Dive site guide

Dahab dive sites: the 23 best dives, mapped

From the world-famous Blue Hole to quiet reefs only a few divers ever see.

Dahab town NorthSouth 1. Red Tooth Trigger Bay2. Ras Abu Galum3. The Bells4. Blue Hole5. Rick's Reef6. Canyon7. Coral Garden8. Abu Talha9. Abu Helal10. Eel Garden11. Lighthouse12. Bannerfish Bay13. Mashraba14. The Islands15. Napoleon Reef16. Golden Blocks17. Moray Garden18. Three Pools19. Umm Sid20. The Caves21. Sha'ab Said22. El Shugurat23. Gabr el Bint N
Dive sites along the Dahab coast, north to south. Spacing is schematic, not to scale. Tap a site for its page.

Best dive sites for beginners

Calm, shallow and easy to enter. Perfect for new Open Water divers or a first dive after a break.

TownLighthouse 5–25 m · All levels TownEel Garden 5–18 m · All levels SouthThe Islands 5–20 m · All levels SouthThree Pools 3–20 m · All levels

Best dive sites for Advanced divers

Deeper profiles, walls and narrow passages. Advanced certification or equivalent experience recommended.

NorthThe Bells 5–27 m · Advanced recommended NorthCanyon 10–30 m · Advanced NorthAbu Helal 5–30 m · Advanced Open Water and up (high tide and calm sea only) Day tripGabr el Bint 5–30 m · Open Water and up

All Dahab dive sites at a glance

SiteAreaDepthLevelEntry
Red Tooth Trigger BayDay trip3–25 mOpen Water and upShore (Ras Abu Galum trip)
Ras Abu GalumDay trip5–30 mOpen Water and upCamel trek, 4x4 or boat
The BellsNorth5–27 mAdvanced recommendedShore (narrow chimney)
Blue HoleNorth5–30 mOpen Water (rim, max 18 m); Advanced for the 30 m Bells routeShore
Rick's ReefNorth5–25 mAdvanced recommendedShore (gap in the reef table)
CanyonNorth10–30 mAdvancedShore (via lagoon)
Coral GardenNorth5–20 mAll levelsShore
Abu TalhaNorth5–20 mOpen Water and up (calm days)Shore (over the reef top, high tide)
Abu HelalNorth5–30 mAdvanced Open Water and up (high tide and calm sea only)Shore
Eel GardenTown5–18 mAll levelsShore (over reef table, high tide only)
LighthouseTown5–25 mAll levelsShore (in town)
Bannerfish BayTown3–18 mOpen Water and upShore (Lighthouse entry)
MashrabaTown5–25 mAll levelsShore (in town)
The IslandsSouth5–20 mAll levelsShore (reef-top crack, high tide)
Napoleon ReefSouth3–18 mOpen Water and up (calm days)Boat (or long swim from Laguna Beach)
Golden BlocksSouth5–25 mAll levelsShore
Moray GardenSouth5–20 mAll levelsShore
Three PoolsSouth3–20 mAll levelsShore (through three shallow pools, high tide)
Umm SidSouth5–30 mOpen Water and up; Advanced for the gorgoniansShore (sandy corridor through the reef)
The CavesSouth3–30 mAdvanced recommendedShore (giant stride off the ledge)
Sha'ab SaidDay trip5–20 mOpen Water and upBoat
El ShuguratDay trip5–30 mAdvancedBoat
Gabr el BintDay trip5–30 mOpen Water and upBoat or camel/4x4 trip

North Dahab

NorthThe Bells 5–27 m · Advanced recommended NorthBlue Hole 5–30 m · Open Water (rim, max 18 m); Advanced for the 30 m Bells route NorthRick's Reef 5–25 m · Advanced recommended NorthCanyon 10–30 m · Advanced NorthCoral Garden 5–20 m · All levels NorthAbu Talha 5–20 m · Open Water and up (calm days) NorthAbu Helal 5–30 m · Advanced Open Water and up (high tide and calm sea only)

Town Dahab

TownEel Garden 5–18 m · All levels TownLighthouse 5–25 m · All levels TownBannerfish Bay 3–18 m · Open Water and up TownMashraba 5–25 m · All levels

South Dahab

SouthThe Islands 5–20 m · All levels SouthNapoleon Reef 3–18 m · Open Water and up (calm days) SouthGolden Blocks 5–25 m · All levels SouthMoray Garden 5–20 m · All levels SouthThree Pools 3–20 m · All levels SouthUmm Sid 5–30 m · Open Water and up; Advanced for the gorgonians SouthThe Caves 3–30 m · Advanced recommended

Day trips

Day tripRed Tooth Trigger Bay 3–25 m · Open Water and up Day tripRas Abu Galum 5–30 m · Open Water and up Day tripSha'ab Said 5–20 m · Open Water and up Day tripEl Shugurat 5–30 m · Advanced Day tripGabr el Bint 5–30 m · Open Water and up

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