Dive Site: Abu Helal / Abu Talha
Location: Dahab, 28°32.543N; 34º30.988'E
Description: Reef / drift dive / technical dive site
Depth: 60 metres + (200 feet)
Visibility: 30 - 40 metres (100 - 130 feet)
   
A fairly energetic dive for good air consumers; you need to reach the other site to avoid surface swimming, which was not possible for all in our party, in fact was difficult to keep the whole group together.
Ras Abu Helal, also known as 'Little Canyon' translates as, 'Headland of the Crescent Moon', referring to a crescent-shaped reef south of Abu Talha. Abu Helal and Abu Talha can only be dived at high tide in perfect conditions which leads to them being dived much less than other sites making the corals in pristine condition. This site has everything for both technical and recreational diving. The reef encircles a shallow lagoon at about 12m. Outside is a gently sloping bay and on its northern side a broad ridge. The start of this ridge features one of the finest coral garden in the Dahab area and this is the main focus of the dive site. Alternatively there is a deeper canyon dive in 30 - 40m at the end of this ridge. This is a serious dive option due to the distance from the entry point. Typically, divers will swim out in the blue at around 10m until they spot an extremely slender crack before descending so that both air and bottom time are conserved. The canyon twists in a unique pattern that offers very limited exit points, therefore entry into the 'Little Canyon' is only for technical divers. The density and variety of both soft and hard corals and aquatic life here is spectacular. Among the multitudes of reef species, notable inhabitants are big grouper or rock cod, big starry puffers, unicorns, wrasse, triggerfish and lionfish. Sea turtles are also a common sight.

Dive Site: Bannerfish Bay
Location: Dahab, 28°29.934N; 34°31.125E
Description: Shore dive / seagrass area
Depth: 1 - 30 metres (3 - 100 feet)
Visibility: 30 metres (100 feet)

Bannerfish bay is located just right of the Lighthouse. Using the same entry point as the Lighthouse, go left down a gradual slope to about 12 metres. Here you will swim over a large seagrass area which is abundant with macro life; seahorses, anglerfish, nudibranchs, rare ghost pipefish, moray eels, stonefish, scorpionfish, crustaceans and lots more are hidden in the seagrass. It is quite common to see the resident turtle feeding on the seagrass. Right in the middle of it all you will see a small car wreck and several tyres. Swim a little further and after the seagrass you will find a small reef filled to the brim with schooling bannerfish, which is how the dive site got its name.
 

Dive Site: The Blue Hole / The Bells
Location: North Dahab, 28°34.367N; 34°32.207E
Description: Reef / shore dive / drop-off
Depth: 200 metres + (600 feet)
Visibility: 30 - 40 metres (100 - 130 feet)

The Bells
          

An excellent dive for fans of the deep blue. The Bells is a natural small hole at 30m in a sheer wall that drops off to 800m+. You descend straight down along side the wall and dive round the hole (upside down and looking out is best) and pop out into the blue. Blue is all you can see looking out to sea with the wall to your back. Look out for sharks and manta rays. Gradually ascending up to 15m is where all the reef life is, the usual fishes and corals. To exit from the shore you need to swim over the blue hole (again, looking for bigger life) against some fierce currents.

The Blue Hole

Is one of Dahab's most famous dive sites. Located about thirty minutes jeep ride from Dahab, it is accessible from shore with entry into the blue water just a few metres from the rocky shoreline. Bedouin type facilities surround the main entry / exit points, with toilets, seating, food and drinks available. Whilst entry into the Blue Hole pool is one option, quite a nice alternative is to make a short walk to the north, along the rocky coastal path and enter through a gap in the shoreline rocks. This is done one diver at a time. Divers can then drop down an enclosed chimney in the reef exiting at 30 metres or so onto the sheer wall. The reef is near vertical at this point and as you head south (right shoulder to the reef) you'll come around an outcrop which makes for some fantastic silhouette photographs looking up towards the sunlight. The reef wall is home to lots of clownfish anemones and the blue backdrop makes a great viewing point for trevallies, jacks, barracuda and possibly white-tip and grey reef sharks.
 

Dive Site: The Canyon / the Fish Bowl
Location: North Dahab, 28°33.294N; 34°31.257E
Description: Reef / shore dive / technical dive site
Depth: 100 metres + (300 feet)
Visibility: 30 metres (100 feet)
 
A fantastic dive for all levels. From a shore entry you can level off at about 30m along the gradual drop-off which continues for hundreds of metres. The canyon is a natural tunnel in the seabed which can be penetrated at several points along the rift. Once in the canyon, you can ascend up through and come out in the fish bowl, a natural cave teaming with glassfish. There is about space for six divers to rest on the sandy bed, whilst the glassfish swirl around you and cleaner wrasse will inspect masks and regs. Watch out for lionfish which guard the entrance and exit from the fish bowl.
 

Dive Site: The Caves
Location: South Dahab, 28°25.001N; 34°27.364E
Description: Reef / 'caves' / seagrass area
Depth: 35 metres max (115 feet)
Visibility: 30 - 40 metres (100 - 130 feet)

The Caves, located south of Dahab, is a slightly misleading name, as the 'cave' is in fact more of a large overhang. This is still, however, a good dive site for the unusual rock formations and variety of sealife. The dive starts by following the gentle sloping drop-off following the shore where the sandy bed provides a home for garden eels, pipefish and wrasse, which dive into the sand as you approach. The pinnacles provide an interesting site with sealife including turtles, morays, lionfish and Napoleon wrasse. The dive finishes up in the caves, which provide shelter for several dozing puffers.
The entry to the Caves is a giant stride off the ledge and into the deep blue. The Caves can only be dived in calm conditions as jumping off the ledge can be quite tricky when there are waves crashing on the shore. Once in the water the cave is directly below you and on both the left and right side you will find a shallow reef. The reef that circles the cave is just as attractive as the cave itself with both soft and hard corals being abundant. Here you will often spot large groupers, scorpionfish and morays and a tiger shark has been spotted on a number of occasions. Enter the cave and swim to the back then turn and watch the light shine through the swarms of anthias and bannerfish swimming upside down on the ceiling of the cave, a perfect spot for your safety stop!

Dive Site: Coral Garden
Location: North Dahab, 28°33.294N; 34°31.257E
Description: Shore dive / coral garden
Depth: 1 - 30 metres (3 - 100 feet)
Visibility: 30 metres (100 feet)

Right next to the Canyon lays a beautiful coral garden. Both the Canyon and Coral Garden have the same entry and exit point. The dive starts and ends in a large blue lagoon with white sand on the bottom and cornet fish patrolling the area. Just outside of the lagoon is a spectacular pinnacle. Lots of anthias, glassfish, unicornfish and for the careful observer crocodilefish are spotted on a regular basis. From here the dive continues to the deeper areas of Coral Garden. With a splendorous coral wall on your right side, the open blue to your left side and an unseen bottom below you, one feels like being in outer space. The deep part ends by ascending 'the waterfall' to the shallow coral garden. Beautifully coloured coral blocks and a variety of fish species are a real treat for enthusiastic underwater photographers.
 

Dive Site: Eel Garden

Location: Dahab, 28°30.300N; 34°31.194E
Description: Shore dive / coral garden / eel garden
Depth: 1 - 30 metres (3 - 100 feet)
Visibility: 30 metres (100 feet)
 
Eel Garden takes its name from the countless garden eels that carpet the sea floor not far from the entry point of the dive. After walking over the reef plate to the entry spot which is a nine metre canyon, it then broadens into a large sandy area that slopes down gradually. After diving along a jutting reef that lies perpendicular to the main reef the eels slowly come into view, waving to and fro in the current like synchronized swimmers who vanish back into the sand as you approach. Descend to about 20m where you will find a nearly flat section of reef with coral boulders and several table corals. It is quite common to find a thick congregation of barracudas regularly patrolling the area. On your way back at around 5 and 10m you will see healthy, wide range variety of both soft and hard corals and look out here for the rare seagrass ghost pipefish.
 

Dive Site: El Shugarat
Location: South Dahab, 28°21.359N; 34°26.395E
Description: Reef / boat dive / drop off
Depth: 10 - 30 metres (30 - 100 feet)
Visibility: 30 metres (100 feet)
 
El Shugurat is only normally accessible by boat, as apposed to shore diving and is an hour's boat ride south from Dahab. One of the most southerly sites the highlight of this dive is the field of huge gorgonian fan corals which densely cover the sloping coral wall. If you can, make your entry above a canyon at 25m which runs down the reef wall, then drop into the canyon and exit into the blue at around the 30m mark. As you turn left shoulder to the reef wall (north) you will come to the start of the gorgonian fan field. These fan corals are some of the largest and best examples I have seen anywhere in the Red Sea. Humphead Napoleon wrasse frequent the area cruising along in the top 15 metres. As you continue north the sloping gorgonian plateau rejoins the reef wall and the wall becomes vertical. You can either continue north, or if a current is running (likely to be north to south) turn and drift south. Spend plenty of time in the top few metres, making a long safety stop part of the dive. Brightly coloured strawberry corals and small fish dance in the light rays that penetrate from the surface.
El Shugarat is also known as 'Little Trees' in Arabic, and you will see why. This dive is one you can only make by boat. Descend down and swim along a beautiful reef wall until you come to a sandy bottom. On the deep side of the sandy bottom at around 16m you will find an impressive open canyon. When you descend between the walls of the canyon, at around 30m two big black corals will come into view on each side, take time to look for the long nose hawkfish. Exit the canyon to the left and you will swim in to a virtual forest of gorgonian fan corals. As you are flying over this site you will see them scattered down the reef wall out of sight and into the deep. As you slowly ascend while still soaring over this forest you will return back to the reef table then enter one of the most beautiful lagoons in Dahab. You can see giant table corals and all kinds of life in and around this lagoon. Once returned to the reef wall you see the last set of gorgonians and turning back into the lagoon in search for nudibranchs, blue spotted rays, crocodilefish and many other species. On the end of the lagoon you reach the canyon so take time to throw a last look inside and to get ready for the safety stop.
 

Fan Forest
Enjoy a swim over a large open canyon before getting to the heart of this fantastic site. Literally hundreds of fan coral wave in the current along a falling slope for as far as the eye can see. Large black coral provide relief in a collection of big yellow fans surpassing even that of Ras Mohammed.

Fourth Island
Another underwater island only 250 meters from "The Islands," this island stretches for more then 300 meters at a depth of 8 to 25 meters. With a lesser traffic flow than the nearby "Islands", Fourth Island benefits from a larger population of fish. One can reach this site by brisk swim from the shore or easily by small boat

Dive Site: Gabr el Bint
Location: South Dahab, 28°21.211N; 34°25.999E
Description: Boat dive / coral garden / drop off
Depth: 1 - 30 metres (3 - 100 feet)
Visibility: 30 metres (100 feet)
 
Gabr el Bint ranks among one of the most attractive sites of North Sinai. With the access by boat, 4x4 or by camel, it is less frequently dived than the other dive sites in Dahab which has left this site in pristine condition. Gabr el Bint means 'The Grave of the Girl' in Arabic. There are two dives possible here. The right side, also known as the dark side, features a steep wall that drops down to about 60m cut by numerous chasms, sandy ravines and overhangs. The drop-off is adorned with healthy table corals. The left side is a far more colourful featuring a virtual forest of gorgonians. Usually drop down to about 20-25m swimming along massive boulders protruding from the drop-off which attracts dense shoals of anthias and glassfish. Keep a good eye on the blue where you will see trevallies hunting on the shoals of fusiliers. After about ten minutes you will find some of the healthiest gorgonian fan corals in the Red Sea. Here you start to ascend to about 10m and cross the saddle then start to head back along a sandy ledge which parallels to the shore. The ledge is riddled with exquisite coral heads that attract numerous reef species, including swarms of anthias, scorpionfish, parrotfish, crocodilefish, surgeonfish, triggerfish, trumpetfish, stingrays and very often a turtle. At the end of the ledge usually is home to a shoal of black and white snappers and twinspot snappers hang here between 5m and 10m. One of the truly breathtaking dives in Dahab.
 

Dive Site: Gordon Reef
Depth: 15-30m (49-98ft)
Visibility: 10-30m (32-98ft)
Accessibility: Boat
Time to visit: All year around with warmest water in summer (apr-aug)
Specifications:
There are four reefs between the Sinai and the island Tiran. Gordon Reef is the most southern of the four. There are different dive plans for this reef starting at the boat mooring point in the south. To the southwest is a shark amphitheatre or more often called the bowl as it represents a large circular bowl to 24 meters of depth which is full of sleeping sharks. You can also go eastward to a drop-off that starts in 16 meters of depth and which is covered in soft corals and gorgonians. Or just stay at the shallow plateau and explore the many coral heads that are full of life. You can also be dropped of near the mooring and then drift all the way to the north around the corner where currents can be huge. And then we have the wreck the Lovilla or Lullia which ran into the north of Gordon reef in September 1981. This commercial freighter is easily seen from far away as it stands out more than 10 meters above the sea. Divers are actually waiting for this ship to collapse as it is not safe now to explore its interior areas.
The area is very divers with sand beds, coral gardens, walls, a shipwreck and many types of coral. Marine life, although not the best in Tiran, is still very nice as you can see many types of fish, such as octopus, wrasses and reef sharks.

 

Dive Site: Golden Blocks
Location: South Dahab, 28°26.342N; 34°27.812E
Description: Shore Dive / Coral Garden / Seagrass Area
Depth: 1 - 30 metres (3 - 100 feet)
Visibility: 30 metres (100 feet)
 
Golden Blocks is a mix between coral gardens and sandy areas with almost all coral species represented. It has a coral slope with three sandy alleys in it. The first one starts at 10m and drops down to 30 - 40m. Here lies Dahab's only real wreck, a paddle boat at 20m. The second slope is like a small canyon with a beautiful little island of corals. At the third slope you will find an impressive gorgonian fan at 22m and beside it is a small cave. Shallower you have sandy areas with the 'Golden Blocks'. These are large coral blocks that go from 10m to the surface and are covered with anthias. Also in the shallower part you have beautiful table corals and small coral blocks where there is always a good chance to find big groupers or colourful nudibranchs. There have also been sightings of manta rays in this area. This site can also be recommended to do drift dives towards Moray Garden.
 

Dive Site: The Islands / Seven Pinnacles
Location: Dahab, 28°28.632N; 34°30.692E
Description: Coral garden / shore dive
Depth: 9 - 20 metres (30 - 66 feet)
Visibility: 30 - 40 metres (100 - 130 feet)
 

A very Dahab dive, in that the whole pace was slow and relaxing. This was pretty much diving a good snorkelling spot. Entry was from the beach near the Hilton the pinnacles section of the dive was spent at about 8m. No large life as would be expected but very warm, light and vibrant colours due to the minimal depth! A meandering swim around all the pinnacles teeming with glassfish, goldfish, angelfish, lionfish etc.
The Islands had very interesting rock formations, with natural rifts. There are some huge brain corals here, and fish included puffers and napoleon wrasse.
Entry to this dive site is just to the north of the Hilton Beach and is made by walking across the reef top lagoon and then either dropping in over the top of the reef, or entering through one of the holes in the reef and swimming through. There are some lovely coral formations in and amongst the pinnacles. Look for blue spotted rays hiding under the coral whilst you are weaving through the pinnacles. It is also common to see shoals of blackfin barracuda and even the odd lone great barracuda. This is a very scenic site and ideal for a long second or third dive of the day - perfect for photographs. Diving this site can be confusing as there are so many different routes to take, however due to the relatively shallow depths if you become disoriented it is best simply to surface and locate the main exit point, then drop back down to safety stop level and continue the dive back to shore.
 

Dive Site: Lighthouse
Depth: 0-40m (0-131ft) and deeper
Visibility: 10-30m (32-98ft)
Accessibility: Boat
Time to visit: All year around with warmest water in summer (apr-aug)
Specifications:
Jackson reef is the northern most of the four reefs that separates the Sinai with Saudi Arabia. It’s a popular reef where the large amount of divers can spoil your dive. Advice is that you come early. Snorkelers have to find other reefs since December 2005, when snorkeling tours are not allowed to go to Jackson reef any longer.
The strong currents, often from the North, that are created here in the small opening make sure large pelagic, sharks and other big fish are seen here frequently. You will see barracudas, jacks, hammerheads and tiger sharks. This reef is also fully covered in beautiful soft and hard coral.
Dives often start in the south, where a fixed mooring exists, then generally going upward along the east side. Be careful if you make it all the way north along the north side of the reef, because divers have been swept off the reef there.

 

Dive Site: Lighthouse
Location: Dahab, 28°29.944N; 34°31.182E
Description: Reef / shore / night dive
Depth: 15 metres (50 feet) - 35 metres max (115 feet)
Visibility: 15 - 30 metres (50 - 100 feet)
 
The Lighthouse is so called as it is located near Dahab's lighthouse. Entrance is from the busy beach area, so it is important that you stow your belongings away rather then leaving them on the shore during your dive. On entrance look out for the frogfish located within the rope for the swimming area, they are always found in this location apparently!
The dive site follows the reef round, with pinnacles and reefs providing a good variety of life, we found a large octopus, morays, red sea walkman, crocodile fish and the usual assortment of fishies.
It also makes a nice shore dive at night. Very peaceful and quiet reef with all the beautiful reds that you don't see during the day. Fish out hunting included lionfish, squirrelfish and octopus and there were lots of fans and urchins. The last five minutes of the dive was done without torches to see the phosphorescence. We dived in full suits to avoid any scratches and stings from the unseen!
The Lighthouse is a very popular dive site in Dahab; it's perfect for teaching all levels, from open water to technical. As the Lighthouse is a site which has one of the easiest entries and exits and it is always sheltered from the wind, diving here is always possible. As you step in the water you will find a shallow sandy area that slowly drops off into a large grassy slope. Look out for seahorses and pegasus seamoths that generally occur in pairs. There is also a good chance to find the rare anglerfish.
 

Dive Site: Lionfish Rock
Location: South Dahab, 28°27.050N; 34°28.245E
Description: Shore dive / coral garden / seagrass area
Depth: 1 - 30 metres (3 - 100 feet)
Visibility: 30 metres (100 feet)

Lionfish Rock is located in the south of Dahab. It is the first dive site in the Southern Oasis and can only be dived in calm conditions. Entry is over a slope of small stones to a unique dive for Dahab. Descend and cross a large seagrass area, which has small pinnacles scattered across the clearing. Swim slowly around the blocks and be amazed at the amount of marine life; you can find masses of red tooth triggers, cleaner shrimps, morays, nudibranchs and as the name suggests plenty of lionfish. Descend a little further at you will reach a beautiful coral block at 5 metres. Circling the area you will drift through anthias, anemonefish and giant morays. At 18 metres go to the right and you will come to a group of blocks known as 'the Lionfish Rock' where you will find numerous lionfish floating. Turn back and ascend to the 5-metre block where you can complete your safety stop while watching the glassfish, flatworms and if you are lucky you can see turtles or the occasional eagle ray.
 

Dive Site: Mashraba
Location: Dahab, 28°29.712N; 34°31.021E
Description: Shore dive / coral garden / seagrass area
Depth: 1 - 30 metres (3 - 100 feet)
Visibility: 30 metres (100 feet)
 
This dive site covers the south side of the bay in Dahab and is the house reef for several dive centres. Enter onto the shallow sandy area which is good for confined sessions. After this it slopes down into a seagrass area to a depth of about 12m featuring a picturesque leathery anemone. Heading south at about 20m you will find some huge coral formations where you can find a potato grouper. At around 30m there is a little swim-through. Shallow up to find some big healthy table corals, and return towards the shore along a nice coral wall until you hit the seagrass again.

Dive Site: Moray Garden
Location: South Dahab, 28°26.253N; 34°27.586E
Description: Reef / shore dive with coral garden and seagrass area
Depth: 5 - 30 metres (16 - 100 feet)
Visibility: 30 metres (100 feet)

Moray Garden is located around twenty minutes drive south of Dahab. Facilities at the dive site include some basic Bedouin-style shelters. Normal practice is to make the trip in jeeps or small pickup trucks and then kit up on the sand/rock beach on large woven matting. Take care with your regulators as the course sand can easily get into the second stage diaphragms. Once kitted up, entry is made by walking into the shallows and donning fins. The seabed falls away reasonably sharply down a sand and coral slope and there are gullies and small canyons which can be followed quickly down to the 30m+ mark. Red Sea bannerfish and coral groupers are prolific here. There are also a number of giant clams with their colourful mantles collecting sunlight for symbiotic algae. About 10 minutes swim to the south of the entry point at around 22m is a coral outcrop covered in glassfish or sweepers.
As you begin to ascend and head back towards the shore there is a never ending abundance of stony coral, including yellow waver and raspberry coral. The usual clownfish (twin band anemone fish) inhabit their anemone homes. Look carefully here as there are some fantastic bright red bubble anemones. The latter part of your dive and safety stops can be completed on the sand and coral encrusted slope with pipefish and flounders. Moray Garden is great place to start your diving holiday before moving onto offshore boat dives or some of the big vertical drop-offs.
 

Dive Site: Napoleon Reff
Napoleon himself never dived here, but this is the home of many of the fish that share his name. Most often done as a drift dive from a boat, the current carries you along a sandy ridge with many hard and soft corals. Fish abound, Eagle Rays make their quick appearances, Scorpion fish lurk and returning to the boat will go far far better than Waterloo.

Dive Site: Pinky's Wall
Depth: 0-40m (0-131ft) and deeper
Visibility: 10-30m (32-98ft)
Accessibility: Shore
Time to visit: All year around with warmest water in summer (apr-aug)
Specifications:
Pinky's Wall is a very interesting wall dive site, but wind and waves make it an adventure to enter the water from the shore. Access can also be done by boat, but because of the absence of moorings, the dive is done as a drift dive. The site is obviously named because of its pink colors coming from pink alcyonarian soft coral. These are best seen in a depth of about 15 meters, but the wall gives plenty of opportunities to dive deeper as it is almost a vertical wall all the way down to 180 meters. Hard corals and many species of reef fish can be found as well, but they are not the main reason to dive here. Go here if you are interested in the pink soft coral as it is one of the few places in the world where it can be seen such as here.
 

Dive Site: Ras Abu Galum
Location: Dahab, 28°36.778N; 34°33.268E (90 min camel ride from the Blue Hole)
Description: Shore dive / coral garden
Depth: 1 - 30 metres (3 - 100 feet)
Visibility: 30 metres (100 feet)
  
A sandy slope descends away from the shore with the reef wall starting on both sides. Dive to the left where the reef table swings wide into a steep wall dive with pinnacles and dramatic rock formations, always keep one eye fixed on the blue as you will often see trevallies and jacks while the resident turtle crosses beneath them close to the wall. Ascend a bit shallower and you will find beautiful fire corals and schools of reef fish.

Ras Mamlakh

 A rocky cape with many coral covered rock formations and small canyons. One enters through a sandy lagoon where it is quite common to see big rays. This site is rarely visited by divers and as such enjoys a greater number of larger fish like Barracuda, Grouper and large Napoleon fish. Further south there is an extensive and dangerous underwater cave system.

Dive Site: Ras Mohammad

Ras Mohammad, the most southern point of the Sinai-Peninsula is often dealed as one of the world’s most beautiful dive spots. In 1983 the area around "RasMo" had been declared as national park in order to preserve the many-sided fauna and flora of the desert and the sea. The diver will find a real underwater paradise: breath-taking coral gardens, phantasmagoric drop-offs and an unbelievable biodiversity, especially of tropical fish.
Due to its extraordinary location between the Gulf of Aquaba and the Gulf of Suez its an extraordinary and, besides, the only protected dive area in the whole Red Sea.
Mostly there are strong currents which carry plankton and other nutriment particles in great quantities. Due to this hard and soft corals batten very well and big schools of reef and big fish are drawn to this place
 

Dive Site: Ras Katy
Depth: 5-20m (16-65ft)
Visibility: 10-30m (32-98ft)
Accessibility: Shore
Time to visit: All year around with warmest water in summer (apr-aug)
Specifications:
Ras Katy is a shallow and well sheltered dive site, ideal for lunchtime and training dives. It is only a few hundred meters west of the Temple and contains several coral pinnacles between 5 and 18 meters of height. Some of them contain parts of broccoli coral while others are covered in soft corals and its inhabitants. There are small caves and crevices which contain many lion fish and glassfish. But you will also see many anthias, banner fish and butterfly fish. It is a nice and easy dive perfect to get back into shape before exploring the real thrills of diving.

 

Dive Site: Red Tooth Trigger Bay
Location: Dahab, 28°37.193N; 34°33.991E (90 min camel ride from the Blue Hole)
Description: Shore dive / coral garden
Depth: 1 - 30 metres (3 - 100 feet)
Visibility: 30 metres (100 feet)
 
Entrance from the shore is easy in most weather, it starts off over stone and after a short distance moves onto a sandy slope. Descend and you will instantly find 'the Garden', as the local Bedouin call this site. Although it is only over a small area this dive is perfect as corals spread from as deep as 50m right up to 3m. Descend over the gradual sandy slope and divers will find that they are surrounded instantaneously by huge schools of bannerfish and red tooth triggers which is where the dive site got its name. Corals are found in small pinnacles with both soft and hard corals in pristine conditions. Swim over the table corals which are home to scorpionfish, anemonefish, anthias, puffers and many more. For macro divers nudibranchs are often seen here including the Spanish dancer, while turtles and eagle rays have also been spotted. This site is perfect for photography being beautiful at all depths with a surprising wealth of life.
 

Dive Site: Rick's Reef
Location: North Dahab, 28°33.446'N 34°31.425'E
Description: Reef / drift
Depth: 25 metres max (82 feet)
Visibility: 30 - 50 metres (100 - 165 feet)
 
Technically this is a drift dive, but the currents vary and were fairly gentle throughout the dive. The dive follows the shore south to the canyon with some beautiful coral gardens and reefs. The dive ends at the Canyon so you can see the divers coming up through the fishbowl and you can explore this area again. The glassfish that have given the fishbowl its name seem to vary hugely in numbers from filling the fish bowl, to just a few shoals. In September they were fairly thin on the ground.
 

Dive Site: Salah's Place
Location: Dahab, 28°36.895N; 34°33.569E (90 min camel ride from the Blue Hole)
Description: Shore dive / coral garden
Depth: 1 - 30 metres (3 - 100 feet)
Visibility: 30 metres (100 feet)

The dive starts in a small sandy lagoon divided from the plateau by a saddle of stunning corals. Outside the reef table directly in front of the lagoon is a beautiful pinnacle covered in soft and hard corals. This is often surrounded by glassfish and silver sides who are hunted in flashes of silver by rainbow runnerfish and trevallies. A shallow plateau descends dramatically into a wall with pinnacles of soft corals and black coral. On a longer dive it is possible to see schools of batfish on the wall. If dived as a shallow dive coral gardens weave a path between 3 and 10m.

Dive Site: Shahera 
Don't be dismayed by the smelly, grunting camels departing from this site on safari south to Gabr el Bint, there'll be more when you exit. Drop over the coral wall and head roughly 50 meters across the flat sandy bottom to a wide coral barrier composed of hard corals with many of the "cabbage" corals seen to the right.

Dive Site: Sha'ab Khanzier
Location: Dahab
Description: Reef
Depth: 10 - 22 metres (33 - 72 feet)
Visibility: 30 metres (100 feet)
 
It seems to be a common misconception that all diving in Dahab is shore based. This is far from true and in fact if you have a group of 6 or more divers it is worth considering doing all of your diving from a hard boat. Sinai Divers (based out of the Hilton hotel) offer daily boat diving for parties of 6 or more on their well equipped diving vessel - Ghazala VI. This opens up the range of diving around Dahab, with at least an additional 8 sites becoming accessible.
Sha'ab Khanzier is an hours boat ride south from Dahab. It is a sloping reef with sand gullies parallel to shore before dropping off into the depths down a coral encrusted wall. Entry from the boat is made close to the reef and a quick descent to avoid any surface current is best practice. Once at your desired depth head north along the reef into the current, if any is present (currents are not normally strong here). The sand plateau at 22m provides some great coral formations as well as a base for resting adult pufferfish. As you reach the halfway point in your dive you can turn south and head along the upper 10m of the reef with any current that may be running. There are prolific antheas in the shallows and it is possible to see eagle rays cruising along the reef in the blue.

Dive Site: Shoe Stump
Location: Dahab, 28°31.732N; 34°30.863E
Description: Shore dive / coral garden
Depth: 1 - 30 metres (3 - 100 feet)
Visibility: 30 metres (100 feet)

Shoe Stump is located just north of Dahab, the first dive site after the northern checkpoint. Named Shoe Stump because a long time ago to make it easier for the dive guides to locate the entrance point, there was an old shoe nailed to a wooden stump. The Bedouins call this site 'Bbachhacha which means 'Spray Water' in Arabic, as you can guess by the name this site can only be dived in good conditions. In high winds the site is exposed to very choppy waves. The entry is the best part, descend through a hole in the reef table and dive down through a little 7 metre long tunnel, exit at approximately 6 metres on the outer reef. Watch out for lionfish, which inhabit this area. Divers who are not really confident in narrow spaces should avoid this dive. Turn left and descend further to approximately 20 metres and dive over the reef which is covered with table corals, giving shelter to copious fish species. Here you can find anthias, parrotfish, yellow tailed barracudas, black spotted sweetlips as well as giant napoleons, which are often sighted. Once you reach 100 bar of air ascend to 10 metres and turn back and follow the same path to the entry point. Complete your safety stop right in front of the exit, as this is the nicest section of the reef. You may want to extend your safety stop if you have enough air to at least 10 minutes and spend your time looking around at the magnificent marine life. This dive is perfect for a second or third dive of the day as the best corals are located at approximately 5 metres.

Dive Site: Sinai House Reef
Location: Dahab
Description: Reef / shore / night dive
Depth: 18 metres max (60 feet)
Visibility: 10 metres (30 feet)

We were diving with Sinai Divers located in the Hilton. The friendly dive Center is located just off the beach and a 10-dive package entitles you to 5 free dives on the house reef. Entrance to the site is from the beach, starting in the confined area designed for training purposes. The sandy slope drops off to about 15m with patches of sea grass, anchors, tyres, broken pots and other things designed to encourage reef life. There is also a natural reef about 15 minute swim from the shore. The visibility is fairly poor, due to the tidal currents within the lagoon, however it is well worth the effort with a good variation in sealife.
We found this dive was best done at dusk, before the Center shuts, as this is when the fish are out hunting, lionfish come out from their home in the tyre to start hunting, and trevally and jacks are rounding up shoals of smaller fish into the shallows. We also found the elusive seahorse within the seagrass patches at about 6m. The seagrass also provides a home for pipefish and pepper morays, with yellow moth morays found within the reef itself. Flounders, hermit crabs and goatfish can also be found feeding on the sandy seabed.

Dive Site: Sodfa
Depth: 10-25m (32-82ft)
Visibility: 10-30m (32-98ft)
Accessibility: Shore, Boat, Live-aboard
Time to visit: All year around with warmest water in summer (apr-aug)
Specifications:
Sodfa is a relaxing and easy afternoon dive site which started as a house reef of the Tower Club. It is still only accessible by shore for their guests. Fortunately, many dive operators offer this site as a drift dive starting opposite the jetty and often continue all the way to the better known dive site the Tower, which is almost 700 meters away. The dive goes along a sandy slope at an average depth of 15 meters, while the reefs drop-off is at 25 meter. Sodfa has great coral formations and many different species of reef fish.

 

Dive Site: Southern Oasis

The Southern Oasis is situated about 7 km south of Dahabs center. Some palm trees stand immediately at the water and a signboard with the inscription “Diving Area” prods diving.
At the Southern Oasis an incision can be found in the approx. 15m wide top of the reef.
The laguna in front of the reef is not deeper than 1-2m. A little rock is situated in the middle of the incision. On the sandy ground often crocodile fishes are lurking. The wall drops down to a depth of 5m along the whole dive spot.

 

Dive Site: Three Pools / South Oasis
Location: South Dahab, 28°26.139N; 34°27.481E
Description: Reef / shore dive
Depth: 20 metres (65 feet)
Visibility: 30 - 40 metres (100 - 130 feet)
   
The second dive from the South Oasis after a lazy lunch. This was a mammoth dive and I was beginning to get a bit chilly in a shortie. Starting off by swimming out to an overhang, with schools of barracuda and ending up at 5m swimming around the shallower corals.
Three sandy pools interconnected by saddles of coral form the entry and exit point for this dive. Outside of the third pool a young resident napoleon fish might catch your eye just before you descend to the deepest point of the dive by following a sandy alley with brain corals, pipe corals and salad corals along the sides. The alley brings you to a coral garden with pinnacles. A resident turtle often patrols the area. The later part of the dive is a shallow area where sand and coral blocks seem to compete to catch a bit of sun, showing wonderful red coloured details. Crocodilefish and scorpionfish try to hide in the sandy parts, while octopuses blend in wherever they go, but divers with an eye for detail will spot them for sure.

Dive Site: Straits of Tiran
 
The Gulf of Aquaba is like a big groove at the bottom of the ocean. This canyon drops down to many thousand meters.
At the beginning of the gulf the Straits of Tiran is situated. At the peaks of four gigantic underwater mountains four coral reefs had been formed. They are the Reefs of Tiran. They got the names of British cartographers which lived in the 19th century: Gordon, Thomas und Jackson.
The strong currents which can be found here, draw big schools of snappers, tuna, baracudas and mackarels.

Dive Site: Temple
Depth: 3-20m (9-65ft)
Visibility: 10-30m (32-98ft)
Accessibility: Shore
Time to visit: All year around with warmest water in summer (apr-aug)
Specifications:
The Temple is one of the best known dive sites in the straits of Tiran and is used a lot for training dives by dive schools in Sharm el-Sheik. The Temple is ideal for this as it has good visibilities, shallow depths, calm waters and virtually no winds. It is a series of three pinnacles rising up from 20 meters of depth to the surface and separated by sand. The biggest one, also known as the tower, has been split in two what makes it possible to swim through it. You will see fan corals, lion fish, stone fish, parrotfish and many of the other common reef fish. It is still a nice site, with a lot of coral and marine life, but tourism has taken its toll.
 

Dive Site: Thomas Reef
Depth: 4-40m (13-131ft) and deeper
Visibility: 10-50m (32-164ft)
Accessibility: Boat
Time to visit: All year around with warmest water in summer (apr-aug)
Specifications:
Thomas Reef is the smallest and most popular reef in the middle of the straits of Tiran. It is so small that when currents are small you can circum navigate the whole reef. But currents are often huge particularly at the northern and southern sides which is the reason diving here is often done as a drift dive across its western or eastern wall. The south has some spectacular vertical walls as well and a plateau at 25 meters with a deep canyon. This canyon starts at 35 meters and has three arches at 44, 51 and 61 meters and should only be done by experienced technical cave divers. Ending your dive in the west can only be done in calm weather because boats cannot pick you up.
Sharks often sleep at the sandy patches near the southern plateau while its walls are covered in Gorgionians. The upper sections of the reef are brilliantly lit with colors and host some of the finest soft and hard coral formations possible in the Red Sea. Some examples are stone, black and antler coral. Fish life is as stunning with species such as cods and groupers growing to spectacular sizes, but also many pelagic such as tuna, trevally, barracuda and reef sharks. In short a great and adventurous drift dive.

 

Dive Site: Umm Sid
Location: Sharm El-Sheikh, 28°25.255N; 34°27.442E
Description: Shore dive / coral garden
Depth: 1 - 30 metres (3 - 100 feet)
Visibility: 30 metres (100 feet)

Umm Sid features abundant fish life and a variety of reef structures which are all in exceptional condition as the site was not dived as frequently in the past as others in Dahab. Entry is through a wide corridor carved into a steeply sloping reef. Dive around and beneath a massive coral tongue until you reach a sandy slope inhabited by garden eels. Follow the slope down into a beautiful coral garden, for advanced divers descend down to 30 metres and view the spectacular giant gorgonians. Here you can spot small longnose hawkfish. Ascend up to 18 metres and end the dive by a slow excursion over the table corals and along a reef wall which is covered in soft corals and anthias, look closely and spot the number of nudibranchs of all varieties.

 

Dive Site: White Knights
Depth: 8-40m (26-131ft) and deeper
Visibility: 10-30m (32-98ft)
Accessibility: Shore, Boat, Live-aboard
Time to visit: All year around with warmest water in summer (apr-aug)
Specifications:
To see everything White Knight has to offer, we need several dives, which can suit all diving levels. The most interesting is of course the deep canyon with its swim-throughs. There is one at 13 and one at 35 meter. There is enough fish but keep an eye out for trigger fish, groupers, hatchetfish and bigeyes.
There is also a small wreck, named the Noos 1 sunk in 1994 and an eel garden. It is a sheltered bay so you wouldn't have any trouble with currents. This dive site can be accessed from shore through a small inlet, but most divers will drop in from the boat near the mooring just east of the inlet.

 

Wreck Safaris

The Thistlegorm

Is probably at present the best known wreck of the Red Sea. The DiveIN team gladly accompanies you in the context of a daily boat tour or a boat safari for some dives at this legendary and giant ship.
The ship - the Thistlegorm was a cargo ship and had been launched on 9 April 1940 in Scotland. Technical data: length 126.5m, width 17.7m, displacement 4,898 register tons, power 1,850 HP with 10,5 knots, crew 49.
To have protection against attacking airplanes the superstructures had been strengthened with concrete plates.
For more informations about the Thistlegorm have a look at our

History Of the Thistlegorm
1939  Construction started in Sunderland
April 1940  Launched, carried cargoes from USA, South America and West Indies
May 1941  Carried military supplies for 8th Army in Alexandria, via Cape Town and Suez
September 1941  Convoy anchored off Shadwan Island, waiting for Suez Canal to be cleared
5 October 1941  Four Heinkel 111 bombers depart from Crete
1952 - 1953  Cousteau expedition discovers wreck and recovers bell and captain's safe
1956  National Geographic features expedition
1956 - 1992  Site forgotten by all but local fishermen
1992  Wreck rediscovered by sport divers
May 1993  John Bantin writes about Thistlegorm for Diver
1994  Caroline Hawkins' Last Voyage of the Thistlegorm shown on BBC
6 October 2001  60th anniversary of sinking
 

Zingara:

It is not known, why this freighter, which came form Aquaba, rammed the northern point of the reef of Lagoona North, opposite of Tiran and north of the Jackson Reef.
GPS: N 28° 01,000', E 34° 29,600' length: 82.4m width: 12.6m type: general cargo vessel launching: 28.06.1963 building place: Russia/GDR charge: Phosphate sinking: 22.08.1984
dive site: northern side of North Lagoona, Sinai. min. depth: 2m max. depth: 8m current: moderate, strong waves view: 20-30m. worth seeing: The cut-off bow, free standing stern, beautiful corals.
 

Dunraven:

The wreck of the Dunraven was rediscovered in 1977 only. The two-masted sailing boat, equipped with a steam engine, was very modern for its time. The Dunraven was – loaded with cotton, woods and spices - on the way from Bombay over Karachi to the English city Newcastle, when the ship rammed in the night of the 22nd April 1876 Ras Mahumd and sank.
GPS: N 27° 42,167', E 33° 07,465' length: 85m width: 10m type: yardarm schooner (Rahschoner launching: 1873 building place: Newcastle/GB charge: cotton, woods, spices sinking: 22. April 1876 dive site: Sha'ab Mahmud/Egypt. min. depth: 16m max. depth: 28m current: partly stronger currents view: moderate, best while an early morning dive. Worth seeing: The bow, propeller and the rudder, the remaining superstructures in the stern range, the masts and the chimney on the bottom of the sea, the nave, the inside of the trunk which is upside down, rib structures, boiler, remnants of the rudder construction, anchor with chain and the quite well perserved machine. The front of the ship and bow are bizarre and beautifully covered. Lots of fishes!!!.

 

Ghiannis D:

In 1983 the wood freighter had been smashed at Sha'ab Abu Nuhas at the reef due to a navigational error. The inside can be dived safely - ideal for wreck beginners.
GPS: N 27° 34,644', E 33° 55,391' length: 99.5 m width: 16.0 m type: general cargo vessel launching: 1969 building place: Imabari/Japan charge: tropical woods, teak and mahagoni sinking: 19.04.1983
dive spot: Sha'ab Abu Nuhas southwest of Ras Mohammad. min. depth: 5m max. depth: 27m current: usually moderate view: well worth seeing: The well perserved stern, engine room, bridge, bow section, the covered crane.
 

Jolanda:

The freighter was loaded with sanitary ceramic(s) and Whiskey on the way to Aqaba. Since the crew got stuck into the good "stuff" in the load area, the ship smashed far from its course with a vacant bridge to Ras Mohammad.
GPS: N 27° 43,330', E 34° 15,530' length: 75m width: 12m type: general cargo vessel launching: 1964 building place: Gijon/Spain charge: sanitary article, pipes, BMW of the captain sinking: 1./2.04.1980 dive spot: Ras Mohammad.
 

Million Hope:

In 1996 the freighter ran with full speed onto the reef at Gamila. This nearly 175m long ship had a charge of potassium phosphate on board. The superstructures today still rise up out of the water. The wreck of the Million Hope lies on the wreck of Hey Daroma which had been sunken there already decades before. Still unsettled are so far the circumstances which led to sinking of the Million Hope. Whether the collision was intended, is not proven, it is, however, assumed.

GPS:

N 28° 03,393', E 34° 26,949' length: 174.6m width: 24.9m type: general cargo vessel launching: 1972 building place: Mihara/Japan charge: potassium phosphate sinking: 20.06.1996
dive spot: Ras Gamila, Sinai, in the Straits of Tiran min. depth: 5m max. depth: 24m current: moderately, but swell view: 10-20 m.
worth seeing: stern section with rudder and screw, hold, the bow and the damage on to starboard as well as the wreckage of the second wreck, the Hey Daroma.
 

Ras Peter: The tank dump of Ras Peter is situated in the bay of Sharm el Moa not far from of Sharm el Sheikh. The dive begins at the drop off in a depth of approx. 35-40m. There small tanks are stacked. They lay wide and far, headlong, wedged or on the side.

GPS: N 27° 51,076', E 34° 17,475' dive spot: Sharm el Moa, southeast from Sharm el Sheikh. min. depth: 5 m max. depth: 40 m current: weak to moderate

view: moderatel, particularly good light ratio in the morning Worth seeing: the tanks
 

Carnatic:

Only in 1984 the Carnatic was rediscovered by coincidence by divers. Many connoisseurs of the Red Sea know it better as "the bottle wreck" or "the wine freighter". Hardly does another ship offer a more beautiful vegetation and gives, after more than 15 years, still so many artifacts away.
length: 90m width: 13m type: damp sail boat launching: 1863 building place: England sinking: 09/1869 dive spot: Sha'ab Abu Nuhas southwest of of Ras Mohammad worth seeing: particularly beautiful vegetation..
 

Cedar Pride:

The freighter laid in the port of Aqaba, when on 04.08.1982 surprisingly a fire broke off on board. On suggestion of the Jordanian crown prince the completely burned out ship was sunken as dive attraction 10km south of Aqaba.
GPS: N 29° 31,300', E 34° 59,300' length: 74m width: 11m type: general cargo vessel launching: 1964 building place: Gijon/Spain sinking: autumn 1985 min. depth: 9m max. depth: 24m current: little view: relatively good worth seeing: the foredeck, the burned out bridge, a small small boat in approximately 20m distance seawards of the wreck.
 

References :

http://www.divesitedirectory.co.uk/dive_site_red_sea_dahab_reef_sinai_house_reef.html
http://www.planetdivers.com/dahab/en/divesite.html
http://www.diveindahab.com/english/00_eingang/e_start_frameset.htm
http://egypt.greatestdivesites.com/dahab/three_pools