- Depth
- 5–30 m
- Level
- Open Water and up
- Entry
- Boat or camel/4x4 trip
- Area
- Day trip
Gabr el Bint dive guide: what to expect
Gabr el Bint Dahab is the big day out to the south. The site lies roughly 15 km south of town along a stretch of coast with no road access, so it is usually reached by day boat (around 50 minutes to an hour and a half, depending on the boat and the sea), and some operators also run trips overland by 4x4 or camel. The name means 'the grave of the girl', after a local folk tale about a girl who fell for a boy from town, and the setting, with steep granite mountains dropping straight into the sea, is every bit as dramatic as the story.
Because so few divers make the trip, the reef here is in excellent condition, and PADI and several Dahab centres rank Gabr el Bint among the most attractive sites in this part of Sinai. A coral buttress divides the site into two very different dives, and a typical day includes one on each side with lunch on the boat or the beach in between.
Diving Gabr el Bint Dahab on the 'dark side' means a steep wall cut by old earthquakes into chasms, sandy ravines, overhangs and small caves, plunging to about 60 metres. Table corals cling to the drop-off, milkfish cruise past, and there is always a small chance of a shark in the blue. On recreational dives we follow this wall at 20–25 metres and never chase its depth.
The other side is the colourful one, and many guides say it is the more beautiful. A dense row of huge gorgonian sea fans, some of the largest in the Red Sea, lines a slope of big boulders down to around 20–25 metres. Anthias and glassfish swarm around the boulders, longnose hawkfish perch in the fans, trevallies hunt fusiliers in the blue and turtles munch soft corals on the way up to a saddle at about 10 metres. The return leads over a sandy ledge parallel to the shore, where Red Sea walkman, crocodilefish and scorpionfish hide in the sand, and finishes at the end of the ledge with a resting school of black-and-white snappers in just 5–10 metres.
Gabr el Bint is best for divers who are comfortable with boat entries and open-water descents, and it is ideal if you have already done the classic Dahab shore sites. Trips depend on wind and sea state, so book early in your stay and stay flexible on the day.
Gabr el Bint dive map
The dive, step by step
- Boat entry
Giant-stride or back-roll from the boat near the buttress, descend together along the reef to 10–12 m and check your buddy.
- Gorgonian slope
Follow the gorgonian side over big boulders down to a maximum of 20–25 m, with the reef on one shoulder and the blue on the other.
- Up to the saddle
Turn on air and work up the slope to the saddle at around 10 m, watching for turtles feeding on soft corals.
- Sandy ledge
Cross the sandy ledge running parallel to the shore at 8–12 m, searching the sand for walkman, crocodilefish and scorpionfish. The current can be a bit stronger on this leg.
- Snappers and pick-up
Finish at the end of the ledge with the snapper school at 5–10 m, make your safety stop over the reef plateau and surface with an SMB for pick-up.
💬 Dive Gabr el Bint with me: send your dates
Conditions
- Max depth
- 25 m typical, 30 m recreational limit (wall drops to ~60 m)
- Dive time
- 50–60 min per dive, usually two dives in a full day
- Current
- Mostly mild; can be stronger on the return along the sandy ledge
- Visibility
- Typically 25–30 m+
- Best time
- Calm, low-wind days; trips run all year but depend on the weather
- Requirements
- Open Water with logged boat dives; Advanced Open Water recommended for the wall side
What you'll see
- Giant gorgonian sea fans
- Steep wall with overhangs and caves
- Anthias and glassfish
- Turtles
- Black-and-white snappers
- Milkfish
- Trevallies hunting fusiliers
- Longnose hawkfish
- Crocodilefish, scorpionfish and Red Sea walkman
- Table corals
Guide's tips
- Full-day trip with two dives
- Book ahead, because trips depend on the weather
- Ideal for divers on a longer stay
Snorkeling at Gabr el Bint
Reached only by boat; the dramatic reef wall can be snorkeled from the boat, but most of the interest (canyons, big pinnacles) is deep, and there is no shallow lagoon.
Safety notes
- The wall side drops to around 60 m with no bottom in sight; watch depth and buoyancy closely.
- Remote site far from the road and the Dahab chamber: dive conservatively and carry an SMB.
- Current can pick up on the return leg; stay close to the reef and your guide.
- Boat entries and exits in swell: listen to the crew's briefing.
Questions about Gabr el Bint
How deep is the Gabr el Bint dive in Dahab?
A guided recreational dive at Gabr el Bint is usually between 5–30 m, planned around your certification level.
Is Gabr el Bint suitable for beginners?
Gabr el Bint is rated Open Water and up. It is a good choice for newly certified divers.
How do you get to Gabr el Bint?
Entry: Boat or camel/4x4 trip. Transport from Dahab town is arranged as part of your guided dive.