow 3m channel and over a 2m saddle, where lion fish and scorpion fish wait in the shadows. Large schools of unicorn fish and fusiliers gather in the shallow bays close to the coral wall and look out to the blue for the occasional Napoleon Wrasse. Further to the north of the field of garden eels lies a beautiful coral garden from the reef wall down to 20m.
Transport: Jeep
Travel time: 10 minutes
Entrance rating: Difficult in low tide
Qualification level: Open Water
Depth: 12 – 30m
Lighthouse
This local site is suitable for beginners and advanced divers alike. Situated in the local village, learner divers will often take their first dive here and we often use it for check dives. For the more experienced the Lighthouse still offers fantastic diving. Double-ended pipefish are always present on the sandy slope at the entrance; maybe you will also see the prehistoric looking Sea moth and Red sea Walkman. To the right of the slope there is a thriving reef, always busy with Unicorn fish and Fusiliers. Octopus and Scorpion fish are common here; Giant Morays, Turtles and Napoleon Wrasse are also common visitors. The Lighthouse is also a great place to spot nudibrachs, by day the pyjama slug is common, and at night there is a good chance of seeing Spanish dancers. This is a popular sight for night dives too.
Transport: Jeep
Travel time: 10 minutes
Entrance rating: Easy
Qualification level: Open Water
Depth: 5 – 30m
The Islands
The stuff of Disney movies… The Islands dive site is made of two underwater coral islands with sandy lagoons between them. The coral here is some of the most impressive in the area. You will lose yourself swimming through a maze of hard coral heads in this underwater paradise. The fish life is outstanding, large groups of seabream and snappers hangout in the currents, lionfish shelter in the nooks and crannies along with moray eels. One of the highlights of this exciting dive is the huge group of yellowtail barracuda moving in unison around the second island.
Transport: Jeep
Travel time: 10 minutes
Entrance rating: Challenging on windy days.
Qualification level: Open Water but good buoyancy control is required
Depth: 5-16m
Moray Gardens
Situated to the south of Dahab, Moray Gardens provides two sites from the same easy entry point. This site is popular with open water students and experienced divers alike.
To the right of the sandy entrance the reef drops off quite steeply and is crowded with fusiliers, snappers and sweetlips. Octopus are commonly seen, and there are pinnacles of coral covered with glass fish at around 20m. You will return to the entry point via a shallow lagoon which looks spectacular lit up by the Egyptian sun. Here giant pufferfish often snooze, and Picasso triggerfish are common.
There is an alternate site to the left of the entry. You will swim over sea grass (look out for the blue spotted shield slug) and past fingers of coral reef reaching out across the sand. The combination of white sand and reef make this an ideal site for practicing photography. The safety stop at the end takes place by one of the most beautiful coral pinnacles, covered by the golden coloured anthias. Ornate ghost pipefish are sometimes found too.
Transport: Jeep
Travel time: 20 minutes
Entrance rating: Easy.
Qualification level: All Levels
Depth: 5- 30m
Umm Sid
One of Dahab's best kept secrets, Umm Sid is famous for its pristine table coral.
Situated to the far south, this site can be home to some strong currents, which makes it a great place to spot some of the bigger fish.
From the narrow entry you will descend along the side of the reef to around 18m and then cross sand where the red sea garden eels dance in the current. For the more experienced diver you can travel from here to 30m where an enormous gorgonian fan is situated, usually inhabited by a couple of hawkfish. We then ascend back toward the reef through a garden of table coral, remembering to check for rays sheltering beneath them.
The return journey is past a beautiful wall of coral heaving with fish. Keep an eye open for nudibranchs which are common here. There will also be snappers hanging out in the current.
Transport: Jeep
Travel time: 30 minutes
Entrance rating: Challenging on windy days.
Qualification level: Open Water
Depth: 5-30m
Three pools
This dive site offers an amazing entrance with 3 pools linked by saddles covered in colorful coral and famous for lingering lion fish. After the narrow entrance the site opens up to a huge shallow shelf at 9 -18m, with the scattered sandy areas bouncing the light around you would think you are only a couple of meters under the sea.
Transport - Jeep
Travel time - 25min
Entrance rating - easy
Qualification level - All levels
Depth 9 - 25m
Rick's Reef
This site provides us with a drift dive. The dive combines two sites with the entrance marked by an old bedouin fishing boat on the shore and the exit taking you straight past the famous Canyon. Rick’s Reef is known for its abundance of marine life including Trigger Fish, Lion Fish, a resident Giant Moray and a couple of defensive Clown fish who are never afraid to take a closer look at you and provide some more entertainment on this relaxing drift.
Transport - Jeep
Travel time - 20min
Entrance rating- Easy
Qualification level- All levels but good air consumption is required
Depth - 5 - 30m
Abu Hallal
Every time you enter this site you are struck by the feeling that you are the first people to enter the water. The site dose have a challenging entrance but with years of Dahab diving experience your trusty guides have it down to a fine art. Once under you are in a massive lagoon and if you didn’t know any better you could happily spend your whole dive there. But just over the saddle is truly what reef diving is all about. This pristine reef amazes even the most seasoned diver with its diverse fish life and coral species.
For those people who like it all on one dive the Canyon at 28m always puts a smile on your face.
Transport - Jeep
Travel time - 15min
Entrance rating - Difficult in strong wind
Qualification level- advanced
Depth - 10 - 30m
'Hidden secret' sites - free from commercialisation and crowding
Ras Abu Galum's pristine untouched coral gardens are best reached by camel, making this a unique and unforgettable experience.
Gabr El Bint promises wall diving on pure virgin reefs, rich marine life and vivid coral gardens, usually all to ourselves.
New sites are being discovered all the time, which means there's plenty to lure the experienced diver back time and again.
