Diving in Dahab: a local guide's complete guide
Dahab is a small Bedouin town on the Gulf of Aqaba, and one of the easiest places in the world to dive great reefs straight from the shore. Here is everything you need to plan your dives.
Why Dahab is special for diving
Most diving in Dahab is shore diving. You kit up on the beach, walk in, and within a few fin kicks the reef drops away beneath you. There are no long boat rides and no fixed boat schedules, so you can dive early, dive late, and pick sites around the wind and the tide.
The Gulf of Aqaba is deep close to shore, so Dahab has dramatic walls, canyons and the famous Blue Hole, alongside shallow coral gardens that are perfect for new divers. Currents are usually gentle and visibility is often 20–30 m.
The best dive sites in Dahab
These are the dives people come for. Each page has the depth, level, a dive map and a step-by-step plan.
Shore diving vs boat diving in Dahab
Almost every Dahab site is a shore dive reached by jeep or pickup from town. Boat or camel trips are used for the remote sites like Gabr el Bint to the south and Ras Abu Galum to the north, which are quieter and less dived.
What level do you need?
Open Water divers have plenty to explore: Lighthouse, Eel Garden, the Islands, Three Pools and the shallow rim of the Blue Hole. Advanced divers can add The Bells into the Blue Hole and the Canyon, which go to around 27–30 m.
If you haven't dived for a while, start with a relaxed refresher dive at Lighthouse before anything deeper.
💬 Ask which sites suit your level
Best time to dive Dahab
Dahab is a year-round destination. Water is around 21–22 °C in February and close to 29 °C in August. Spring and autumn are the sweet spots, with warm water and pleasant air temperatures.
Water temperature month by month →
What diving in Dahab costs
Dahab is one of the most affordable places to dive in the Red Sea. Dive centers typically charge around €25–45 per guided dive, with gear rental and a national park fee for some sites on top.
See prices and what is included →
Marine life you'll see
Expect green and hawksbill turtles, moray eels, lionfish, octopus, Napoleon wrasse, clouds of anthias and huge fields of garden eels. Night dives bring out Spanish dancers and hunting lionfish. Dolphins pass by sometimes, and you need real luck for a whale shark.
Is diving in Dahab safe?
Yes, when you dive within your training. The Blue Hole's reputation comes from deep dives far below recreational limits, mostly attempts to swim through the Arch at around 55 m. Recreational dives stay at 30 m or shallower, never go near the Arch, and are calm and beautiful.
A local guide who knows the entries, tides and wind makes the biggest difference to how safe and how good your dives are.
Getting to Dahab
The nearest airport is Sharm el Sheikh, about an hour away by road. Most hotels and guides can arrange a transfer.
Dive center or private guide?
A dive center gives you a fixed schedule and a group. A private or small-group guide plans the day around you: your level, your favourite sites, your camera and your pace. Gear and tanks still come from an established dive center.
Questions
Is Dahab good for diving?
Yes. It is one of the Red Sea's best shore-diving destinations, with walls, canyons, coral gardens and the Blue Hole all a short drive from town.
Is diving in Dahab shore or boat?
Mostly shore diving. Boats or camels are only used for remote sites like Gabr el Bint and Ras Abu Galum.
Do I need to be certified to dive in Dahab?
For guided fun dives, yes, at least Open Water. Non-divers can do a first try dive or a PADI or SSI Open Water course with Mohamed, a PADI and SSI instructor.
Are there sharks in Dahab?
Shark sightings are rare in Dahab and are not a safety concern on normal reef dives.
Dahab or Sharm el Sheikh for diving?
Sharm is known for boat dives in Ras Mohammed and the Straits of Tiran. Dahab is quieter, cheaper and built around shore diving, with famous sites like the Blue Hole and the Canyon.