Dahab
Diving in the Gulf of Aqaba
A vacation resort with a relaxed flair and countless possibilities
The former fishing village in the south of the Sinai Peninsula has developed into a popular vacation destination in recent years thanks to its relaxed flair.
Whether divers, peace seekers, adventurers or sun worshippers, Dahab is the perfect vacation destination for individual tourists.
Less than an hour's drive from Sharm el Sheikh airport, Dahab awaits its guests with countless small beach bars & restaurants with their local and international delicacies on the colorful promenade, fabulous diving & water sports opportunities such as kitesurfing & windsurfing, yoga on the beach, stand-up paddling and various shopping opportunities in the stores and bazaars of the locals.
SHEIKH ALI DAHAB RESORT
Authentic, local hospitality
Enjoy a unique stay with authentic, local hospitality. The Sheikh Ali Dahab Resort offers the perfect combination of adventure, activity and relaxation and is located in the heart of Dahab in the Mashraba district, just a few minutes' walk from the popular beach promenade.
The resort is the first all-suite hotel in Sinai and demonstrates the development and tourism progress of Dahab. The hotel was named after the owner's father, Sheikh Ali, who built the first accommodation for travelers in the 1980s, welcoming them with his Rababah music and coffee from the open fire. The camp was later converted into one of the first hotels in the village and is known as Nesima Resort.
Gabaly, Sheikh Ali's son, subsequently enriched the residential offer in Dahab with the first all-suite hotel in the Sinai. It was therefore only natural to dedicate the new hotel to the Sheikh himself and to have it built in his original palm garden in Mashraba.
The relaxed atmosphere of this first all-suite hotel also reflects the grandeur of Sinai in the spacious, light and airy suites, which are arranged around the pool and offer a cozy standard of living.
The Sheikh Ali Dahab Resort has 22 suites, a spacious pool that can be viewed from all suites, a restaurant serving local and international delicacies and its own diving center.
BLUE OCEAN DIVE
A diving center that has something for every diver
The Blue Ocean Dive Centre, which opened in 2012 and is part of the Sheikh Ali Dahab Resort, is one of the best-equipped dive centres in Dahab and is not only perfect for recreational divers, but also for specialized technical and rebreather divers. It is located directly in the Sheikh Ali Dahab Resort and is run by Nicky & Tom in a cozy, family atmosphere. The two owners have lived in Sinai for over twenty years and, as Sinai professionals, know the dive sites around Dahab like the back of their hands.
After an initial check dive, divers can then experience unforgettable dives in the Red Sea together with their diving partner. On request, a dive guide can be made available to divers in a group or as an individual guide for a small surcharge. All diving courses, whether for recreational divers, technical divers or rebreather divers, can also be booked and completed at the diving center.
The base has experienced, German-speaking diving guides, regularly serviced rental equipment, diving tanks, double tanks, stage tanks, breathing lime and various gases. Technical dives up to a depth of 100 meters are easily possible here without a special permit, depending on experience.
Two dives are offered per day. The 30 different dive sites are reached directly from the base by pick-up. The most distant dive sites can be reached in a maximum of 35-40 minutes. Between dives, you can enjoy your lunch break on the beach at one of the countless small Bedouin restaurants before continuing with the next dive.
In addition, the Blue Ocean Dive Center also offers special boat trips from Sharm el Sheikh, for example to the Thistlegorm, Ras Mohammed or the Strait of Tiran. Boat trips to the southern reefs of Dahab are also possible, wind permitting.
THE MOST FAMOUS DIVE SITES AROUND DAHAB
BLUE HOLE & BELLS
The most famous and northernmost dive site in Dahab that can be reached by pick-up is the Blue Hole.
The Blue Hole is a large, oval and deep blue hole in the reef top, has a diameter of approx. 35 meters and drops to a depth of over 100 meters. The outer wall of the Blue Hole has beautiful coral growth, in stark contrast to the barely overgrown inner wall.
The deep trench runs directly along the shoreline at this point. The steep wall is overgrown with a variety of corals and offers a breathtaking view of a never-ending deep blue.
This site offers at least 3 different options for diving. When entering the Blue Hole, you cross the reef top via a saddle at a depth of 6 meters. The steep wall can be dived on the left or right shoulder.
A little further north of the Blue Hole is the Bells entrance. After a short climb past a boulder, you reach a notch in the bank. If you descend at this point, a U-shaped shaft opens up - open on one side, this cascade drops vertically to a depth of 27 meters. The descent is an incomparable, breathtaking experience.
CANYON & CORAL GARDEN
Together with the Blue Hole, the canyon is one of Dahab's best-known dive sites and its diversity makes it ideal for several dives. The entry and exit leads through a lagoon that stretches through the reef top to the shore. The beautiful, deep blue of the open water begins at the end of the turquoise lagoon. If you dive in a north-easterly direction, a deep fissure appears in the reef plateau, which was probably caused by an earthquake.
The canyon runs through the plateau and begins at around 12 meters at a hollow coral block called the "fishbowl". The fishbowl is reminiscent of a small, igloo-shaped pizza oven with two larger holes at the bottom. It is advisable to follow the gap to about 20 meters and dive in and out of the canyon through a wide opening. Inside you will find a depth of 30 meters and a sandy bottom.
Here the canyon widens into a cave, which you dive through upwards towards the fishbowl before returning to the exit hole. Once you have left the canyon, you will see a curtain of air bubbles emerging from the rock and making their way to the surface.
If you leave the lagoon in a south-westerly direction, you come to a very diverse coral garden.
A turtle can often be seen emerging from behind the hard corals. Scorpion fish and winged wrasse can also be observed here. The end of the reef plateau is formed by a steep wall, which is also beautifully overgrown.
ICELANDS
The Islands dive site is one of the most beautiful dive sites in Dahab.
Coral lovers will get their money's worth here. The dive site consists of a labyrinth of corals. With an average depth of 5-10 meters and a maximum depth of 18-20 meters, this site is suitable for a relaxed dive. The entrance is easier to reach at high tide, as you have to cover a distance of around 50 meters on foot over the sandy reef top. Optionally, you can enter and exit through a small tunnel that opens directly onto the reef top or leads directly into the first sand pool. The coral labyrinth separates four sand pools of different sizes from the fringing reef. From a bird's eye view, the dive site looks like two islands nestling into each other. In the coral labyrinth, divers encounter a large school of yellow-tailed barracudas, but blue spotted rays and the incredibly large giant puffer fish are also typical of this dive site.
PRICES SHEIKH ALI DAHAB RESORT & BLUE OCEAN DIVE CENTER
SHEIKH ALI DAHAB RESORT
BLUE OCEAN DIVE CENTER DIVE CENTER
BLUE OCEAN DIVE CENTER
Not included:
- Flight tickets & visa
- Tips
- Diving & travel insurance
- extra transfers