Sha'ab Said, Dahab: dive site guide

Updated October 2026 · by Mohamed Fathy, PADI & SSI dive instructor in Dahab

Depth

5–20 m

Level

Open Water and up

Entry

Boat

Area

Day trip

Sha'ab Said dive guide: what to expect

Sha'ab Said Dahab is one of the quiet boat sites on the south coast, out toward Gabr el Bint, where the road ends and only boats (or camels) go. Local centres describe it as lying just north of Gabr el Bint, next to a small blue hole in the reef, and roughly an hour's boat ride from Dahab. Because so few groups make the trip, the reef is in very good condition.

The dive is a one-way drift. The boat drops you in front of the first lagoon and you head along the reef while the boat follows. The first lagoon has a small sandy bottom at about 17 m. Around and outside it, the shallow reef forms a coral labyrinth of pinnacles, small caves and swim-throughs, mostly in the top 10–15 m, which is great fun to explore at an easy pace. Beyond that, the reef becomes a more continuous slope that drops gradually away.

Diving Sha'ab Said Dahab means spending most of your time around 15 m, which keeps your air and no-stop time long. Further along you reach a second lagoon with even more coral. At high tide, the guide may take you for a quick look at the small blue hole in the reef top before you finish the dive.

The corals are the real stars here. Dive centres point out big boulders of Porites lutea, Galaxea and delicate Leptoseris, along with plenty of table corals and anthias. Look out for snubnose rudderfish and schools of black-and-white snappers along the reef.

Information about Sha'ab Said is limited and sources disagree a little on exactly where it sits along the south coast, so treat our map as a sketch. It is usually combined with El Shugurat or Gabr el Bint on a south-coast boat day, and with its shallow profile it suits every level from new Open Water divers upward.

Sha'ab Said dive map

The dive, step by step

1. Boat drop

   Back-roll or giant stride from the boat in front of the first lagoon and descend to 10–15 m.

2. First lagoon

   Look over the first lagoon with its sandy bottom at about 17 m.

3. Coral labyrinth

   Explore the pinnacles, small caves and swim-throughs outside the lagoon, mostly at around 15 m, staying within 20 m.

4. Second lagoon

   Drift on to the second lagoon with its richer coral.

5. Safety stop and pick-up

   At high tide take a quick look at the small blue hole if the guide suggests it, make your safety stop at 5 m and surface with an SMB for the pick-up.

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Conditions

Max depth

20 m

Dive time

50–60 min

Current

Sometimes; dived as a one-way drift

Visibility

Usually 20–30 m

Best time

Calm days for the boat ride south; high tide for a look at the small blue hole

Requirements

Open Water and up; good buoyancy for the swim-throughs

What you'll see

• Porites lutea boulders
• Galaxea coral
• Leptoseris coral
• Table corals
• Anthias
• Snubnose rudderfish
• Black-and-white snappers

Guide's tips

• Book as part of a south-coast boat day
• Good buoyancy helps in the swim-throughs
• Ask to peek at the small blue hole at high tide

Snorkeling at Sha'ab Said

Listed as snorkel-friendly; the coral labyrinth starts in the shallows, but the site is only reached by boat.

Snorkeling guide →

Safety notes

• Remote site far from town: dive conservatively and follow the boat crew’s briefing.
• Swim-throughs are short and open, but keep your buoyancy tight and do not touch the coral.
• One-way drift: stay with the guide and carry an SMB for the pick-up.

Questions about Sha'ab Said