- Depth
- 5–20 m
- Level
- All levels
- Entry
- Shore
- Area
- North
Coral Garden dive guide: what to expect
Coral Garden Dahab sits on the north coast right next to the Canyon, about a 20-minute drive from town and roughly 1.5 km before you reach the Blue Hole. The two sites share the same beach and the same shallow sandy lagoon entry: once you leave the lagoon, divers heading for the Canyon turn left, and we turn right into a long stretch of healthy hard and soft coral. It is the relaxed, colourful sibling of one of Dahab's most famous dives.
Diving Coral Garden Dahab is easy and rewarding. The lagoon is shallow and sandy, so you can take your time with the descent, and the reef outside starts in only a few metres of water. Heading south, you follow a rounded reef wall with the blue on one side and coral gardens spreading from about 5 metres down to the reef edge at around 20 metres. Beyond the edge the wall falls away steeply towards 40 metres, but there is no reason to go down there: the best colour and light is in the shallows.
Fish life is busy and very photogenic. Clouds of anthias and glassfish hang over the coral heads, unicornfish and fusiliers patrol the edge of the wall, damselfish guard every branch, and blue-spotted stingrays rest in the sandy patches. Giant morays and the odd Napoleon wrasse turn up here too, and sharp-eyed divers regularly find crocodilefish lying flat on the sand near the lagoon. The way back is a winding swim through a maze of coral and sand at 5–10 metres, perfect for a long safety stop.
Coral Garden works for almost everyone. It is a good choice for newly certified divers, for refreshers, and as the second dive of the day after the Canyon while everyone's nitrogen is still high. It is also gentle enough that local centres call it ideal for children and junior divers, and non-diving friends can snorkel the shallow reef top on a calm day.
The one thing to plan around is the lagoon. It is best entered at high tide and in calm conditions; when the sea is rough the lagoon water can get stirred up and visibility at the start of the dive drops. Pick a calm morning and you will see why many of us rank this among the prettiest easy dives in Dahab.
Coral Garden dive map
The dive, step by step
- Entry
Walk in at the Canyon beach and swim across the shallow sandy lagoon (1–4 m) to its opening onto the reef.
- Turn right
Leaving the lagoon, turn right (south) with the reef on your right, away from the Canyon, and settle at 8–12 m.
- Reef edge
Follow the rounded wall south along the coral garden, dipping to a maximum of about 18–20 m at the reef edge to look out into the blue.
- Coral maze
Turn back on air and return shallower at 5–10 m, winding through the maze of hard and soft corals and sand patches.
- Exit
Make the safety stop near the lagoon mouth, look for crocodilefish on the sand, and swim back through the lagoon to the beach.
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Conditions
- Max depth
- 18–20 m typical (recreational; wall drops past 40 m)
- Dive time
- 50–60 min
- Current
- Generally light
- Visibility
- Typically 20–30 m; lower in the lagoon when the sea is rough
- Best time
- High tide on a calm morning; all year
- Requirements
- All levels, including Open Water students and junior divers
What you'll see
- Hard and soft coral gardens
- Anthias
- Glassfish
- Unicornfish
- Fusiliers
- Damselfish
- Blue-spotted stingrays
- Crocodilefish
- Giant moray eels
- Napoleon wrasse (occasional)
Guide's tips
- Easy second dive after the Canyon
- Great for snorkellers in the group
Snorkeling at Coral Garden
Uses the Canyon's shallow sandy lagoon entry, and the coral garden starts at about 5 m, so the reef is easy to reach from the surface.
Safety notes
- The lagoon is shallow; at low tide or in waves the entry is awkward and visibility drops, so time it with the tide.
- Beyond the reef edge the wall drops steeply past 40 m; keep an eye on your depth.
- Don't follow the wrong group: turning left out of the lagoon leads to the deeper Canyon, an Advanced-level dive.
Questions about Coral Garden
How deep is the Coral Garden dive in Dahab?
A guided recreational dive at Coral Garden is usually between 5–20 m, planned around your certification level.
Is Coral Garden suitable for beginners?
Coral Garden is rated All levels. It is a good choice for newly certified divers.
How do you get to Coral Garden?
Entry: Shore. Transport from Dahab town is arranged as part of your guided dive.