Dahab Dive Sites - ,

Guide to the diving sites of Dahab, Red Sea courtesy of Reef 2000 Dive Cenre.

The Canyon 
Location: 6km North of Dahab
Access: Shore/ by jeep
Conditions: Protected entry
Dive Depth: 18msw – 30msw for recreational dives, 48msw (exit of the Canyon) up to 100msw for technical dives
Visibility: 20m – 40m

This site takes it’s name from a long & very beautiful cavern under the seabed and is an essential dive for all fanatics of caves and cavern diving. This cavern lies north to south from the shallow reef offshore. Access to the site is through a shallow (3m) lagoon lying a few steps from the shoreline. Once outside the lagoon, a large coral mound lying some 10m out from the reef face, at a depth of around 14m marks the entrance to the canyon.
An opening, just wide enough to free-fall through comfortably, leads to the first chamber. A careful drop to 30m lands you on the bottom of the cavern. Sunlight penetrates through various large openings allowing excellent visibility throughout the dive.
We will exit the Canyon through the big crack at around 18m, and swim back over the Canyon to catch your bubbles forcing their way through the seabed in straight columns reaching to the surface. The lagoon leads out to beautiful coral gardens which can only be fully explored after several visits
Caution is required on this dive due to parts of the Canyon having an overhead environment. But with the proper planning and the use of one of our experienced dive guides, it is both a safe and highly rewarding experience.

The Bells
Location: 8km North of Dahab
Access: shore / by jeep to Blue Hole, then short walk
Conditions: Protected entry
Dive Depth: 28msw-30msw for recreational dives,up to 100msw for technical dives
Visibility:  20m – 40m

A true vertical wall, which offers divers an exciting entry through a narrow chimney. Bells is full of overhangs and fissures, with many swim-throughs and cavelets. Toward the Blue Hole in the south the reef profile softens to a steep slope.
The dive begins in a small slot in the reef table about 100m north of the Blue Hole. Descend through the tube-like fissure and, after reaching your maximum depth, ascend slowly while following the reef south to the saddle marking the Blue Hole. A head-first, spiralling descent through the chimney adds a new dimension to the confined space of the tube. The saddle, at approximately 6m from the top of the reef, is one exit point. Current permitting, divers are able to enjoy a relaxing drift along the wall towards the saddle, and then exit through the Blue Hole.
There is a good growth of plate and cabbage coral, black coral bushes, white soft corals and diverse fish life. Like all wall sites, this site should be treated with caution. Refer to your depth gauge, and be careful not to exceed your maximum depth.

The Blue Hole
Location: 8km North of Dahab
Access:shore / by Jeep
Conditions:Protected entry
Dive Depth:: 28msw-30msw for recreational dives, up to 100msw for technical dives
Visibility:: 20m – 40m

A lot has been written about the Blue Hole. Most of it focuses on the dive sites reputation as one of the worlds most dangerous dives. Well it is. But only when the rules are broken and deep diving, especially on air, is attempted. The reason? ‘The Archway’. Inside the hole at a depth of approx 54msw, the top of a Cathedral sized archway reveals itself. The bottom of the arch lies at around 100 msw and the whole arch breaks through the Blue hole to the open sea wall. It is the ‘challenge’ of The Arch, dropping down to 54 msw and beyond, then swimming through the 35mtrs of archway and finally, ascending on the other side that has led to so many compressed air dives ending in fatality. It is to be stressed that the minimum certification level to do this dive safely, is IANTD Technical/ Normoxic Trimix Diver or equivalent. For experienced and certified full Trimix divers it is as well possible to explore the bottom of the Blue Hole at around 100msw.
One of the greatest attractions of the Blue Hole lies on the rich sloping reef outside. A shallow lip over the reef table at 6m leads to the outer reef. The reef slope, one of the Red Sea’s deepest and most spectacular drop offs, is rich in hard corals, particularly the section to the south of the lagoon. Triggerfish, jacks, unicorns, parrotfish, angel fish, grouper and surgeonfish are all part of the variety of fish life on the outer reef.
Snorkelling here can be just as rewarding as diving and it’s a great place to hang out on a non diving day, relaxing in the small cafes that lie almost at the edge of the Hole.

The Lighthouse
Location:: In the Dahab bay
Access: shore / by Jeep
Conditions: Protected entry and confined water area available
Dive Depth: 12msw-30msw for recreational dives
up to 54msw for technical dives
Visibility: 20m – 40m

The Lighthouse, situated at the Northern end of the bay of Dahab, is home to the confined water training area due to its large sandy slopes an gentle drop off. The Lighthouse offers a number of different dives depending on the route chosen. The sprawling coral gardens offer an abundance of marine life and vividly colourful corals, extending far from the shore. The Lighthouse is made up of a large rocky wall that wraps around the point whilst heading north to the Eel Garden. The wall and the sprawling coral gardens, which alongside a spectacular variety of corals, can feature here and make it a very popular dive site. The Lighthouse is also a very reputable night dive area where it is not uncommon to see sleeping parrot fish, Spanish dancers, Red Sea lobsters, shrimps, hermit crabs and much more.

The Eel Garden
Location: Dahab
Access: Shore / by Jeep
Conditions:: safe entry only possible on calm days
Dive Depth:  12msw-30msw
Visibility: 20m – 40m

This is a gently sloping wall dive to suit all levels of divers and offers easy entry and exit through a shallow sandy lagoon, home to several lion fish. As the name suggests there are numerous garden eels that can be seen opposite the wall in the white sloping sand bank. The wall starts at 3m and has a maximum depth of approximately 16 metres. Exiting the lagoon and swimming across the sandy slopes, viewing the garden eels at close proximity, will bring you to a beautiful garden littered with hard and soft corals and other aquatic life. Divers can then return to the lagoon along the wall which is alive with colour and texture. For those with good air consumption, a drift dive from the Eel garden to the Lighthouse offers a varied and relaxing dive.

Rick’s Reef
Location: 300m North of the Canyon dive site
Access: shore / by Jeep
Conditions: protected entry
Dive Depth: 12msw-30msw for recreational dives, up to 48msw for technical dives
Visibility:20m – 40m

Located a few hundred metres north of the Canyon. Ricks Reef is a pleasant drift dive following a meandering wall covered in numerous varieties of corals. The wall begins at 3m and has a maximum depth of approximately 18m to its bottom. From there the sandy bottom gradually slopes away dotted with small coral utcrops. Ricks reef also gives the diver an opportunity to inspect The Canyon from above before finishing in the sandy lagoon.

Ras Abu Helal
Location: 3km North of Dahab
Access: shore / by Jeep
Conditions: safe entry only possible on calm days
Dive Depth:  12msw-30msw for recreational dives, up to 54msw for technical dives
Visibility: 20m – 40m

Ras Abu Hilal translates as `headland of the crescent moon`. It refers to the crescent shaped reef about half a kilometre south of the Canyon. The reef encircles a shallow lagoon at about 12 metres. Outside is a gently sloping bay and on it northern side a broad ridge. The start of this ridge features one of the finest coral gardens in the Dahab area and this is the main focus of the dive site. This dive can be combined with a visit to the `Huts` which is located just north of Abu Hilal. An easy drift south from The Huts will bring the diver out at Abu Hilal, the exit point can be chosen according to remaining air.

Ras Abu Galum (Camel Dive Safari – 4 persons needed)
Location: 15km North of Dahab
Access: shore / camel ride from the Blue Hole
Conditions:: Protected entry
Dive Depth:  12msw-30msw
Visibility: 20m – 40m

This is a one or two day adventure camel safari to the beautiful and remote marine and wildlife reserve of Ras Abu Galum. Your day begins with an early breakfast in the hotel restaurant at 6:30am, ready to depart at approximately 7:00am from the dive centre where all your gear will be loaded into the jeep and pick-ups. You will then be transported to the Blue Hole (about 20 mins away).
If you have a dive bag, please put your gear in it, as bags are easier to load onto the camels later. You will need a head covering, such as a hat – but to get into the swing, you might want to purchase a Kafhir (about 15 le). Water and Bedouin tea will be provided at Ras Abu Galum, but please be aware that there are no refrigerators there and water will not be chilled. We suggest that you purchase a bottle of cold water for the journey, though you will have the opportunity to buy more at the Blue Hole. Upon arrival there, your Bedouin guides will load all the gear onto the camels. After following the camels for a 10-minute walk up a gentle hill, then mount for the 1¼ hour journey along the stunning coastline. The saddles are generally well padded with rugs & blankets, but it is recommended that you have your towel ready for extra comfort!

Once at Ras Abu Galum we will be using the services of a Bedouin family there who will provide a shelter for the day. The first dive into the pristine coral gardens of Ras Abu Galum will be followed by a second after a short rest, to catch the best light. You may wish to bring some snacks with you for between dives although the Bedouin guides will provide a feast after the dives. Please tell the dive counter if you require a vegetarian meal. We should have about 1 hour after the second dive to chill out and relax, before re-mounting and riding back to the Blue Hole.
The safari is ideal for those wishing to see more of the beautiful desert landscape, and experience true Bedouin hospitality – a truly memorable diving experience.

Gabr El Bint (Boat Safari – Every Wednesday)
Location: 20km South of Dahab
Access: from boat
Conditions: Protected entry
Visibility: 20m – 40m

Gabr el Bint is abundant with stunningly rich marine life and offers wall diving, vivid coral gardens and gentle sandy slopes with coral outcrops.This spectacular diving area is located south of Dahab and is shadowed by the majestic mountains of Sinai, to reach these virgin reefs we run a weekly boat trip and we always try to squeeze in that third dive.

The SS Thistlegorm (Boat Safari from Sharm – 4 persons needed)
Location:
Access:
Conditions:
Dive Depth:
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Location: in the Gulf of Suez
Access: boat trip from Sharm el Sheikh
Conditions:: strong current can be present (Advanced divers with min 20 logged dives only – Nitrox is recommended)
Dive Depth:  30msw
Visibility: 15m – 30m

An enormous and majestic remnant of World War II, the SS Thistlegorm is one of the most sought after wreck dives in the world. Lying at a depth of 30m, it is an underwater museum, with tremendous historic value. The 5000-tonne, triple engine SS Thistlegorm was a supply ship. Due to strong enemy control around the Mediterranean, the ship was forced to make runs around the Cape of Good Hope, up the Red Sea and the Gulf of Suez, bringing supplies to the 8th army of the Allied Forces in North Africa.On October 6th 1941 at 01:30, whilst anchored and awaiting orders, German long distance warplanes bombed the ship. Two bombs hit the aft hold containing ammunition, causing a tremendous explosion – the results of which can still be seen underwater today. The doomed vessel did not have the chance to fire a single shot from her anti-aircraft gun.Nine men were killed. Angus McLeay, a crewmember, was awarded the George Medal for running barefoot across the red-hot deck, to save a wounded gunner who was trapped. In addition to the 49 crewmembers, the SS Thistlegorm was carrying a four-wagon train, two Brengun Carriers, 6-ton trucks, Morris Jeeps, BSA motorbikes, aircraft wings, tools, rubber boots, Enfield MK III rifles & other guns and ammunition. For her protection she was carrying two minesweeping drones, a 3.5″ gun and her anti-aircraft gun. In addition to it`s historical value, the wreck is bustling with marine life and virtually covered by colourful hard and soft corals. A home for large groupers, and also an active oasis which attracts large schools of fish of all sizes and colours.

This is just a selection of the Dahab dive sites we can take you to!
There are many more local dive sites like for example: Shoestump Reef, Three Pools, Moray Gardens, Glass Fish Pinnacle, The Caves, Rolf`s Reef, Um Sid, Mashraba Reef, The Islands, Abu Talhar, 7 Pinnacles, and more!