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Diving Sites
The Lighthouse
Being at the sheltered end of Dahab bay with its gradually sloping sandy bottom, the “Lighthouse” is favourite for training, refresh dives and buoyancy checks. It’s easy to overlook what a great dive site it is.
There are many large coral towers or “bombies” which are covered in corals and surrounded by abundant sea life. Those who have only done this dive during training should return and dive it again to 30 meters (when they have their advanced), it’s a different dive completely and surprises all that do it.
Turtles, Morays, large Napoleon and Eagle Rays are all seen here regularly.
Note; don’t bother looking for a lighthouse, its set back away from the beach and completely outshone by the neighbouring mosque.
Eel Garden
The Eel Garden, as the name would suggest, is he home to Dahabs largest colony of garden eels.
After a wade across the reef shelf we enter the water at a channel in the reef shelf, be careful with your buoyancy and where you put your fins when you enter, the living reef is all around. Heading out we pass over a coral ridge and head down to meet the eels. Garden Eels live in permanent tubular burrows on the sandy bottom, you can see them standing upright, heads bent into the current picking at passing food.
After the eels we move along and up the sandy slope to the fringing reef. The corals here are amongst the most beautiful and colourful in all of Dahab.
Diving here is dependant on the wind conditions
The Islands
The “Islands” are actually two huge coral formations which only break the surface at extremely low tides. This is a shallow site suitable for all levels of diver but only for those with good buoyancy control as much of this dive is over the coral.
To enter you cross the reef shelf by the “sacrificial”* walkway.
A series of life filled lagoons surrounded by reef take you to a coral labyrinth and on to the back of the Islands and wonderful coral gardens beyond. Resident here is a large school of Barracuda. There is a third Island further our but only visited by those very good on air.
The coral formations here are massive and have a cathedral like quality. Notice some shattered corals, for once not caused by man but the result of an earthquake some years ago. Passing back into the first lagoon we exit via a shallow swim-through.
Overall, a truly wonderful dive.
The Canyon
Almost as famous as the Blue Hole the Canyon is Dahab’s second most talked about dive site. The shore entry takes you into a shallow lagoon which leads into the coral gardens beyond. Open water divers can head to the left to enjoy the colourful coral and fish life, or alternatively head north to see the mouth of the Canyon and see the bubbles percolating up through the sea floor from the divers inside. For advanced divers the thrill is to explore inside the Canyon. As you drop through the canyons mouth it opens up into a large underwater chamber. The main floor is at 30 meters making it ideal for the Advanced Open water narcosis test. After a look around we head up to an igloo like chamber known as the “Fish Bowl” due to the myriad glass fish found here.
Exiting the fish bowl we head along the shallow reef wall back to the lagoon for a safety stop and out. The canyon is many peoples favourite dive, not just in Dahab but anywhere. Dahab is, quite simply, a diving theme park, with something to offer divers of all levels of experience. Our main sites are listed here, with a short description. All these sites can be dived in several different ways or combined by doing a “drift dive” from one to another; our guides will take you to the best spots depending on your ability and experience level to ensure you get the best and safest dive possible.
When diving in Dahab it is important that you listen closely to briefing and respect our local diving rules so you can enjoy the reef safely and the reef need not fear you.
The Bells – Blue Hole
This dive combines two of Dahabs most spectacular dive sites into one of the most unforgettable dives you will ever make.
Our entry is directly from the shore into the mouth of “The Bells”. We dive straight down through an open chimney which leads to a swim through at around 28 meters. Coming out of the bells we find ourselves on a shear and magnificent reef wall, the wall drops down to an incredible 800* meters, watch your depth and buoyancy. Heading south along the wall there is abundant life with sightings of Turtles, large Napoleon fish and Octopus being common, while sharks are a less common visitor but you may get lucky! We enter the Blue Hole over a ridge called “The Saddle” at around 7 meters, the life here is spectacular. After our safety stop we exit after a world class dive.
*Note; the depths here have tempted many a diver too a water grave. For safety reasons all recreational diving in Dahab is to a maximum of 30 meters.