Delights of Dahab

Dahab
Nesting between the golden mountains of the Sinai desert and vibrant Red Sea reefs, the hippy-styled resort of Dahab is a popular destination for divers, windsurfers and those looking for a mellow place to relax in year-round sun. The former Bedouin fishing village tends to attract three different diving characters: technical divers and freedivers in search of the really deep blue, particularly at sites of the Blue Hole and the Canyon. The remaining crowd are generally recreational divers attracted by hassle-free shore diving in calm
waters.

Top dives
The Blue Hole and Canyon are the signature dives of Dahab. World-famous, the 50m-wide Blue Hole offers little in the way of life in the shallow waters, so often acts as an entry and exit point for recreational divers wishing to explore the life-encrusted sloping reef outside. The classic dive to get the most from the Blue Hole starts at The Bells, 100m north, where you descend a small crack in the reef table. From here you descend 18m down a long chimney, which ends at a small cavern that slopes out at around 28m to the blue. The
life on the outside of the Blue Hole is stunning and often provides encounters with larger fish, such as barracuda. The dive ends inside the Blue Hole, which is accessed by crossing the stunning coral encrusted saddle at a depth of around 6m.
The Canyon is accessed though a crack in the coral table. The site takes its name from the long, narrow canyon, which runs north to south from the reef to depths of around 50m.
For more current action and the chance to see more of the big animals typically found in sites around Sharm el Sheikh, Gabr El Bint can be reached by boat or camel. Less talked about sites of Dahab not-to-be missed include The Islands, which is like entering a secret garden of colourful hard and soft corals and macro life. Other more secluded sites, which offer surface intervals on the mellow and spacious beaches in the south,are Three Pools, Moray Gardens and Umm Sid.
The variety of dive sites can usually be dived at any time of the day depending on wind conditions, so offer a freedom and flexibility for those looking to include more topside activities in their holiday.

Topside
There's a lot going on above the water in Dahab, from windsurfing to energy healing. The main hub of activity is along the beachfront strip in the centre of the town, starting from Assalah. Hotels range from 5-star luxury around the lagoon to basic backpacking lodgings.
Accommodation is generally excellent value for money and there are lots of fantastic restaurants and bars to spend your evenings.