Blue Hole

The Blue Hole of Dahab, Egypt, is arguably the most famous dive site on the Sinai Peninsula — a perfectly circular 100-meter-deep sinkhole carved into the fringing reef of the Red Sea, connected to open water only by a coral saddle above and the infamous Arch tunnel at 56 meters below. Its geological beauty, shore accessibility, and the presence of a 200-meter reef chimney called the Bells just to the north make it a truly world-class recreational dive — provided it is respected. The classic recreational route begins at the Bells, where divers drop through a narrow vertical chimney onto a sheer reef wall cloaked in gorgonian fans, soft corals, and sponge gardens. The descent leads divers to 25-30 meters on the wall before drifting south along the reef face, observing enormous table corals, schools of anthias, bannerfish, and the occasional reef shark. The route crosses the saddle at 7 meters and exits through the Blue Hole's interior, with the final safety stop performed within the sinkhole itself — a cathedral of blue light unlike anything else in diving. Marine life is prolific. Napoleon wrasse cruise the wall, giant moray eels peer from crevices, and hawksbill turtles graze the sponges. Barracuda, trevally, and unicornfish patrol the blue water edge, while the shallows host pufferfish, lionfish, and frogfish for sharp-eyed divers. Visibility regularly reaches 30 meters year-round, and water temperatures range from 22°C in January to 29°C in August. The site is entered directly from shore, minutes by taxi from central Dahab, and serviced by Bedouin cafes along the cliff. Open Water certification handles the 18-meter profile; Advanced Open Water is needed for the full Bells-to-Blue-Hole traverse. The Arch, at 56 meters, is strictly for technical divers with appropriate training and gas-mix certification — the memorial plaques at the cliff edge speak for themselves.