Nature · South Sinai
Dahab Blue Hole
A deep marine sinkhole on the Gulf of Aqaba coast north of Dahab, loved for its blue water and shallow reef ideal for snorkelling and diving.
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The story
The Blue Hole is a submarine sinkhole close to the shore on Sinai's eastern coast, a few kilometres north of Dahab. It reaches a little over 100 metres in depth and is ringed by a shallow reef shelf known as the Saddle, around 6 metres deep. On its side, a tunnel called the Arch links the hole to the open sea, with its ceiling at roughly 55 metres. The site sits at the edge of the Ras Abu Galum protected area. Easy shore access and calm water have made it one of the best-known dive and freediving sites on the Red Sea. The Arch, however, is for trained technical divers only and has been linked to many accidents, so guidance stresses safe depth limits and a certified guide.
Good to know
- The hole is just over 100 m deep, while the shallow shelf called the Saddle lies at about 6 m.
- The Arch is a tunnel about 26 m long linking the hole to the sea, with its roof at around 55 m; it is for specialist technical diving only.
- Visitors who do not dive can enjoy snorkelling in the shallow water around the hole without any certification.
- The site lies where the Ras Abu Galum protected area begins, north of Dahab.
Visiting tips
The site is a few kilometres north of Dahab at the end of a dirt track; per Wikivoyage it has cafes and toilets but no dive centre, so bring your own kit. A protected-area entry fee applies and the spot can get busy with excursion buses. Please check fees and hours before visiting, keep to safe depth limits and never enter the Arch without technical training.