The Caves, Dahab: dive site guide

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

Depth

3–30 m

Level

Advanced recommended

Entry

Shore (giant stride off the ledge)

Area

South

The Caves dive guide: what to expect

The Caves Dahab is the last site on the south coast that you can reach by car, roughly 15 km from town and the final stop before Gabr el Bint. It is a beautiful dive with a dramatic start, but it is very weather-dependent, so it is not one you can count on every day.

Instead of walking in, you take a giant stride off a rock ledge into deep blue water. That is why local centres only dive it in calm conditions and at high tide: when waves are breaking against the shore, jumping in and climbing back out become tricky and tiring. On a flat day it is straightforward, and the moment you descend the first overhang is right below you.

The name is a little misleading. These are not true caves but large overhangs cut into the reef, with one on each side of the entry. The left one starts at about 3 m and can be followed down to around 20 m. The right one is usually the favourite, its walls and ceiling covered with soft corals, sponges and black corals. A torch brings out the colours and the small stuff: nudibranchs, flatworms and sea slugs live in the shadows, and puffers sometimes doze there. Swim to the back, turn around and watch the light shine through clouds of anthias and bannerfish swimming upside down under the ceiling.

Diving The Caves Dahab as a longer dive means heading out over the large sandy slope in front of the rocks, which runs from about 3 m to beyond 30 m. Keep the reef on your right and you pass a red anemone with its clownfish, a garden-eel field at about 30 m, and big boulder pinnacles with unusual rock formations. Groupers and moray eels sometimes hunt together here, scorpionfish hide in the coral, and near the end a second sandy slope leads to seagrass where turtles and, occasionally, guitarfish turn up.

Many divers finish back in the shallow overhang, which makes a lovely spot for the safety stop. With the entry, the depth and the drift option, this is a site for Advanced divers or confident divers with a guide.

The Caves dive map

The dive, step by step

1. Check conditions

   Dive only at high tide with a calm sea; the guide checks the waves on the ledge first.

2. Giant stride entry

   Giant stride off the ledge and descend straight to the overhangs below.

3. The overhangs

   Explore the left overhang (3–20 m) and the soft-coral-covered right overhang with a torch.

4. Sandy slope

   Head out over the sandy slope, reef on your right, past the red anemone toward the garden eels, to a maximum of 30 m.

5. Pinnacles and return

   Return past the boulder pinnacles, or, if planned, drift on to the seagrass area.

6. Safety stop and exit

   Make your safety stop in the shallow overhang among the anthias, then climb out at the exit bay on the slope.

💬 Dive The Caves with me: send your dates

Conditions

Max depth

30 m (recreational plan); the slope continues deeper

Dive time

45–55 min

Current

Usually little; occasional drift along the reef

Visibility

Usually 20–40 m

Best time

High tide on calm days with no waves on the ledge

Requirements

Advanced recommended; confident with giant-stride shore entries and good buoyancy under overhangs

What you'll see

• Anthias
• Bannerfish
• Glassfish
• Groupers
• Moray eels
• Scorpionfish
• Clownfish in a red anemone
• Garden eels
• Nudibranchs and flatworms
• Turtles
• Guitarfish (occasional)

Guide's tips

• Only dive it on calm days at high tide
• Bring a torch for the overhang ceilings
• Make your safety stop inside the shallow cave

Snorkeling at The Caves

The shallow overhang and reef edge are visible from the surface on calm days, but the ledge entry is awkward and only safe without waves.

Snorkeling guide →

Safety notes

• Entry and exit from the ledge are difficult in waves; dive only in calm conditions at high tide.
• The sandy slope continues below 30 m; watch your depth near the garden eels.
• Under the overhangs keep good buoyancy and avoid touching the soft corals and sponges on the ceiling.
• Scorpionfish and stonefish are well camouflaged on the reef.

Questions about The Caves