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Good visibility, photogenic anemone fish, dramatic walls covered in coral and reef fish, nudibranchs, pipefish
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Sept-Oct and April-May for the best air temp/water temp combo (in summer the air temp is too hot, and in winter the water gets chilly)
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All dive sites are shore entry: The Blue Hole, Canyon, and Lighthouse house reef are some of my favourites
The vibes
Dahab is a smallish town on the eastern side of Egypt’s Sinai peninsula. As a friend said to me after leaving Dahab to visit Cairo “Dahab is like a little oasis”. Egypt can be hectic, but once you reach the middle of Dahab, you feel like you can breathe and relax. If you stay in the main Lighthouse or Eel Gardens area, everything you need is walkable, and there are tons of restaurants, coffee shops, yoga stations, scuba and freedive centers all along the waterfront. Most people staying in Dahab are there for the scuba or the freediving, so you will be amongst your tribe, and it’s easy to chat to new people and become a part of the community. Plus, if you love cats - this is the place for you!
Good to know
I found that the “main” area of town was the Lighthouse bay waterfront, and Al Fanar Street. Some accommodation and eateries existed along the waterfront north of the bay towards the Eel Garden area. But the waterfront south of the Lighthouse bay towards the lagoon was a bit desolate - lots of hotels (some half built) but it was like a ghost town with zero vibes. So stick to Lighthouse, Al Fanar Street, and Eel Garden for accommodation.
There is not really a proper beach in Dahab, but all the waterfront restaurants and cafes in Lighthouse have steps in to the ocean and beach loungers for sunbathing and relaxing.
Dahab is more chill than most places in Egypt, but you should plan to dress pretty modestly still when walking around town.
Top tips
The dive sites can get busy by mid morning so choose a dive centre/guide that likes to head out early so that you can have the site to yourself for the first dive!
The Lighthouse waterfront can be so peaceful in the morning - my favourite thing to do before a scuba or freedive session was to head down early, grab a coffee and sit on a lounger next to the ocean in the soft morning light. It’s a beautiful way to start the day before getting amped up for diving.
If you want to stay fit while in Dahab, head out for an early morning run along the waterfront path from Lighthouse to the Lagoon. The streets are empty and quiet, and the sun is still cool (well… just not blasting hot yet). There’s also a decent enough gym (Planet Gym) at the bottom of Al Fanar Street - I got a month pass when I was in Dahab which worked out pretty cheap.
Dive Providers
There’s a decent number of dive centers in Dahab to choose from, and knowing who to pick can be a little overwhelming. These are the ones I can personally recommend or have heard good reviews of from friends.
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I dived with Red Sea Relax during my time in Dahab (2024) and bought a 10-dive package with them to get a cheaper rate - I was able to book in dive days whenever I felt like it, rather than deciding ahead of time. The Instructors and Guides were all fantastic, and I liked diving with their female Egyptian dive guide. The guides here were always keen to head out early, to beat the other divers and get the site to ourselves. They have secure lockers on site for storing your dive gear, and a good wash tank. Red Sea Relax are located right on the Lighthouse waterfront near Al Fanar Street. They’re part of Red Sea Relax Resort, so you could do a combo dive-accommodation package.
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Located in Seeb Marina. Dive and snorkel trips. Recommended by a colleague of mine but not personally experienced.
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Located in Seeb Marina. Diving and snorkelling trips.
Where To Stay
From resorts with pools to Air BnBs or local rentals, there are many options for accommodation in Dahab, and the right choice will depend on how long you are staying and your budget.
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Air BnBs can be found all throughout Dahab. I stayed in one for a month located on Al Fanar street which I found to be perfect - close enough to everything (1-4 minute walk) but a bit quieter and cheaper than the waterfront hotels. This also gave me a self-catering option and a washing machine.
Eel Garden area would also be a good option for more affordable but nice units, although you’re a little further out from the center - about 10-15 minute walk or a short bike ride.
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If you’re planning to stay in Dahab for several months for freedive training etc., it might be worth securing accommodation for the first week of your stay and then seeking out a local rental for a better longer term deal. Once in Dahab, you can talk to locals, or freedive/Scuba instructors to scope out longer term rentals or house shares, or keep an eye out for flyers around town advertising rental units.
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There are quite a few resort style accommodations spread out along the waterfront from Lighthouse down to the Lagoon. As mentioned previously, I found the further you are from the center of Lighthouse, the less vibes there are. However, there’s a few nice looking resorts in Lighthouse. Red Sea Relax and Planet Oasis are adjoining resorts which look nice, clean, with a pool, and share a site with Red Sea Relax dive centre and Dahab Freedivers. The perfect location!
If you want more of a luxury beach resort vibe, and don’t mind being a bit outside the center, there’s a few resorts on the Lagoon with nice sandy beaches, such as Dahab Lagoon Club & Resort, or Safir Dahab Resort.
Land-based Fun
The main purpose for a trip to Dahab is undoubtedly scuba and freediving, and the most service providers are centered around these activities. However, there is some land-based fun to be found. Check it out below:
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The Lagoon south of Lighthouse is a kitesurfing hub. Whether you already kitesurf, or you want to take lessons, then head down to the Lagoon (~20 minute walk or take a taxi). There’s a couple of kitesurf schools/rental shops here.
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There’s a few hiking trails in the desert right outside of town. If you have or download the All Trails app, you’ll see several on the map. Download the map for offline use before heading out. I was travelling with a male friend so I felt more confident getting a taxi to drop us off at the end of a dirt road to start a hike, but that worked pretty well. We then hiked back to town afterwards, but you could arrange a time/place with the taxi for pickup after. We ended up hiking up a big rocky hill/mini mountain which gave us an awesome view of Dahab and the coastline.
Just be smart - make sure you have your offline trail maps, take plenty of water, wear sun protection, wear proper shoes (the terrain is often loose rubble or steep slopes), and plan for early morning so you can be finished before the sun gets too hot. Ideally, tell someone in town where you are going too and when they can expect you back. If in doubt, book onto an organised hike with a local guide,.
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You’ll find plenty of people along Lighthouse Bay offering organised tours for things like visiting St Catherine’s Monastery, oasis trips, 4×4 desert tours etc.
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You’ll find plenty of tacky stores along Lighthouse Bay for souvenirs and clothing. A few more authentic crafty type local stores can be found on a street in south Lighthouse (go over the wooden bridge, and veer right at the triangle type square with the fast food restaurants). Don’t forget to practice your haggling!
Dahab
Overview:
Dahab means shore diving, the famous Blue Hole, walls, canyons, and plenty of pretty reef fish. As the reef runs right along the shore, and drops off to hundreds of meters depth, Dahab is also a big tech diving town.
How to get there:
Fly in to Sharm El Sheikh airport and catch a taxi for the ~1.5 hour journey north to Dahab.
Dive sites:
The Lighthouse house reef (which is pretty decent) in the north of the bay and also some artificial reefs in the south of the bay (Mashraba) are the closest dive sites to town - mere steps away (or a casual ~4 minute walk through town in full dive gear) depending on which shop you’re diving with. Other sites like The Blue Hole, Canyon, Tiger Reef and Islands are a short drive away - you’ll load in to a 4x4 truck and head along the coastline to the entry point.
Exposure suit:
Your needs will vary drastically depending on the season. Peak summer (August) you can probably get away with rash vest as the water can reach 29C. Autumn (September-November) and Spring (May-July) is 3mm territory. Early and late winter (November, December, March, April) you’ll want a 5mm, and in the depths of winter (January-February) when the water can drop to ~22C, I’d recommend a 7mm or drysuit to be comfortable. I dived Dahab in November and December and was cold in my 3mm wetsuit with hood. I borrowed a 5mm from the dive shop, but they didn’t have one that fit properly and it didn’t keep me any warmer - so definitely bring your own wetsuit if you have.
Visibility:
Visibility is pretty good year round, but peaks in summer and autumn.
When to visit:
I think May-June and September-October is the sweet spot to visit, as it intersects manageable air and water temperatures. However, to escape the cold European climate, Dahab is still an excellent choice in the winter; just bring a dryrobe to stay toasty on your surface interval/post-dive, a hoody for the evenings, and a thick wetsuit.
