Dahab trip May 17-22

[-Phoenix-]

Heya all,

I'll be heading for Dahab next week and was wondering since I won't be there for long, which divesites should I place on my must-visit list?

Thanks!

-Rob

 

[Red Sea Shadow]

Why not take a look and choose yourself?

SCUBA diving trips in Dahab, South Sinai, Red Sea, Egypt

 

[Vassilis Vlachopoulos]

Since I saw "Photographer" under your name, I would also suggest Gabr El Bint (note : it's a full day excursion with boat - 2 dives).

 

[Druid]

Bells to Blue Hole and the Canyon are the most famous dives - the saddle into the Blue Hole is very pretty. I also like the Eel Garden, the reef on the way back is lovely lots of light and colour as it's very shallow, about 8m or so. Islands is also good, lots of interesting coral.

Enjoy your trip, I'm going there tomorrow, back on the 19th

 

[String]

You don't mentioned your qualification so i'll assume advanced/2* similar level.

Everyone does bells to blue hole (its ok) and Canyon (i prefer the reef here...if its quiet).

Islands is nice for a last dive of day, shallow and coral. Eel Garden is nice if its not windy.

My favourite site is Abu Talha of the shore based ones. Although in my view by far the best diving involves a boat to Gabr El Bint to the south. Generally most centres will do that as a 3 dive day, Gabr north and south. If its not windy maybe Sha'ab Saeed or Shugaryat (sp?).

Avoid anything to do with camels - the diving reached by them isn't great and not worth the discomfort and abnormally long day!

Its quiet here at the moment, the easter rush is over. Guided groups are bigger than normal though due to mass staff shortage for lots of centres due to the work permit rules and so on.

Who are you diving with?

 

[tacky]

I find the note about avoiding anything with camels a bit strange -Abu Galum and Ras Mamlah offers good diving, at least better than some of the local diving in Dahab. At least that was my experience.

From Nuweiba you can go all the way with a car, from Dahab these sites are best reached by camel from the Blue Hole.

 

[String]

I find the note about avoiding anything with camels a bit strange -Abu Galum and Ras Mamlah offers good diving, at least better than some of the local diving in Dahab. At least that was my experience.

From Nuweiba you can go all the way with a car, from Dahab these sites are best reached by camel from the Blue Hole.

Abu Galum has some "OK" diving although not on the same level as Gabr, Shugaryat and so on to the south. Not really worth the discomfort and effort to get a camel there. If you want to go there the best bet is a boat - its faster than a camel to get there, you have aircon, a sun deck, can move around, hot and cold drinks, breakfast and so on.
You'll struggle to find any operating going to Mamlah by camel from Dahab and only a few try it by boat (weather permitting).

 

[tacky]

Abu Galum has some "OK" diving although not on the same level as Gabr, Shugaryat and so on to the south. Not really worth the discomfort and effort to get a camel there. If you want to go there the best bet is a boat - its faster than a camel to get there, you have aircon, a sun deck, can move around, hot and cold drinks, breakfast and so on.
You'll struggle to find any operating going to Mamlah by camel from Dahab and only a few try it by boat (weather permitting).

I think we have to agree to disagree Although I also found Gabr el-bin a great dive site - will definitively explore more to the south of Dahab next time I get the chance.

The mornning walk to Abu Galum is nice and refreshing as long as you start really early. From Abu Galum it's just to grab the first and best beduin you find and get him to drive you to Mamlah in his 4W, easy peasy.

But I agree that going by boat would be more comfortable. However, I don't think there's any dive centers that runs this regularly?

Me, I like and enjoy the desert experience and had a great time staying two nights in Abu Galum. I apreciate that others might find it a bit out in the middle of nowhere and maybe too rustic...

 

[Red Sea Shadow]

Abu Galoum by camels is a totally different experience. It's not just about comfort. You can do daily boats virtually anywhere in the world, but where else can you do a desert trek (whether you ride or walk), have Bedouin food and drinks, along with some good (I'd say very good, depending on the dive guide) diving?

 

[Druid]

You don't mentioned your qualification so i'll assume advanced/2* similar level.

Everyone does bells to blue hole (its ok) and Canyon (i prefer the reef here...if its quiet).

Islands is nice for a last dive of day, shallow and coral. Eel Garden is nice if its not windy.

My favourite site is Abu Talha of the shore based ones. Although in my view by far the best diving involves a boat to Gabr El Bint to the south. Generally most centres will do that as a 3 dive day, Gabr north and south. If its not windy maybe Sha'ab Saeed or Shugaryat (sp?).

Avoid anything to do with camels - the diving reached by them isn't great and not worth the discomfort and abnormally long day!

Its quiet here at the moment, the easter rush is over. Guided groups are bigger than normal though due to mass staff shortage for lots of centres due to the work permit rules and so on.

Who are you diving with?

I got back home on Friday. Dahab was very quiet, but it meant that even the popular sites weren't too crowded.

The biggest group I dived with was 4 plus the guide, mostly it was just two of us and the guide. We didn't get the chance to do either the Islands or the Eel Garden, but I did a couple of dives that were new to me: Shoestump, just past the checkpoint on the Blue Hole road, and Rolfe's Reef, just before the Blue Hole. Both nice dives with good coral, the second was a bit of an awkward entry.

Saw a big green turtle in 31m at the Lighthouse, also a seahorse at the same site. Otherwise nothing exceptional, just easy laid back diving, which is why I go to Dahab.

Agree with you re: camels