Dahab 2007 by Paul Clunas 

Due to a rather complicated domestic life missed out diving with the club for the whole of 2006! This I promise to rectify in 2007 but in the meantime….being a Scotsman I have a certain predilection for a bargain, hence when I saw on the interweb an offer of 7 nights in Dahab for three shillings and sixpence, I bribed the old girl with the offer of some Winter sun and it was booked! 

My first concern was upon opening recent copies of both ‘Diver’ and ‘Dive’ magazine both featured articles on Dahab, on the upside I know which bars and restaurants to decompress in, on the down side it could be full of diving ‘chavs’ (Burberry BC’s etc)

My next concern was what gear to take, I was advised that the water temperature would be 21 degrees and a 5mm or 7mm wet suit was recommended. I was sure Hans Hass used to splash about the Red Sea wearing nothing more than a pair of Teutonic speedos so my 5/4/3mm steamer was stuffed in the kit bag.

 After a smooth check in, flight, quick transit through Sharm airport (1 hour from exiting plane to exiting terminal with bags!) and a 1 hour bus ride we arrived in Dahab. 

What followed was 4 days shore diving and 1 days boat diving. All the shore dive sites are reached by Jeep and pick-up – maximum 20 mins ride, short walk across the reef table (clearly defined entry/exit points) and then WOW!  

Day 1 – Shore Dive x2 - Moray Gardens

Dive 1 – left side – glassfish pinnacle -               Max depth 26.5 metres, duration 51 minutes

 Dive 2 – right side – Max depth 26.2 metres, duration 47 minutes

 Two nice dives to get into the holiday mood, squid and octopus and plenty of lionfish. 

 Day 2 - Shore Dive x2 – Canyon and Ricks Reef

Dive 1 – Ricks Reef – max depth 20.4 metres, duration 52 minutes

 Dive 2 – Canyon – max depth 18.6 metres, duration 51 minutes

 Day 3 – Boat Dive x3 –  Gabr il Bint

Dive 1 –  Max depth 26.5 metres, duration 41 minutes

Dive 2 – Max depth 25.6 metres, duration 43 minutes

Dive 3 – Max depth 18.3 metres, duration 36 minutes

 Some of the finest underwater scenery ever experienced, not accessible by road and only 3 boats working out of Dahab so relatively pristine – thoroughly recommend even with the extra cost!

 Day 4 – Shore Dive x2 – Blue Hole and the ‘Bells’

Dive 1 – Blue Hole saddle and wall - Max depth 32.6 metres, duration 44 minutes

Dive 2 – ‘The Bells’ - Max depth 28.6 metres, duration 37 minutes

The reason divers come to Dahab – ‘The Blue Hole’ superb! The descent down ‘the bells’ is great, wanted to do it again and again! However the memorials to the divers who have died here are sobering…

Day 5 – Shore Dive x2 – Eel Gardens and ‘Islands’

Dive 1 – Eel Gardens - Max depth 23.2 metres, duration 50 mins

Dive 2 – The Islands – Max depth 18.3 metres, duration 45 mins

Busy dive sites as near to the centre of the town – found some peace on the slopes watching the eels – fascinating. Large shoal of small barracuda always cruising between the two reefs – beautiful coral labyrinth

Strong head current on the outer edge of the islands – glad of my Oceanic V12 fins!

 Dahab is compact and friendly, plenty of bars and restaurants, plus 60 dive schools! Busiest times are September/October and would recommend January/February as quiet and the cheapest! I would agree with recommendation of a 5mm or 7mm suit plus don’t lend your hood to the dive guide like I did out of pity!

Did my PADI nitrox while there  – what great stuff, wish I could breathe it all the time!

Paul Clunas

January 2007 

Tour operator                        : Longwood Holidays

Hotel                                       : Tropitel Oasis

Dive operator                        : Reef 2000

Dive site maps courtesy of Geodia