Dahab Dive Sites
For most of the coastline, all dive sites are accessible from the shore. The rare exceptions are the Hidden Islands, which require boat support. Remote sites such as Gabr El Bint and Ras Abu Galum, which can be reached only by Camel from Dahab, are also visited by Boat Divers from time to time.
Major drop-offs occur more in the north with the impressive descents of the Bells-Blue Hole dive being the best example. Also the divesites around Abu Galum are offering great drop- offs.All sites eventually do drop to great depths further into the Gulf.
The following are introducing you to our famous
divesites, which are:
| Bells/Blue Hole | Canyon/Canyon Table/ Canyon Garden |
Ras Abu Helal |
| Eel Garden |
Lighthouse | Islands |
| Three Pools | Um Sid | Caves |
Weather/Tides/Temperatures in Dahab
The tides and currents in the area are changing,
both in direction and in strength In the winter
major wave surge occurs during the high tide periods,
pounding the reef edges. From time to time there
are southerly winds but the prevailing winds tend
from the NE. At night, in the summer, the offshore
winds can be quite strong and hot.
The temperatures of the air and the water is changing
during the year (all figures in Degree Celsius),
however the clima is dry through all the year:
|
During November - April we recommend a 7mm halfdry suite, during summer from May - October 5 mm wetsuits are sufficient.
Blue Hole
This famous dive spot in the north of Dahab looks
like a big hole in a reef having a diameter of 60
metres and a maximum depth of 108 metres. The most
interesting to see is the "Cathedral"
beginning in a depth of 55 metres, 30 metres wide
and 20 metres long leading to the outside of the
reef and into the big blue. As these depths are
outside of the Recreational Dive Planner we use
to dive along the outer wall of the Blue Hole with
a maximum depth of 30 metres, usually doing a drift
dive coming from "The Bells"
Around 150 metres north from the Blue Hole we arrive at the entrance point of "The Bells", a cut in the reef with a length of 5 metres. Descending through a tunnel up to a depth of 30 metres and continuing the dive along the Drop Off in southern direction. Here we see wonderful overhangs, small caves as well as gorgonies and black corals. After 40 minutes we´ll find a saddle in a depth of 8 metres leading into the Blue Hole where we can exit very easily at 2 different points.
Attractions: Napoleonfish, Turtle, Scorpionfish,
Eagle-Ray, Shark
Entry/Exit: Easy
Drive Time: 40 minutes
Canyon
The name Canyon is standing for 3 dive spots: Canyon,
Canyon Table and Canyon Garden. The Canyon itself
can be found after exiting the lagoon in a direction
of 50 degrees north starting in a depth of 20 metres.
In front of the Canyon we´ll find a coral
block with an entrance point to the Canyon, the
so called "Fishbowl", starting in a depth
of 15 metres. There are two possibilities to dive
the Canyon: Entering the Fishbowl and descending
into the Canyon down to 30 metres, or entering the
Canyon and coming back up through the Fishbowl as
an exit. Diving back to the lagoon you can see a
lot of attractions especially on the sandy ground
like the Sea-Moth or a Frog-Fish on one of the pinnacles
in front of the lagon.
Canyon Garden (Rick´s Reef)
Nach Passing the lagoon and diving into south direction,
youÃll reach a beautiful Coral Garden,
where a drop off is starting from a depth of 16
metres. Diving along the beautiful drop off with
a wide range of soft and hard corals, giving us
the possibility to see even giant murays as well
as Napoleon Fish or Eagle Rays. Returning the dive
through the Coral Garden in a depth around 10 -
12 meters, you´ll find the exit back through
the lagon.
Canyon Table
Close to the divesite "Canyon" in the
north there is a dive spot called "Rick´s
Reef". Here we enter after a short way over
the stony reef table on somehow a natural stair
into a small lagoon, snorkel out and descend beside
the reef table. Diving into southern direction,
the wall of the reef is reaching 12 metres depth,
the following plateau is going softly down to 40
metres. Here we see nice table corrals all over
and during the dive we are passing the fish- bowl
(Canyon). Exit from this dive is made through the
lagoon of the Canyon as the dive was a one-way dive.
Attractions: Octopus, Crocodile-Fish, Devilfish,
Turtle, Sea-Moth, Frog-Fish, Napoleon, Eagle Ray
Entry/Exit: Easy
Drive Time: 30 minutes
Abu Helal
Abu Helal is located 500 metres south of the "Canyon",
where dives can easily be made on high tide and
somehow calm wind. Entering after walking 15 meter
over the reef table into a pool with a maximum depth
of 12 metres. Diving into the direction of 120 degrees
we will find a canyon parallel to the shore and
starting in a depth of 27 metres. This canyon is
partly open and partly closed, the maximum depth
inside is 36 metres.
Coming back through the wonderful hard coral garden
dive a square to find back the entrance pool. As
this diving spot is not visited very often due to
the not always easy entrance, the corals are still
in a really good condition.
Attractions: Murray, Stonefish, Eagle-Ray, Turtle
Entry/Exit: Easy on high tide
Drive Time: 25 minutes
Eel Garden
The Eel Garden is located in Assla, around 300
metres in the north of the "Lighthouse"
which gives us a good opportunity to do a drift
dive to this spot.
The entrance to the Eel-Garden is made by walking
around 50 metres over the reef table until we arrive
at a small cut in the reef table, where we can enter
the water (2 - 3 metres). Diving through this canyon
around 15 metres, turning left around a reef block,
weÃll find the sand ground where hundreds
of Garden Eels are living. Having good weather conditions
we find the Eels coming out of their houses in the
sand up to 1,5 metres. Diving further north we´ll
find an area with lots of table corals, coming back
to the entrance/exit point follow the edge of the
reef.
Attractions: Garden Eels, Scorpionfish, Murray
Entrance/Exit: Only on high tide and calm weather
conditions
Drive Time: 15 minutes
Lighthouse
The Light-House is located in the centre of Dahab
and the dive spot is mostly chosen to do check or
training dives due to the huge sandy ground. Several
coral blocks in the depths from 10 - 30 metres are
showing a lot of attractions. There are some mackerels
as well as a big Napoleonfish coming to the last
block in the afternoon to be cleaned at the cleaning
station. Returning to the entrance/exit point is
easily if diving along the edge of the sandy ground
up to the lagoon.
This dive spot is a good location for night-dives!
Attractions: Napoleonfish, Turtles, Sting-Ray,
Mackerels
Entrance/Exit: Easy
Drive Time: 15 minutes
Islands
The Islands are nearly in front of our divecenter,
so we consider this spot as our housereef. They
are located at the Lagoon of Dahab and we enter
to this divespot by a walk around 30 metres over
the reef table entering a pool. Descending in a
depth of 6 metres we can start into northern or
eastern direction around the islands, where we discover
beautiful coral areas as well as amazing table corals
in a maximum depth of 20 meters. The entrance pool
can easily be returned to by natural navigation.
Attractions: Barracudas, Napoleonfish, Scorpionfish,
Crocodile-Fish
Entry: Easy
Drive Time: 3 minutes
Three Pools
This diving spot is located in the south of Dahab.
The three pools are separated only by coral walls
which are 2 metres wide with a maximum detph of
3-4 meters. Entering from a sandy beach and after
having passed these pools, the dive should be started
in northern direction, where we can reach a coral
garden and see black coralls at a depth of around
30 metres. As the natural navigation is not really
easy, using a compass is recommended.
Attractions: Murray, Scorpionfish, Eagle-Ray
Entry/Exit: Easy
Drive Time: 40 minutes
Um Sid
One of the diving sites of Dahab South, Um Sid,
can be directly entered off shore. Diving East to
20-25 meters the reef dropp offs. Heading to the
north, we can discover sand eels. Coral pinnacles,
purple soft corals, big blue hard corals and gorgonias
can be seen during the dive. Returning in a depth
of 8-10 meters along the reef edge are a lot of
schools of fish (glass-fish, snapper)
Attractions: Eagle Ray, Shark, schools of fish
Entry/Exit: Easy
Drive Time: 45 minutes
Caves
The most southern dive spot which can be reached
by car are the Caves. Entrance is easy on high tide
and calm wind, as the reef table is only 2 metres
long. We can enter with a big step forward. Immediately
under the edge of the reef weÃll find
the caves, starting in a depth of 5 metres and going
down to 12 metres beside a huge sandy ground. The
dive can be started in northern or southern direction,
we can discover a lot of nice coral blocks as well
as overhangs up to a depth of 30 metres and all
along the walls. Coming back to the entrance/exit
point, we can dive the caves, which are really huge
and open. Having a torch we can discover a lot of
nice colours and some real attractions as the growth
of soft corals inside the caves is amazing. The
exit should be made without BCD or weight belt,
which should first be given to the dive guide, after
that we can exit by swimming on the reef table.
Attractions: Murray, Scorpionfish, Seamoth
Einstieg: Easy on high tide and calm weather conditions
Drive Time: 50 minutes
All maps courtesy by Ian Penberthy
