Diving Dahab in winter, December to February
Yes, winter is a good time to dive Dahab. From December to February the sea stays at about 21–24 °C, days are sunny and around 21–22 °C, and visibility is often excellent. The trade-offs are cool nights of about 10–11 °C, shorter days and spells of wind, so bring a 5 mm wetsuit and a warm layer.
Is winter a good time to dive in Dahab?
Winter is Dahab's coolest season, but it is still very diveable. The water never drops below about 20–21 °C, which is warmer than most of the Mediterranean in summer, and rain is rare: climate averages show about one rainy day a month from December to February, with 8–9 hours of sunshine a day.
What changes is comfort out of the water. Daytime highs sit around 21–22 °C, nights fall to about 10–11 °C, and a north wind can make a wet surface interval feel cold. Plan for that and winter gives you calm reefs, clear water and a quieter town than in the spring and autumn peaks.
The table shows the monthly averages used across this site. Individual days can be a degree or two either side.
| Month | Water | Air (day) | Wetsuit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | ~22 °C | ~21 °C | 5 mm |
| Feb | ~21 °C | ~22 °C | 5 mm |
| Mar | ~22 °C | ~25 °C | 5 mm |
| Apr | ~23 °C | ~28 °C | 5 mm |
| May | ~25 °C | ~32 °C | 3 mm |
| Jun | ~26 °C | ~35 °C | 3 mm |
| Jul | ~28 °C | ~36 °C | 3 mm / shortie |
| Aug | ~29 °C | ~36 °C | 3 mm / shortie |
| Sep | ~28 °C | ~33 °C | 3 mm / shortie |
| Oct | ~27 °C | ~30 °C | 3 mm |
| Nov | ~25 °C | ~26 °C | 3 mm |
| Dec | ~24 °C | ~22 °C | 3 mm |
Dahab in December
December water averages about 23–24 °C. It is warmest at the start of the month and cools steadily, so a diver arriving on 1 December often finds a degree or two more than one arriving after Christmas. Daytime air is about 21–22 °C and nights drop to around 11 °C.
December has the shortest days of the year. Around the 21st the sun rises at about 06:30 and sets at about 16:50 local time (Egypt is on UTC+2 in winter), giving roughly 10 hours 20 minutes of daylight. Two dives fit easily, but plan the second one to finish by mid-afternoon, and a night dive can start soon after 17:30.
Wind comes in spells rather than every day. The first half of the month is usually quiet on land and underwater. From around 20 December the town fills up for Christmas and New Year, and the Blue Hole gets busy from late morning, when day trips arrive from Sharm el Sheikh.
Dahab in January
January is usually the coolest month on land, with daytime highs of about 20–21 °C and nights near 10 °C. The sea averages about 22 °C, and on most days it sits somewhere between 21 and 24 °C. Many divers find the water warmer than the air at the start and end of the day.
The first week is busy. 7 January is Coptic Christmas, a public holiday in Egypt, and it falls inside Russia’s New Year holiday, which runs from 1 to 8 January, so Russian-speaking visitors are numerous in early January. 25 January is another Egyptian public holiday (Revolution Day and Police Day), which can bring weekend visitors from Cairo.
From mid-January to early February Dahab is at its quietest. Days lengthen slowly: by the end of the month sunset is around 17:20. If you want empty dive sites and do not mind wearing a hood, this is the window.
💬 Coming in winter? Ask me about conditions
Dahab in February
February has the coolest water of the year, at about 21–22 °C on average, and it can touch about 20.5 °C on the coldest days. March stays just as cool, so do not expect a big change if you push your trip back a few weeks. Daytime air is back up to about 22 °C, and nights are still around 10–11 °C.
Daylight improves quickly, to about 11 hours by mid-month and 11.5 hours by the end, with sunset after 17:30. European school winter breaks make some weeks in February busier.
In 2027 Ramadan is expected to begin around 8–9 February, depending on the moon sighting. Diving carries on as normal, but some local businesses change their opening hours, so check times for meals and transfers.
Which wetsuit, and do you need a hood?
For December to February a 5 mm full wetsuit is the standard choice. If you feel the cold, are doing three dives a day, or are on a course where you spend time kneeling still in the shallows, go for a 7 mm, or wear a 5 mm with a hooded vest underneath.
A hood is the cheapest upgrade in winter. A lot of body heat is lost through the head, and a 3–5 mm hood makes a long dive in 21–22 °C water far more comfortable. It is optional in early December and strongly recommended in January and February. Boots under open-heel fins help too.
Pack for the surface as well as for the dive. Bring a windproof jacket or a changing robe for surface intervals, a warm fleece for evenings, and a dry layer for the drive back from the site. Sun protection still matters, because the winter sun is strong on the water.
Where to dive on windy winter days
Dahab's prevailing wind blows from the north to north-north-east, at about 10 knots on average according to long-term station data. In winter it tends to arrive in spells of a few days, with calmer days in between, rather than blowing every afternoon as it often does in spring and summer.
On a windy day the north-facing sites with reef-top entries, such as Eel Garden, the Islands and Abu Helal, can get choppy, with surge at the entry and current on the slope. Then the sheltered sites take over. Lighthouse sits in a bay protected from the north wind right off the promenade, and the southern bays of Golden Blocks, Moray Garden and Three Pools stay calm on most windy days. On calm winter mornings the whole coast is open, including the Blue Hole and the Canyon.
A local guide checks the wind and the tide each morning and picks the site to match, so a windy day rarely means a lost dive.
Christmas and New Year: booking ahead
The two weeks from about 20 December to 8 January are the busiest of the winter. Flights into Sharm el Sheikh and good rooms in Dahab sell out first, so book them early, and fix your dive days at the same time instead of leaving them until you arrive.
Dive the famous sites early in the morning, before the tour buses, and keep your most flexible days for the sites that need calm weather. Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve are normal diving days in Dahab, but transfers and restaurants are busier.
If you fly home straight after the holidays, remember the no-fly time. Divers Alert Network recommends at least 18 hours between your last dive and your flight after several dives or several days of diving, and Sharm el Sheikh airport is about 80–90 km from Dahab by road.
Diving safety, insurance and flying after diving →
Ask about your winter dates
Winter suits divers who want quiet reefs, clear water and a break from a European winter, and who are happy to dive in a 5 mm suit. If you are coming between December and February, tell me your dates and your level and I will tell you what to expect and which sites usually work that week.
For the rest of the year, see the month-by-month guide, or read the full guide to diving in Dahab.
Water temperature month by month →
Questions
Is Dahab good for diving in winter?
Yes. From December to February the water is about 21–24 °C, the days are sunny and around 21–22 °C, visibility is often excellent and the sites are quieter. Nights are cool and some days are windy.
How cold is the sea in Dahab in February?
February has the coolest water of the year, about 21–22 °C on average and close to 20.5 °C on the coldest days. Most divers wear a 5 mm wetsuit with a hood.
Do I need a hood for diving in Dahab in winter?
It is optional in early December and strongly recommended in January and February, when the water is around 21–22 °C. A 3–5 mm hood makes long dives much more comfortable.
Is Dahab windy in December and January?
Some days are. The wind usually blows from the north and in winter comes in spells of a few days, with calmer days in between. Sheltered sites such as Lighthouse, Golden Blocks and Moray Garden stay diveable on windy days.
How cold is Dahab at night in winter?
Nights fall to about 10–11 °C from December to February, while days reach about 21–22 °C. Bring a warm fleece and a windproof jacket.
Is Dahab busy at Christmas and New Year?
Yes. From about 20 December to 8 January is the busiest part of winter, including Coptic Christmas on 7 January. Book flights, rooms and dive days early.
What time does it get dark in Dahab in winter?
In late December the sun sets at about 16:50 local time. By the end of February sunset is around 17:40.