One of the best shore diving spots in the red sea is Dahab home to the infamous blue hole.
Flying into Sharm el-Sheikh. Dahab is about 50 miles to the northeast along the coast. The old Beduin village has become a real hotspot for all kinds of water sports not just diving with a number of sailing, windsurfing, and kitesurfing schools on the large lagoon bordered by many large high-end hotels. But I was there to go diving.
As all the sites are shore dives you normally get driven there by 4x4 with your gear and dive guide. At most sites, there will be a small notice board telling you the name of the site the safe entry points, and the route. A great idea for your logbook.
A short drive up the coast brings you to the Blue hole bay bordered by Beduin cafes.
Which are great for an after dive coffee, snack, or just paying with the resident kittens
The Blue hole is one of the most famous dive sites in the world and possibly one of the most dangerous with around 200 deaths over the years, mostly young and macho men.
So what makes the Blue Hole so dangerous is probably the Arch and tunnel that opens to the sea at around 57m well beyond recreational diving limits for most of the visitors and certainly not to be attempted on a single cylinder of air which most of the fatalities have been attempted on at 50 plus meters air consumption from the cylinder is horrendously fast combined with the confusion caused by Nitrogen Narcoiss from breathing compressed air at that depth.
More in keeping with recreational dives is a site called el Bells which is a short walk past the blue hole where you pass placks to some of those that have tempted by the lure of the Blue Hole,
This will bring you to a small crack in the reef wall where you enter a narrow chimney to descend the site gets its name from the sound of divers cylinders banging on the reef wall as they go down.
Once you emerge from the crack at around 30m you are treated to a very pleasant swim along the reef wall back to the saddle on the Bue Hole where you can cross back into the lagoon.
Another option if you feeling adventurous is a camel dive where local Beduins load your gear onto camels ad take you a few miles up the coast to some of the less explored sites.
it is certainly a great way to see some pristine reefs and huge drop-offs
So all you diving Hivers if you have never been to Egypt and want to get away from the tourist traps of Sharm try Dahab for some of the best shore diving in the Red Sea.