How to Visit the Red Sea’s Blue Hole in Dahab

The Dahab Blue Hole is one of the most famous attractions in Sinai and an absolute must-visit destination in Egypt.

The Blue Hole is a deep, natural sinkhole in the Gulf of Aqaba, just north of the South Sinai tourist town of Dahab. It is considered one of the most significant natural landmarks in Egypt.

This wide hole is considered a great scuba diving and snorkeling site near the town of Dahab. This is due to the beautiful coral reef in the shallow lagoon surrounding its edge. The wall is also abundant with hard coral formations and a healthy ecosystem of marine life.

Even if you’re not a diver, there are a thousand reasons why you should visit this amazing natural attraction! In this guide, I’ll give you a rundown of how to get here, what to expect, and why this is one of the most infamous dive sites in the world.

Traveling Independently to the Blue Hole

For those in Dahab, it's possible to visit the Blue Hole independently by taking a taxi from the town.

The journey takes roughly 20 minutes and costs between 80-100 Egyptian pounds (you will need to barter).

Once you arrive at the Blue Hole area, you must pay a USD 10 entry fee per person to the Egyptian authorities.

What to do at the Dahab Blue Hole

We visited the Blue Hole on a day trip from Dahab. Below is a short guide to what to expect with some ideas on what to do there based on my experience.

3. Walk up to the Blue Hole Viewpoint

Just around the back of the restaurants on the main strip is a rocky hill where you can catch the best views of the Blue Hole from above.

To get here, continue towards the end of the strip and turn left on the last road leading behind the restaurants. Next, you'll see a sign pointing towards a well-constructed pathway climbing the hill.

This viewpoint isn't well-marked, but you can ask anyone in town and they'll show you where to go.

4. Visit the Diver's Cemetery (Memorial)

At the very end of the road past the Blue Hole is the famous diver's memorial.

This is a plaque site on a rocky wall containing the names of some of the divers lost at this infamous dive site.

5. Relax at the Seafront Restaurants

After snorkeling, diving, and exploring, one of the best things to do at the Dahab Blue Hole is to simply relax and unwind at one of the many restaurants.

If you're looking for a spot, I highly recommend the two-story building with the name "Camel Restaurant". The owner here is a very friendly man and he treated us with some of the best hospitality I experienced in South Sinai (and that's saying something).

You can also order traditional meals here, as well as Turkish coffee or a Bedouin Tea, or even a shisha.

6. Hike to Ras Abu Galoum & the Blue Lagoon

If you've planned a day of adventuring north of Dahab, then I highly recommend adding Ras Abu Galoum (Ras Abu Galum) and the Blue Lagoon to your itinerary.

From the Blue Hole, you can either hike, take a camel, or ride on a water taxi to Abu Galoum, which is one of the best snorkeling sites near Dahab.

From here, take a pickup truck or camel ride to the famous Blue Lagoon. This is a very relaxing area where you can swim and watch some professional kite surfers shred!

The hiking trail connecting the Blue Hole to Abu Galoum is very scenic and I highly recommend it if you have time!

Why is the Blue Hole so Dangerous?

Nicknamed the "Diver's Cemetery" scuba divers know this site for being one of the most dangerous dive sites in the world. However, the truth is that this only applies to one particular dive site in the Blue Hole called the Arch.

In reality, even this designation isn't entirely accurate. While the arch in the Blue Hole is a very deadly site (without a public record, estimates are around 200 deaths in recent years according to the Guardian), it is not actually a very dangerous dive for those properly trained for technical diving.

The reason why this arch is so deadly is that the entry point to this horizontal tunnel sits at a depth below 55 meters (180 feet). The majority of deaths are experienced, recreational divers feeling overconfident in their ability to attempt a deep technical dive with recreational equipment and without specialized training.

The Infamous Arch & Tragic Diving Deaths

The arch is a 30-meter (100-feet) long natural tunnel with an entrance sitting at roughly 55 meters (180 feet). From a technical dive standpoint, the arch isn't a very challenging one.

The most dangerous aspect of this dive is that it looks relatively benign– like a quick, wide swim-through upon reaching the entrance. However, the sad truth is that many experienced divers forget their training and try to swim through on a regular 10.4L tank.

At 55 meters, oxygen toxicity occurs and the risk of nitrogen narcosis (the unexplained feeling of being drunk or high at depths) increases exponentially.

The arch also slopes downwards slightly and is much longer than it seems. So, the quick swim through often turns into a 5-minute endeavor at a depth closer to 60 meters (196 feet). At this depth, divers consume oxygen very rapidly due to the effects of pressure.

By the time divers exit this long tunnel, they're likely to have consumed 60% of their single tank, which is not enough to make the several safety stops required to resurface safely.

The main causes of death in the arch are therefore running out of air, oxygen toxicity, and decompression sickness (the bends).

I am a certified professional Dive Master, I would never attempt to dive the arch without proper technical training and a rebreather or twinset.

Can Beginners Scuba Dive in the Blue Hole?

Don't let the reputation discourage you from diving in the Blue Hole! By now, you know that the dangerous dive site here is well beyond the limits of recreational divers and only accessible to technical divers.

So, as far as the recreational dives go, beginner divers and advanced divers alike can enjoy some of the safest shore diving in the Red Sea!

The best and most famous Blue Hole dive sites include:

• The Blue Hole Wall - beginner divers can enjoy the beautiful coral reefs lining the near-vertical wall at the easy entrance. This is a very accessible and shallow entry point just a few meters from the rocky shores! The bottom here is around 120 meters, so you'll need to monitor your depths to stay within recreational limits.
• The Bells - an advanced recreational site at around 30 meters featuring a deep groove cutting into the reef just north of the Blue Hole.
• Canyon - although not at the Blue Hole, this is one of the best dive sites near the Blue Hole. Divers come here to swim through a gorgeous geological formation, a kind of cave with a virtually closed-off roof.

Remember to always dive with a local dive guide. If you don't have your qualifications, I recommend getting your Open Water certificate in Dahab with Octopus Divers, next to the amazing My Hostel (the best hostel in Dahab).

More Things to Know About Visiting Dahab's Infamous Blue Hole