Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula on the Red Sea has been the preferred diving destination for United Kingdom divers for decades, similar to how the Caribbean has been for American divers. Most Red Sea scuba diving destinations offer outstanding diving with healthy coral reefs, numerous shipwrecks, and abundant marine life. The Red Sea is also the most popular destination for liveaboards with more liveaboards available in Egypt than anywhere else in the world. Well, the secret is out, and American divers are also falling in love with diving in this area, with Dahab being one of the most popular destinations. However, before you plan your dive vacation to Dahab on Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, there is a warning that many divers will tell you about that you must consider! Visitors, especially scuba divers and snorkelers, tend to fall in love with Dahab and not want to leave. Many divers return each year, and it is not uncommon for some divers to just stay.
A Dahab Scuba Diving Vacation is Laid Back
Dahab is often said to be a backpacker destination. In 1980, Dahab was a small Bedouin fishing village with only about 30 families. Nomadic Bedouin tribes would travel here in the summer to enjoy life by the sea and stock up on fish and dates. Israeli soldiers who occupied the area for a short period after the “6-day War” also fell in love with the town and returned for visits. It is said that in the later part of the 1980s, “hippies” found the lifestyle of the Bedouin families was a perfect match for them. A decade later, adventurous types also fell in love with the area and the people. The natural wonders, the Red Sea, and the desert were an unbeatable combination. Scuba divers, freedivers, rock climbers, windsurfers, and others made this a dream destination for themselves. While it became a popular destination, there was no overdevelopment. While there are several hotels and other accommodations, the laid-back feeling still exists. There are about 50 dive centers and generally are very small, providing highly personalized service. Most of the diving is shore dives. Some are located off the beach in the middle of the town. Some world-class sites are nearby that require a boat dive.
While the airfare may set up back more than a Caribbean trip from the United States, you will find outstanding diving that is even better than you will find in the most popular destinations in the Caribbean. You will also find that the scuba diving prices, food, and accommodations are more reasonably priced. Two tank dives are generally under $55 and a local lunch may set you back about $4.
Dahab Scuba Diving Sites
Dahab has 19 dive sites offering something for all levels of divers including tech divers. These sites are located within Dahab as well as on the road going north and south to a point in each direction called “End of the Road”. In addition to these Dahab scuba diving sites, most dive operators offer trips to additional dive sites. Generally, the dive centers group the sites as local sites, drive to sites, and dive safaris. Here are a few in each group:
Dahab Local Dive Sites
The “local” dive sites vary a little depending on the dive center. These are the sites where the dive guide loads your gear on a cart, and you walk to the entrance of the dive site. 6 dive sites are near the center of Dahab City. These are often 1 tank dives.
Lighthouse: It would not be a stretch to say that every diver scuba diving at Dahab will dive here at least once. Many divers will do multiple dives here as well. The site is often used for discover diving and open-water training. There is a shallow sandy slope, coral heads, and a seagrass area which are ideal for these dives. Another direction from the entrance brings you to a sandy bottom flanked by coral with depths from 7 meters to 20 meters. In this area you will also experience diving Bommies. A bommie is a coral tower, think of it as a high-rise apartment building for marine life. While a little further out you can find a mild current and do a drift dive down to 30 meters. The coral garden is also perfect for honing your photography skills and is a favorite night diving site.
Bannerfish Bay: Located close to the lighthouse dive site, Bannerfish Bay is also a site used for dive training. It is also a great site for photography. This site also has an area of seagrass, home to many seahorses, a sandy slope, and coral outcrops. Marine life is varied and plentiful. Also, a great night dive location.
Dahab Drive to Scuba Dives
Leaving from Dahab by pickup truck or jeep, it is about 30 to 40 minutes north or south to the “End of the Road”. At the north end, you will find a cluster of dive sites including the Bells and Blue Hole. At the south end, you will find sites such as The Caves and Um El-Sid. You do not need to go to the “End of the Road” to get to the diving as there are dive sites along both routes. Depending on the dive center, there are about 15 dive sites in this grouping. Dive centers generally visit two dive sites on these trips.
Dahab’s Blue Hole/ the Bells: At the north, “End of the Road”, The Dahab Blue Hole is one of the most famous dive sites in the world. Others will call it one of the most infamous dive sites in the world. It has a reputation for being deadly. However, the root of this reputation is the “arch”, which is the entrance to a tunnel around 56 meters deep. This is beyond recreational dive limits. Divers planning a dive within the limits of their training and keeping to that limit will find this dive site exciting. Divers often start their dive at the bell dive site and continue to the blue hole. A later article will explore this dive site in more detail.
The Caves: The south “End of the Road” brings you to the Caves dive site. First, let me make it clear this is not really a cave. There is always direct access to the surface, however, the overhangs above you may make you feel like you are in a cave. This site is best dived in the morning as the mountain will block your light later in the day. Another interesting thing about this shore dive site is that you enter the water with a giant stride. The reef here is outstanding.
Dahab Dive Safari
The last grouping is the dive safari trips. These are boat trips or combination jeep and boat trips to dive sites slightly further away. These are generally full-day trips with 2 or 3 dives. Some are multiple days.
SS Thistlegorn: The SS Thistlegorn is considered the most famous shipwreck dive in the world. Advanced Open Water divers are invited to dive this wreck site including visits to the open cargo holds. Two dives are needed to just get an overview of this wreck. A third dive is generally done on a nearby shallow reef before heading back.
Camel Safari For a Unique Scuba Dive
Are you the outdoors type, looking for something unique to add to your diving stories? How about an overnight scuba diving trip to the National Park of Ras Abu Galum north of Dahab. Several dive centers offer day trips to dive into the wonderful dive sites found in this location. It can take a few hours to get to the diving at Ras Abu Galum. However, you will find few divers among the dive sites with pristine reefs, crystal clear waters, and more marine life you may have ever seen. The park and the area around it are very isolated with VERY few people living here, hence there is almost no human impact on the reefs and ocean. The National Park of Ras Abu Galum is so isolated that there are no roads into the park.
Divers who wish to dive here will first need to travel overland by jeep to near the Blue Hole at a location aptly named “End of the Road”. When you arrive here you can get a speedboat to reach the dive sites in about 20 minutes. Most diving is done as shore dives. The better option is to take a “ship of the desert” also known as a camel! An hour-and-a-half ride will bring you and your gear to an isolated tranquil Bedouin village that will be your host. After having a snack of Bedouin fare and tea, you will have two dives among the pristine coral reefs near you. The fringing reefs are teeming with marine life and very healthy coral formations. The outstanding visibility will add to the experience. Your surface interval between dives will likely be in the village before trekking to your next dive site. After your second dive, you will have lunch. Divers on a day trip will head back to the “End of the Road” where they may do a third dive before taking a jeep back to Dahab.
Divers staying overnight will have the afternoon free to relax in the village or to hike nearby. Later they will enjoy a night dive and dinner. Staying overnight in the traditional village, the divers will have an early morning dive, breakfast, and a second dive. They will depart by camel, after lunch, and have the opportunity for another dive after they reach the “end of the Road” before heading back to their accommodations in Dahab.
