Snorkeling In Dahab – Complete Guide

If you want to explore the Red Sea’s less-visited, therefore preserved coral reefs, you should visit Dahab snorkeling spots. Most people only think about the Blue Hole in relation to Dahab, but the coastline features so many fantastic snorkel sites that you can easily spend a week here and visit a new one each day.

Dahab is a hidden gem in Egypt; this locale in the Sinai Peninsula differs greatly from Egypt’s popular tourist destinations. Compared to the big cities of Sharm el Sheik and Hurghada, Dahab has a small village atmosphere. Besides its fantastic marine life, the relaxed vibe is why we fell in love with Dahab.

If you are considering visiting this part of Egypt and want to know where to go snorkeling in Dahab, this guide will give you all the information as we showcase all the best sites one by one.

Best Dahab Snorkeling Spots

Blue Hole

The Blue Hole is Dahab’s most visited attraction and also one of the most famous diving and snorkeling sites in Egypt. This 39 ft (120 m) deep natural underwater sinkhole features abundant marine life with stunning corals and reef fish.

Snorkeling at the Blue Hole is a fantastic experience; the fact that you are in a place where the world’s best freediving athletes train makes the whole experience special and gives this location a unique vibe.

As a snorkeler, of course, you can’t explore the hole itself. In fact, there is not too much to see inside the hole; the water is too deep to see anything and the inner reef is destroyed, but you can see fantastic corals on the hole’s outer ring. This area is called the Saddle; this shallow, 6-7 m (2-23 ft) deep reef section is the hole’s opening out to the sea, fully overgrown by corals, offering a fantastic sight.

The Hole has several entry/exit points; you can enter the water directly at the hole through a wooden jetty and from the shore, and there is an entry a bit further north. This point is called Bells, which marks another snorkeling area with a deep, wall-type reef.

We think this is the best place to enter as the current runs from north to south, so if you start at Bells, you can drift along the reef towards the Hole, where you can exit using the jetty.

The Blue Hole lies about 8 km north of Dahab center. You can easily get there by taxi (we stopped one in front of our hotel) or book a Blue Hole snorkel tour, which includes transfers, so you don’t need to think about how to get there.

Canyon

The Canyon lies outside Dahab, about 1.5 kilometers south of the Blue Hole. It is an open underwater cave 14-22 meters (46-72 ft) below the surface; wide enough for divers to swim through, following the marked entry-exit points.

Although it is primarily a diving site, the surrounding shallow reefs are perfect for snorkeling, too. Plus, thanks to the incredibly clear waters, even snorkelers can enjoy the unique view of this fantastic canyon-like underwater formations.

You can enter the water through a sandy lagoon to get to the Canyon. Snorkelers can follow the reef on the left side, where a wide variety of fish (anemonefish, butterflyfish, crocodilefish, unicornfish, pufferfish, lionfish, scorpionfish, etc…) can be observed around the coral structures. We saw here octopus and blue spotted rays, too.

The site is outside the town and feels a bit deserted, but there is an authentic Bedouin cafe nearby to get some snacks and drinks.

Ras Abu Galum

The Ras Abu Galum marine protected area was our favorite snorkeling site in Dahab. This traditional Bedouin village is a peaceful spot where you can enjoy amazing sea life and relax far from the crowds.

The easiest way to get there is by boat. Small boats depart from the Blue Hole, but there is no fixed schedule, so it is better to sign up for a trip at a local vendor or book one online. We found this 3-stop snorkeling trip that includes visiting Abu Galum.

If you prefer a more traditional way, camel trips are also available; they start from Blue Hole. Another option is to trek along the camel path. It takes approx. 1,5-2 hours from the Blue Hole, so bring enough water if you choose this option.

Once you arrive at Ras Abu Galum, you will find yourself next to a sandy lagoon in front of the visitor center. This is the recommended snorkeling area; we did snorkel here, but didn’t find it so good because the corals were not so nice, so we walked approx. 500-800 meters along the coast until we reached a little cove to enter the water.

There, the coral was a lot nicer, with impressive coral structures, big schools of Red Sea fish, turtles, rays, and octopuses around them. If you don’t know where is safe to enter the water, ask locals or other snorkelers to help locate exit points.

If you want, it is also possible to stay overnight; there are traditional Bedouin tent-style accommodations in the park.

Eel Garden

Eel Garden is an easy snorkeling spot in Dahab Center. It can be accessed through a small road from the promenade (there is a sign).

This site is known for the fact that it is home to Dahab’s largest colony of garden eels. Therefore, it is very popular among underwater photographers who come here to film these interesting creatures.

The garden eels can be spotted on the sandy bottom. They disappear in a second if you try to approach them, then slowly pop out from the sand again. Observing them is like watching National Geographic, we really enjoyed it!

Once you finish watching the eels, you can discover the reef too; there are nice corals and different types of reef fish to see. Keep your eyes open because eagle rays are also common here! If you follow the reef on the right, it takes you to the next Dahab snorkeling spot, the Lighthouse Reef!

Tip: To enjoy good light conditions, come early morning or late afternoon. The Eel Garden can be snorkeled only in calm weather conditions! Currents can be dangerous on windy days, so always check the weather forecast before visiting this site!

Lighthouse Reef

The Lighthouse Reef is situated in the town center, in Ghazala Bay. It is one of the most popular Dahab snorkeling places due to its easy beach access and gradually sloping bottom.

You can enter the water simply by walking in from the shore. The entry point is in front of the Lighthouse Dive Center, between the By The Sea and Bedouin Sons Restaurants. Once in the water, swim to the left; the fringing reef that runs along the shore has a shallow plate that is perfect for snorkelers at all levels, including beginners. We saw here a wide variety of corals and fish, a turtle can, and blue spotted rays.

To the south of the reef, there is an underwater museum with statues assembled using old metal pieces. However, the installations are in deeper water (20-25m/65-82ft), so they can be seen while freediving and diving only. The most popular is the Elephant statue.

Islands

The Islands Reef is situated a 30-minute from Dahab center, south of the Lighthouse Reef, near the laguna. We walked there along the promenade, but if you want, you can take a taxi.

There is a sign at the entry point which says The ISALNDS Dive Site. Yes, exactly like this, see it on the photo :).

This interesting site has three giant coral pinnacles that overgrown each other, forming valleys and lagoons and creating a vibrant coral garden. This site is less visited than the central snorkel spots, so you can spend hours here swimming around undisturbed while discovering the Red Sea’s underwater wonders. The Islands is fully loaded with healthy corals, schools of reef fish, moray eels and turtles. The best time to visit is at high-tide.

Napoleon Reef

The Napoleon Reef was our favorite snorkeling site in Dahab; we think this site has the best corals, clearest water and most vibrant marine life among the spots listed here. It is on the left side of the kitesurfer’s Lagoon and easily accessible from the shore. You need to swim approximately 400 meters to reach the reef.

We saw here huge grey stingrays, turtles, eagle rays, eels, almost all types of Red Sea fish, and vibrant, healthy corals, including soft corals. But you need to be careful with fishing nets in the water, and pay attention to kite surfers! The lagoon nearby is kite surfers’ training spot and they might cross over in this area. Therefore, make sure to have a marker buoy when snorkeling here!

Three Pools/Golden Blocks/Moray Garden

I’d like to mention these snorkel spots together because they are very close to each other and can be visited once. These sites are in the southern part of Dahab, near Happy Life Village Resort.

Out of the three sites, the Three Pools is the southernmost one. It has three shallow lagoons that lead you through a gradually sloping reef until you reach the edge of the drop-off. If you swim along the shore to the north, you reach the Moray Garden, a shallow sandy plateau teeming with fish and macro creatures like nudibranchs. Finally, you get to Golden Blocks, a varied site with sandy areas and impressive coral pinnacles.

We first went to this place on a windy day, so the visibility was not so good and we could not get to the deeper, nicer reefs. Our experience was not so enjoyable as we could snorkel only in the shallow water where the corals were not so nice, and the amount of fish was less than at other Dahab snorkeling places.

We returned another day when the sea was calm, and finally, we could explore the nice part of the reefs. Our recommendation is to visit this area when the sea is completely calm.

These sites are very popular among divers and snorkelers but are a bit far from the center, so most people come here on organized trips as it might be difficult to catch a taxi here. Consider booking a guided Three Pools snorkeling tour.

Gabr el Bint

Gabr el Bint is the southernmost dive and snorkel site of Dahab. As it can only be reached by camel or boat, it is less visited than all the other spots. Consequently, the reef is even more preserved here and the sea life is extremely rich.

Snorkelers can discover the shallow lagoon, while divers can go for interesting deep dives. Many species of reef fish and corals can be seen here, including healthy table coral colonies and fan corals.

Best Time To Visit Dahab For Snorkeling

Dahab is an all-year-round destination with desert climate characterized by hot summers and mild winters. The average air temperature is around 35-38 C during the summer months and 23-25 C in the winter months. The sea temperature reaches 28-29 C in summer and drops gradually to 22 C by January-February when it is the coldest. The temperatures (both air and water) rarely go under 20-22 C, making it a perfect winter snorkeling destination.

We think that the best time for a snorkeling trip to Egypt is late spring-early summer (May and June) or early autumn (September, October) when the climate is the most pleasant with warm water and warm, but not too hot air temperatures and very low chance of rain.

How To Get To Dahab?

Dahab lies approx. 80 kilometers northeast of Sharm el Sheikh, which is approx. 1-hour drive from the Sharm el Sheikh International Airport. If you bought a vacation package, your travel agency takes care of the transfer, but if you are traveling independently, you need to organize it yourself.

The safest and simplest option is taking a taxi straight to your hotel or apartment. However, there are always taxis available at SSH Airport; we recommend booking one in advance. In Egypt, there are several checkpoints on the roads to protect the tourists. Your driver shall report your name/passport details to get through these points smoothly. Arrange your transfer through your hotel or pre-book it online.

Best Places To Stay In Dahab For Snorkeling

Dahab offers a wide range of accommodation options in every price range. Whether you are looking for an authentic campground, a budget-friendly B&B, or a 5-star resort of the popular international hotel chains, you will find it here.

Dahab snorkeling sites are scattered along the area’s coastline, so there is no place to stay where you can access all the sites without transfer. Still, if your main priority is snorkeling, we recommend staying at the following areas:

Dahab Center: staying somewhere in or near the center of the town is a convenient choice as you can easily visit the central snorkel spots, which are the Eel Garden, Lighthouse Reef, Islands, and Napolean Reef. Eldorado Lodge and Penguin Village are popular choices.

North Dahab: booking a place on the northern coast allows you to quickly get to prime snorkel sites like the Blue Hole and Canyon. We stayed at Tropitel Dahab Oasis; it is not a fancy resort but good value for money. It even has its own house reef so you can snorkel right off the beach.

South Dahab: staying on the southern side of Dahab’s coastline allows you total relaxation since the area is not overbuilt. There are only a few hotels here like Happy Life Village Resort and the Ecotel Resort. If you stay here, you will be close to sites like Three Pools, Moray Garden, Golden Blocks and Gabr el Bint.

Ras Abu Galum: the marine protected area is the perfect place to stay for those who want to disconnect and get an authentic experience by spending a few days in a Bedouin campground. Out of the available options, we think that The Gate Camp is the best one.

Conclusion – Our Dahab Experience

The Red Sea’s underwater wonders never disappoint us! We love swimming with dugong in Marsa Alam and discovering the vibrant coral reefs in Sharm el Sheikh, but Dahab offers an atmosphere that no other destination in Egypt does. It is considered the Sinai Peninsula’s most treasured diving and snorkeling destination, and we can confirm this. Fortunately, the town hasn’t become an artificial holiday complex. It remains a hidden paradise where you can get an authentic experience while discovering one of the world’s most famous underwater attractions, the Blue Hole, along with other pristine reefs. If you are considering visiting Dahab, we hope that our post convinces you to do so!

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