Dahab
Dahab is the Red Sea slowed down: a former Bedouin fishing village strung along a lagoon an hour north of Sharm, where almost everything is dived from shore. Camps and small hotels feed a walk-in culture of guided reef dives, freediving schools, and technical training centered on the Blue Hole and the Canyon. It is cheaper, windier, and looser than the resort towns, and many divers find it hard to leave.
Waarom hier duiken
Shore diving defines the town. Trucks rattle up the coast road each morning, tanks stacked in the back, and drop divers at entries cut through the reef flat - the Canyon's coral dome, the chimney of the Bells, the sand tongue at Eel Garden. The Blue Hole, a collapsed shaft more than 90 meters deep a few kilometers north, is both the area's icon and its cautionary tale; dived within recreational limits along its outer wall it is a graceful, easy dive, whatever its reputation. Masbat Bay's house reefs turn productive at night, Ras Abu Galum's protected walls reward the camel ride north, and the Gulf of Aqaba's flat morning water makes training here a pleasure. Freedivers treat Dahab as a world capital, technical divers as a proving ground, and budget travelers as the best value in the Red Sea.
Maand voor maand
Year-round. Winter water dips to 21-23 C with cool, windy evenings; August peaks near 27-29 C. Spring and fall bring the calmest, most comfortable stretch.
| Maand | Water | Zicht | Hoe het voelt |
|---|---|---|---|
| January●●●○○ | 21–23 °C / 70–73 °F | 15–30 m | Chilly for Dahab; thick neoprene and a windproof jacket. |
| February●●●○○ | 21–23 °C / 70–73 °F | 15–30 m | Coldest water; empty entries and clear winter light. |
| March●●●●○ | 21–24 °C / 70–75 °F | 15–30 m | Warming; wind builds some afternoons. |
| April●●●●● | 22–25 °C / 72–77 °F | 15–30 m | Mild water and long calm mornings. |
| May●●●●● | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 15–30 m | Prime shore-diving weather. |
| June●●●●● | 25–27 °C / 77–81 °F | 15–30 m | Warm and settled; early entries beat the heat. |
| July●●●●○ | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 15–30 m | Hot ashore; the sea stays comfortable. |
| August●●●●○ | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 15–30 m | Warmest water of the year. |
| September●●●●● | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 15–30 m | Warm sea, thinning crowds - a local favorite. |
| October●●●●● | 25–28 °C / 77–82 °F | 15–30 m | Still warm, with superbly calm spells. |
| November●●●●○ | 23–26 °C / 73–79 °F | 15–30 m | Cooling; good value and quiet entries. |
| December●●●○○ | 22–24 °C / 72–75 °F | 15–30 m | Cool and breezy; a holiday bump in town. |
Betrouwbaarheid van de maandcijfers: Well documented. Maanden zonder rij hebben geen geverifieerde gegevens — we tonen liever een lege plek dan dat we iets verzinnen.
De duiklocaties (6)
| Locatie | Type | Diepte | Niveau | Toegang | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Hole The Bells chimney entry; the saddle crossing into blue light; freediving… | Blue hole | ~6 m | Intermediate | Shore | |
| Eel Garden The garden-eel colony at full extension; relaxed second-dive pace; walkable… | Shore | 5–20 m | Beginner | Shore | |
| Lighthouse Reef Night dives with Spanish dancers and hunting lionfish; effortless entries… | Shore | 3–25 m | Beginner | Shore | |
| Ras Abu Galum Untracked reef walls; the camel-train approach; grilled-fish surface… | Reef | 5–30 m | Intermediate | Shore | |
| The Canyon Light shafts inside the fissure; the glassfish-packed Fishbowl exit; easy… | Reef | 12–30 m | Intermediate | Shore | |
| The Islands Hard-coral architecture unmatched on this coast; enclosed sand… | Reef | 4–16 m | Beginner | Shore |
Zeeleven om je duik op te plannen
Bigfin Reef Squid
Blue-Spotted Ribbontail Ray
Garden Eel
Garden eels, morays, and anthias on the shore reefs; octopus, Spanish dancers, and hunting lionfish after dark; pelagics pass the deeper walls but are never the point here.
Hoe kom je er & verblijf
Hoe kom je er: Fly to Sharm El Sheikh and transfer roughly an hour north by taxi or minibus over the mountains, or come overland from Cairo.
Waar verblijven: Beachfront camps, guesthouses, and small hotels line Masbat and the lagoon; most dive centers sit steps from the water and arrange everything on foot.
Kosten: Among the lowest prices in the Red Sea; guided shore dives, multi-dive packages, and long-stay rates keep budgets small. Blue Hole and Ras Abu Galum entries carry small protectorate fees.
Tussen de duiken door: Kitesurfing on the lagoon, yoga, desert trips into the Sinai interior, climbing at Wadi Gnai, and long seafront dinners. St Catherine's Monastery is a day trip.
Snorkelen: The reef flats at Lighthouse, Eel Garden, and the Blue Hole perimeter give exceptional snorkeling in calm water; respect entry zones and boat lanes.
Veiligheid & praktische zaken
Gevaren: The Blue Hole's accident record comes overwhelmingly from dives beyond recreational and training limits, especially attempts on the Arch at about 55 meters; strong afternoon wind; shore entries over reef rock and urchins.
Stay inside your certification, take a guide for orientation dives, and treat any plan involving the Arch as a full technical undertaking with helium, redundancy, and support. Local rules require proof of qualification at the Blue Hole.
Dichtstbijzijnde recompressiekamer: No reliable chamber in Dahab itself; the nearest facilities are in Sharm El Sheikh, about an hour by road. Availability changes - go through EMS and DAN.