Technical Dive Sites

Canyon
The Dahab Canyon is an essential dive for all fanatics of caves and cavern diving. The Canyon is itself quite a phenomenon. Up to 10 meters high and virtually closed over at the top, it snakes its way up from the depths, to emerge in a large glassfish filled coral dome, the fish bowl. It has three main openings; at about 12 meters is the fishbowl, below that is another large bowl, opening at about 20 meters and at greater depths there are a number of smaller openings down to a depth of 55m where you emerge onto the reef wall. Descend further and you come across a cave at 74m which for those suitably trained penetrate the reef horizontally to 30m. Outside the cave entrance is a large rock known as Neptune’s chair due to its appearance as you ascend up to it from deeper depths. Below this the reef slopes to 104m and then drops away on a long sandy slope into the abyss below. The Canyon dive site offers an easy entry and exit point through a shallow, sandy lagoon. This leads out to beautiful coral gardens which can only be fully explored after several visits. The Canyon itself is positioned about five minutes north-east from the exit of the lagoon.

Bells Blue Hole
One of the premier dives sites here in Dahab is the Bells, a spectacular wall dive of amazing beauty. The Bells is formed where a deep groove cuts into the reef top just north of the Blue Hole. The groove of the Bells breaches the reef table and a clear blue pool is formed; this is where the dive is started. As you drop through this pool, you will emerge on the reef wall at about 12 meters. The groove disappears to re-emerge deeper at 28 meters. The open water here is some of the clearest, deepest blue you will see. The wall itself descends down into the blue to over 200m which only adds to the anticipation experienced when emerging through the chimney. It is vertical and in parts overhanging, with a rich growth of black corals and sea fans.

The Blue Hole
A steep slope is the first thing that meets the diver on their entry, this slope descends to almost 56m before it shows any signs of levelling off. If you swim away from the slope and descend on the vertical walls to a depth of 55M you will witness the breathtaking view of the arch and the blue water beyond. You are required to be an extended range diver before attempting to swim under the arch but if you are suitably qualified it will be a dive never to forget. The bottom of the blue hole is at 90m directly under the arch but continues on a steep slope to 120m
Decompressing after a deep dive in the Blue Hole is a pleasure, you can choose to ascend inside or outside of the hole and enjoy watching the large Tuna that are often seen hunting in the area and then make your 6m stop over the colourful saddle that straddles the arch. A vivid array of fish and soft corals are there to while away that last and often long decompression stop….what a way to end a dive!

Little Canyon (Ras Abu Helal)
Ras Abu Helal translates as 'headland of the crescent moon', and is one of the most scenic technical dive sites in Dahab, and the start of the first ridge features one of the finest coral gardens in the Dahab area. Although narrowing in places that prevent a diver from entering, the canyon is over a kilometre long and descends to depths beyond 60m. Ideal conditions are necessary to make this dive due to the entry point being over the reef plate. The site also involves a fairly long surface swim to ensure that you descend into the canyon itself. Don’t let this put you off diving Little Canyon if the conditions allow as you will I’m sure agree with me that this dive site is truly awesome.

Lighthouse
Lighthouse, situated at the Northern end of the bay of Dahab, is home to the confined water training area due to its large sandy slopes and gentle drop off. The Lighthouse offers a number of different dives depending on the route chosen, and the sprawling coral gardens offer an abundance of marine life and vividly colourful corals, extending far from the shore. The Lighthouse is made up of a large rocky wall that wraps around the point whilst heading north to the Eel Garden. The wall and the sprawling coral gardens, which extend far from the shore, offer varying depth ranges down to 60M plus making it suitable for all. Larger aquatic creatures, alongside a spectacular variety of corals, make it a very popular dive site. The Lighthouse makes an ideal first technical dive in Dahab to brush up on buoyancy and equipment configuration before progressing onto dive sites such as canyon and the Blue Hole.

Mashraba
An ideal training site located within easy walking distance of the dive centre. The waters here offer a gentle sandy slope to depths around 60m. This dive site is often used as a first dive to check correct weighting and that all of your equipment is in full working order, but don’t for one minute think that this site is not worth diving as often large eagle rays, dolphins and moray eels are seen here more than any other site in Dahab. During your decompression keep a look out in the sea grass for sea horses which although fairly rare are encountered here at certain times of the year.

Gabr El Bint
This spectacular diving area, located almost 30 kilometres south of Dahab, can only be reached by boat, and is shadowed by the majestic mountains of Sinai, and features virgin reefs. Gabr el Bint is abundant with stunningly rich marine life and offers wall diving, vivid coral gardens and gentle sandy slopes with coral outcrops. The wall drops to over 80 metres and is teeming with life, and the deco stop is packed with wildlife also making the stops a pleasure. Gabr el Bint is one of the best dives in Dahab, and combined with the day on the boat is a superb day out