The hole in the reef
A deep blue pool ringed by reef on the Gulf of Aqaba shore. Snorkeling here is the first stop of our Dahab day, with the gear included.
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Dahab · Abu Galum protectorate, Dahab
The Blue Hole, Dahab
A reef-ringed dive and snorkeling site on the Gulf of Aqaba coast at Dahab, inside the Abu Galum protectorate.
About Blue Hole
The Blue Hole is a dive and snorkeling site on the Gulf of Aqaba coast at Dahab, in South Sinai. It lies inside the Abu Galum protectorate, declared in 1992 and covering 425.7 km², and Egypt's environment minister calls it one of the most important diving sites in the world.
The Gulf of Aqaba is part of the East African Rift System and lies in a cleft between hills that rise abruptly to about 2,000 feet (600 meters); Dahab is the only sheltered harbor along it. To protect the Blue Hole's reefs, the environment ministry has ordered a plan to develop services there, a waste system for the protectorate and electronic payment of the entry fee.
A short history
- Old DahabExcavations from 1990 to 1993 on El Mashraba hill in Dahab uncovered a lighthouse inside a great fort with Byzantine foundations, a site Egypt lists on UNESCO's Tentative List.
- 1992Abu Galum was declared a protectorate, covering 425.7 km² of South Sinai, for the sustainable use of its natural resources.
- September 2025The environment minister inspected Abu Galum and the Blue Hole, called it one of the most important diving sites in the world and ordered a waste-management system for the protectorate.
- April 2026On a second visit the minister checked the electronic collection of entry fees and called for a full plan to develop services at the Blue Hole while stopping practices that harm the coral.
What you'll see
The coral
The ministry's measures at the Blue Hole aim to keep irresponsible activities by visiting groups off its coral reefs.
Getting there and how the visit runs
Drive to the site
| From Dahab hotels | 9.7 km · about 14 min |
|---|
Without traffic, from our tours' map routing
On our Dahab day you snorkel at the Blue Hole first, with the gear included, then drive 9.7 km into the desert for a quad bike ride and a camel ride before the transfer back to your hotel. Transport is a private air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking guide; lunch is optional and not included.
Before you go
What to wear and bring
- Swimwear and a towel
- Sun protection and a hat
- Modest clothes in town: resort dress norms do not apply elsewhere
Photos
- Drones need permission from Egypt's Ministry of Defence
- Ask before photographing people
Questions about Blue Hole
Is there a Blue Hole in Dahab?
Yes. The Blue Hole is on the coast at Dahab, inside the Abu Galum protectorate in South Sinai, and Egypt's environment minister calls it one of the most important diving sites in the world.
Is Egypt a good place for scuba diving?
The Sinai coast is known for it: clear water and extensive coral reefs made Sharm El Sheikh a popular site for snorkeling and scuba diving, and Egypt's environment ministry ranks the Blue Hole among the most important diving sites in the world.
How to reach Dahab in Egypt?
By road from Sharm El Sheikh: 99.7 km, about 85 minutes without traffic on our tours' routing. Our Cairo-by-plane day from Dahab flies from Sharm El Sheikh.
Can you snorkel at the Blue Hole?
Yes. Snorkeling at the Blue Hole is the first stop on our Dahab day, 9.7 km from your hotel, and the gear is included.
Do you pay to enter the Blue Hole?
The Blue Hole is inside the Abu Galum protectorate, whose entry fees are collected electronically. The ministry's pages do not publish the current fee.
Sources: Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency; Encyclopaedia Britannica; UNESCO World Heritage Centre; UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
Day tours
Tours that stop at Blue Hole
Guides
Read before you go
- Dahab day trips: the Blue Hole, Mount Sinai or Cairo?Snorkeling and a desert ride near town, a night climb, or a flight to Cairo: three days from Dahab.
Sharm El Sheikh day trips: Tiran, the desert or Mount Sinai?A boat day, a desert ride, an evening in Old Sharm, a night climb or a flight: Sharm day tours compared.