On the France Diplomacy map consulted on October 3, 2026, the coastal corridor connecting Taba to Sharm el-Sheikh is marked in orange. Dahab is located on this coast, on the edge of the Gulf of Aqaba. Before choosing a site, you therefore choose a travel risk level, and this is the first line of your budget.
Our old page presented Dahab as an ideal destination for all levels, listed the Thistlegorm wreck among its dives, and promised dolphins at Ras Abu Galum. The Thistlegorm is dived elsewhere. No one can promise dolphins.
We have revised the page with our usual framework: level, current, season, supervision, and fallback plan.
Is Dahab in a zone discouraged by France?
Yes, partially. France Diplomacy formally advises against travel in the Sinai Peninsula and discourages it, except for imperative professional reasons, in the corridor between Taba and Sharm el-Sheikh, marked in orange on its map. Dahab is in this corridor. Only stays in Sharm el-Sheikh, arriving by plane and without leaving the resort, are presented as possible there.
This classification matters more than the color of the water.
Practically, most travelers reach Dahab by road, starting from Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport further south. This route actually leaves the resort area. Dive center pages almost never mention this, and booking platforms show the beach before the map. Yet your travel insurance and repatriation assistance may impose conditions for an orange-classified zone. Ask for this in writing before paying. The answer can change the real price of the stay.
But the map changes. Re-read the sheet the day before departure, not just on the booking day, and note the date you consulted it.
The Blue Hole of Dahab: why does the arch pose a problem?
The Blue Hole is a chasm about 120 meters deep located a few kilometers north of Dahab. Its passage to the open sea, called the Arch, opens around 55 meters and extends about 26 meters, according to SCIplanet, the scientific magazine of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (2025). This depth exceeds recreational air diving courses.
The same article states that more than 200 divers have died there, while specifying that no public or official registry of the exact number exists. So we retain the only solid fact: the site has accumulated accidents for decades, and most accounts point to the same mistake.
This mistake is attempting the Arch on air, without the appropriate gas mix, training, and supervision suited to this depth, while the clear water gives the impression that the exit is very close. SCIplanet cites nitrogen narcosis and oxygen toxicity as causes of impaired judgment. Excellent visibility reduces neither of these two risks. It rather masks them. If the Arch attracts you, first look at what trimix mixed gas diving involves, then decide with a technical instructor, not with a photo.
However, the Blue Hole is not just a trap. Local operators often offer a dive that enters through a nearby fault, The Bells, follows the wall at recreational depth, and ends in the shallow lagoon of the Blue Hole. The planned profile, maximum depth, and exit point are decided at the briefing. Listen to it entirely.
In short, the site’s name does not tell you which dive you will do.
Which Dahab sites are suitable for a first stay?
The simplest sites are shore dives, from the town or the northern coast: Lighthouse and Eel Garden are the most cited for a first contact. The Canyon, further north, requires more depth. Ras Abu Galum and Gabr el Bint are reached by track or by boat, depending on operators. The levels in the table remain indicative.
| Site | Area | Usual Access | What you ask beforehand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lighthouse | Dahab town | From shore | Entry point, planned depth |
| Eel Garden | North of town | From shore | Planned depth, day’s wind |
| Canyon | North coast | From shore | Depth of the fault, exit |
| The Bells and Blue Hole | North coast | From shore | Exact profile, maximum depth |
| Ras Abu Galum | Protectorate to the north | Track, boat or on foot depending on operator | Travel time, fallback plan |
| Gabr el Bint | South coast | Boat or track depending on operator | Access mode, sea condition |
Shore access has real advantages for a beginner.
You enter at your own pace, exit without waiting for a boat, and can cancel on site if something is wrong. And this comfort has its downside. A shore entry exposes you to waves and the day’s wind, and a wall that starts near the beach drops off quickly. Ask the center how they handle the wind at each site, what maximum depth they plan for your level, and what they do if the usual entry is closed. If an answer remains vague, change site, not depth.
The region’s reefs have been studied for their resistance to warming, summarized in our article on Red Sea corals facing climate change. Resistant does not mean indestructible: keep your fins away from the coral.
Ras Abu Galum: what does the protectorate status change?
Ras Abu Galum is an Egyptian protectorate declared in 1992, covering about 500 square kilometers north of Dahab, according to the United Nations Development Programme (2022). UNDP indicates it includes the Blue Hole and that the Bedouin Mzeina tribe lives there. Access is via a coastal track or by sea.
Thus, rules apply.
Our old page mentioned wild dolphins often seen near Ras Abu Galum. We removed the sentence. No dated source allowed stating how often. Promising an animal encounter misleads expectations and sometimes pushes boats or swimmers to get too close. If a center displays dolphins on its page, ask if it is a one-time observation or a dedicated outing, and what approach rules they apply.
A day at Ras Abu Galum also depends on logistics. The trip, distance from rescue, and weather matter more than in town. Ask how long the return takes in case of a problem, and if the group carries oxygen.
Thistlegorm, decompression chamber, season: what to check before booking?
The Thistlegorm is not dived from Dahab. The wreck lies in the Gubal Strait, at the entrance to the Gulf of Suez, and trips usually depart from Sharm el-Sheikh or Hurghada. Regarding rescue, France Diplomatie lists two hyperbaric chambers in Dahab. For the season, impossible to decide from here without dated data.
If you want this wreck, plan it from another base, for example combining your stay with dives at Ras Mohammed or the reefs of Tiran Island, and then reread France Diplomatie’s rules for Sharm el-Sheikh.
However, the real question remains your margin. Our old page advised April to June and September to November, without source. We removed these months. Instead, ask your center the expected water temperature, the wetsuit thickness they recommend, and the frequency of windy days that close some sites. Also check that your insurance covers diving at the depth you aim for. These four answers matter more than a recommended month.
For an overview of the country, our guide to diving holidays in Egypt compares other Red Sea bases.
And if stress threatens you on a wall dive, our article on stress management in diving helps you prepare your reaction.
There remains the concrete cost. A stay in Dahab staying on shore sites costs you almost nothing in logistics, but it requires accepting an area that France advises against and a road trip. Would you book it that way?
FAQ
Can you start diving in Dahab?
Centers offer introductory dives and training on sites accessible from the shore, such as Lighthouse or Eel Garden. The required level depends on the site and the planned profile. Only the instructor on site decides if a dive is suitable for you.
Can you dive the Blue Hole Arch with a recreational level?
No. The Arch opens at around 55 meters according to SCIplanet (2025), beyond recreational air diving courses. It falls under technical diving, with mixtures, training, and appropriate supervision.
Is the Thistlegorm dive accessible from Dahab?
No. The wreck is located in the Gubal Strait. Trips usually depart from Sharm el-Sheikh or Hurghada.
Is Dahab not recommended for French travelers?
Dahab is located in the Taba-Sharm el-Sheikh corridor, classified as orange by France Diplomatie, therefore not recommended except for imperative professional reasons. Check the updated sheet before booking and before leaving.
Sources
- Egypt, travel advice (France Diplomatie, accessed October 3, 2026)
- The Blue Hole: A Red Sea Adventure Not for Amateurs (SCIplanet, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, 2025)
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