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Diving in Dahab with Active is like having a
massage at work. You will find a Bedouin fishing village used
by hippies for a while to relax and dive in. It is now changing into
a major new tourist spot for UK and Irish divers.
“Dahab was so
relaxed. I reckon I got the best of Egypt here, nice people and incredible
diving. I loved the local restaurant you sent me to, and felt safe
seeing your sign there. It was more like entertainment than a meal!” Sarah
Squire
Dahab is one of the most versatile diving locations
in the world. The sites combine coral garden, arches, canyons and caves,
with a huge diversity of reef fish and invertebrates, as well as turtles,
rays, moray eels, octopus, and larger fish including Napoleon fish, Barracuda, small
sharks and dolphins. 20% of our fauna, and 50% of our Butterfly
fish, are found nowhere else in the world. Scroll down for the dive sites
in dahab.
Other dive sites include:
Eel Garden, Abu Helal, The Hutts, The Islands, Lighthouse, Tia
Maria, Rick's Reef, Southern Oasis, Golden Blocks, Glassfish Pinnacle,
Three Pools, Om Sid, the Caves and more!
Diving conditions in
Dahab are ideal for learning to dive or extending your training. The
underwater topography and dive sites are ideal for all speciality courses,
from canyons to reefs, diving in dahab is perfect for all levels.
The History of Dahab
Dahab 15 years ago was a simple Bedouin village with a Mosque
and a few camp sites for the local people to stay whilst socialising,
fishing, and trading. Soon after backpackers began to visit Dahab for
the experience of living in Bedouin tents and experience this Bedouin
culture . Soon after this divers discovered many unique and world-class
dive sites. Diving in dahab grew and grew and now diving in dahab is
one of the most famous locations in the world, holding 2 of the top 20
dive sites in the world. In recent years Dahab has grown some infrastructure
for 3* to 5* comfort, allowing tourists to enjoy its magic and mystery
in comfort. Dahab is unlikely to come another Sharm el Sheikh, the locals
have a strong hold and want to keep it traditional.
Dahab sits on the edge of the awe inspiring Sinai Mountains
and overlooks the the mountains of Saudi Arabia 28km away
Dahab Centre
Dahab has a main centre, where you will find a selection of restaurants
and bars spread along it. The food is fantastic and the restaurants
are Bedouin style, leaving you balancing on a few cushions whilst eating
your food. A massive advantage of diving in dahab is that you will
not get hassled as much as other places in Egypt.
For More Photos of Dahab...click here
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Water temperature: |
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20°C
(68°F) in February to 27°C (81°F) from July to October |
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Wet
Suit?: |
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3mm
or 5mm wetsuit (November - April), shorty for rest of the year |
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Visibility: |
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20
- 60 metres (65 - 200 feet), 30 - 40 metres (100 - 130 feet) on
average |
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Type
of diving: |
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Reefs,
walls, wrecks |
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Marine
life: |
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Turtles,
blue spotted rays, jacks, snappers, barracudas, lionfish, reef
fish, colourful coral |
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When
to go: |
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Any
time of year, although if you are after really warm water it is
best to visit the Red Sea between June and September. Air temperatures
reach 40°C (104°F) in August and fall to 20°C (68°F)
in the winter, which may also dictate when you travel. |
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Requirements: |
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Entry
visas are required when visiting Egypt. These can be purchased
at the airport itself at a cost of about $25 USD / £15 GBP.
Sharm El Sheikh from the UK - Direct five hour flights from Gatwick
and Manchester on Sundays. Dahab is 90km from Sharm. |
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More Information on Diving in the Dahab and the Red
Sea:
Scuba diving in Dahab is shore-based,
and home to the famous Blue Hole. It has a really laid back atmosphere,
but its standards are still catching up with European standards, so it's
important to follow our advice when booking a diving holiday in Dahab.
Between 20 o C and 28 o C water temperature
Ideal training topographies (sand and reef)
Visibility average 25 metres
Average tidal change of 2 metres
Year-round diving and sunshine
5mm one or two piece wetsuit used by most
Large life around in the Summer (Sharks and Manta rays)
Egyptian and Bedouin local culture
Some of the most diverse marine life on the planet
Common Questions (Answers below)
Where is the Red Sea ?
Why is the scuba diving in the Red Sea so good?
What fish and ocean life will I see?
What after-diving fun can I expect?
Does it have year-round sunshine?
Is the diving the same year-round?
What equipment will I need to dive in the Red Sea ?
Where is the Red Sea
?
The Red Sea separates the north east coastline of the African continent
from Saudi Arabia and the Middle East .The Gulf of Aqaba and the Gulf of
Suez around the Sinai peninsular come together creating the northern most
point of the Red Sea, and at its most southern point meets the Indian Ocean
. Only 5 hours flight from the UK , the Sinai peninsular is surrounded by
Egypt , the Gaza strip, Jordan and Saudi Arabia . The Red Sea also flows
past the Sudan , Eritrea , Djibouti and Yemen coastlines.
Why is the scuba diving in the Red Sea so
good?
The higher salt content and protected topography of the Red Sea
has allowed hard corals to grow over thousands of years. Heat from the
deep Median trench (reaching a depth of 2,850 metres) beneath the Red Sea
, warms the water to a much higher temperature at depth (21 o C at 1,000
metres where normally the Ocean temperature is 6 o C). The high mineral
content, warm temperatures and year-round sunshine have created one of
the most bio-diverse seas in the world.
What fish and ocean life will I see
diving in the Red Sea ?
Hopefully will see: Dolphins,
grey reef sharks, manta rays, white tips, scalloped hammerheads & turtles! Normally
always see: Blue spotted eagle & sting rays,
lionfish, yellow clown fish, napoleon fish, large moray eels, yellow and
blue masked butterfly fish, emperor angel fish, giant triggerfish, steep
headed parrot fish, stone fish, bluespine unicorn fish, shoal surgeon fish,
bluegreen pullers, octopi, blackfin barracudas, large shoals of jacks,
red antheas, lined butterfly fish, nudibranchs, fan corals and much, much
more...
Sighted on occasion: Whale
sharks, tiger sharks and whales.
What after-diving
fun can I expect?
Diving is a social sport. The Red Sea is a very social place, with Sharm
el Sheikh being quite lively and upbeat, and Dahab a more relaxed and laid-back
place. It has plenty of bars and restaurants. Locals and tourists mix freely,
and our divers and instructors often spend time in the evening over a beer
discussing the days dive, and anything that comes to mind! Some divers
prefer time alone, and relax with a nice evening meal watching the sunset.
All rooms have a few sky channels.
Does the Red Sea have year-round sunshine?
Yes! Being far closer to the equator (on the same latitude as the Sahara
Desert ) it is hotter, and has only two seasons. The Sinai peninsular air
temperature ranges between 20 o C and 40 o C, has an average humidity of
55% and an annual rainfall of 250mm. So, it is hot and sunny year-round.
Is the diving the same year-round?
The visibility is fairly consistent – around 30 metres. During the
winter months you will see less divers, but also less large predators and
Manta rays. The spring season brings hundreds of baby fish, so the visibility
drops a little. The summer is the best time go scuba diving in red sea
and see large marine life, especially for diving in sharm el sheikh.
What equipment will
I need to dive in the Red Sea?
Most divers use anything from a 3mm shorty to a 5mm one or two piece wetsuit.
If you get cold quickly use a 5mm, especially in the winter months. DSMB's
are generally not needed (non-tech diving) but of course it's always safer
if you have one. Torches are great for the many crevices and coral heads.
Adjustable strap fins and wet boots definitely recommended over full foot
fins. Contact us for more information.
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