Dahab located on Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula bordering the Red Sea, is a unique destination favored by both scuba divers and snorkelers as well as other adventure seekers. While you frequently hear of scuba diving destinations and scuba diving vacations, it is not as common to hear of destinations catering to snorkeling. I think a part of that situation is because it is a commitment in both time and money to become a scuba diver, while it is just a modest investment in time and money to start snorkeling. Many vacationers include snorkeling in their travel plans, however, it is not as visible as divers planning their vacations. Some do plan their vacation around snorkeling, and Dahab is a perfect snorkeling destination.
In a previous article, I covered reasons why you should plan a scuba diving vacation to Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, particularly Dahab. Many of the reasons making Dahab a dive destination equally apply to Dahab as a snorkeling destination. Many of the area’s shore-accessed scuba diving sites are also great for snorkeling. I will even venture to say that some of the “dive” sites are better-done snorkeling. Many of the sites are in shallow water, often less than 20 feet (ca 7 meters) deep, and are relatively close to shore. Visibility is outstanding, so even if you only snorkel on the surface, you get to enjoy the site.
An experienced snorkeler who can swim down to about 15 feet (ca 4.5 meters) would have the same experience as a scuba diver. That is without the need to rent and carry the heavier scuba tanks. Several of the snorkeling sites are a short walk from the main hotels, so it is easy to spend several hours enjoying the sun and sea, alternating beach time and swim time. There is a road that runs north and south from Dahab along the coast. The north End of the Road brings you to the Blue Hole and El Bells dive sites, while the south End of the Road, brings you to the Caves dive site a short distance past the Three Pools dive site. The distance between the two End of the Roads is about 12 miles (ca 20 km). Any hotel between the two End of the Roads will be within a few minutes walk to a snorkeling site. If you enjoy walking, you could bring a lunch and your snorkeling equipment, pick a direction, and enjoy a nice coastal walk, stopping to snorkel a few times on the trip out and back. You will also find small restaurants to enjoy a cool drink along the way. I am going to focus on snorkeling sites that can be enjoyed by snorkelers with limited experience. Experienced freedivers will likely find the scuba diving article helpful.
Central Dahab Snorkeling Sites
One of the great benefits of snorkeling in Dahab is that several snorkeling sites are in walking distance of the center of the town, and a few others are within walking distance of hotels and resorts outside the central area. The neighborhoods of Assalah, Masbat, and Mashraba are the center of the tourist district and have six snorkeling sites among them, four of which are along the beachfront promenade. Here is a brief overview of what a snorkeler can expect at these sites.
Lighthouse Reef: The location and variety of this site make it one of the most popular snorkeling and dive sites in the area. A shore entry point is off the promenade, enter the water until it is deep enough to float and snorkel on out. There are two trails here, the “A” trail leads into a coral channel to your left (North). The coral here will start getting deeper, still, you will find slopes you can snorkel over. This channel does get to 65 feet (ca 20 meters) deep before you clear the channel head, and you enter a current. The “B” channel is more snorkeler-friendly. Moving to the right (South) after entering the water, you will find a sandy slope with coral heads scattered around you. To the right of the slope is a seagrass bed at about 15 feet deep (ca 5 meters). In addition, of the marine life found in the seagrass, there is some wreckage for you to explore. The combination of corals, sandy bottom, seagrass, and wreckage gives you an amazing variety of marine environments.
Eel Garden: This popular dive site is located just north of the Lighthouse Reef; many experienced divers will start here and then drift dive to the Lighthouse Reef. Experienced snorkelers can also do so when the sea and wind conditions are favorable. Shore divers and snorkelers will find very shallow water over a seagrass bed for about 180 feet (ca 60 meters) before entering a coral garden at about 10 feet (ca 3 meters) deep. This coral garden is a perfect place to try out your iPhone with a ProShotCase or your underwater camera. The sandy bottom continues to slope down to 80 feet (ca 25 meters). The namesake of the site is a sandy slope to the north of the coral garden. The slope goes to about 30 feet deep (ca10 meters) and is the home of hundreds of small garden eels. They are about the size of a large earthworm and stay half buried in the sand with their upper body standing up out of the sand. When something approaches them, they will withdraw back into the sand. After a few minutes, they will reappear. The great visibility will allow the snorkeler to watch these amazing eels.
Snorkeling Laguna Dahab and the End of the Road South
While a short distance away from what is considered the central area, Medina, including the Laguna area, is another great place for snorkeling. If you are just out for a nice snorkeling swim, then you will find many places in the lagoon that are perfect for getting wet. The lagoon is well protected, so you will generally find very calm waters with no current. The lagoon does get some wind, making it a go-to place for windsurfing as well.
When you are ready to be awed, then the Islands Site is a great destination. The Island Site is located on the open waterside of the small peninsula that helps create the Lagoon. The highlight and the namesake for the site are three pinnacles or underwater islands. These are accompanied by three shallow pools and coral flats. An earthquake over a decade ago damaged the reef, creating small rifts, canyons, and holes that add to the uniqueness of the site. Juvenile barracuda can be found in large numbers at this site, along with an amazing range of reef fish. Large snapper and trevally are also attracted to the reefs. Entry to the site is across a shallow reef plate, after which snorkelers will find depths ranging from just a few feet to as deep as 50 feet (ca 15 meters). The most interesting parts of the reef top are only about 10 feet deep (ca 3 meters) with the sandy bottom pools less than 33 feet (ca 10 meters). This is a site you can spend days exploring and still come back and find something new.
At the End of the Road South is a cluster of five dive sites, three of which are also excellent for snorkeling.
Snorkeling the Dahab’s Blue Hole
One of the most famous and infamous dive sites in the world is the Dahab Blue Hole, located at the North End of the Road. The number of deaths here is very high, with estimates of over 200 divers. The dive site is very deep, with an area called the arch that attracts divers. The arch is 180 feet (ca 55 meters) deep and is the opening of a tunnel leading to open water. This depth is beyond the level of recreational scuba diving and is even a challenge for experienced technical divers. If scuba divers stay within the level of their training and experience, the Dahab Blue Hole is a safe dive site. As a snorkeling site, The Blue Hole is an outstanding experience. The Blue Hole itself is surrounded by a shallow reef that is easy for snorkelers to enjoy. It does have some damage due to careless divers and snorkelers, but is still a nice dive. The best way for a snorkeler to add this bucket list destination to their bragging rights is to start elsewhere.
Just north of the Blue Hole is a site called El Bells. Divers often use this site, enter a crack in the reef, a chimney, diving about 70 feet (ca 21 meters), and exit the reef to drift to the reef around the Blue Hole. Snorkelers can enter the water here and swim out past the chimney to the drop-off area and then gently drift towards the Blue Hole. When they reach the Blue Hole, they will find an area called the Saddle that leads from the Blue Hole toward the open water. A saddle is a small depression between two ridges. This saddle is known for its coral growth. Snorkelers can follow the saddle towards the reef surrounding the Blue Hole. After taking a glimpse into the depth of the hole, snorkelers can continue to explore the shallow reef before exiting at one of the two entry/exit points for this site.
Dahab A Snorkeling Destination Good To Know
When to Go: Dahab is a year-round destination. Early summer (May and June) and early fall (September and October) seem to have the best combination of weather and sea conditions.
Average Air Temperatures. The months of May, June September, and October may have a slight edge as the air temperature is comfortable in the 70s f (ca 23c) to low 80s(ca 26c) range. Summers will find a daily high averaging 82 f (ca 27.5) Some may find the air temperature a little cool for swimming in November and March with average daily highs around 61 F (ca 17 c)
Average Water Temperature: In January, the water temperature may drop to around 71 f (ca 22c) and soar as high as 81.5 f (ca 21.7c) in August.
What to Wear: Most snorkelers will be comfortable in swimwear from May until November. However, wearing a rash suit is always a good choice to avoid scrapes from corals as well as some sun protection. A 3 mm wetsuit should be sufficient for most snorkelers at other times.
