130m
Max Depth
10km
From Dahab Town
Free
Entry for Snorkelers
~20min
Taxi Ride

What Is the Blue Hole?

The Blue Hole is a submarine sinkhole (technically a "blue hole") located on the Red Sea coast about 10km north of Dahab, Egypt. It's roughly 300 meters wide and drops to 130 meters at its deepest point. The opening at the surface is a near-perfect circle of deep blue water surrounded by a shallow coral reef — snorkeling from the rim is one of the most visually striking experiences in Egypt.

The site is free to visit and easy to reach. You can snorkel, swim on the surface or dive, depending on your certification level. The nearby Bedouin cafes make it a full-day trip rather than just a dive excursion.

⚠️ Safety Warning — Read This The Blue Hole has claimed the lives of over 130 divers, making it widely known as the "world's most dangerous dive site." The danger is specifically "The Arch" — a 26-metre long underwater passage at 56m depth that connects the Blue Hole to the open sea. Divers underestimate the depth and run out of air. Only experienced technical divers with proper training should attempt The Arch. Snorkeling and recreational diving on the rim (down to 30m) are completely safe.

Snorkeling the Blue Hole

Snorkeling from the surface is safe, beautiful and free. You can see 15–20 metres down into the blue water, watch the coral walls drop away into darkness, and swim alongside reef fish. The rim is shallow (3–8 metres) with excellent coral and visibility. Most visitors who aren't divers simply snorkel the rim and enjoy the dramatic colour contrast.

What you need: a mask, snorkel and fins (all rentable from the cafes for ~$5). No guide or certification required. You can enter via the "Saddle" — a shallow sandy area that's the easiest entry point.

Recreational Diving

With an Open Water or Advanced Open Water certification, you can dive the Blue Hole down to 30 metres along the inside wall. This is a stunning dive — dramatic coral formations, abundant fish life including Napoleon wrasse, and the eerie sense of looking down into the abyss below you. At this depth the actual danger (The Arch) is far below, so recreational diving here is well within safety limits.

Most Dahab dive centres run daily trips to the Blue Hole. Expect to pay $35–55 for a single-tank guided dive. The best centres for Blue Hole dives: Big Blue Diving and Nesima.

Technical Diving — The Arch

The Arch is the underwater passage at 56–56m depth that connects the Blue Hole to the open sea. It's 26 metres long and exits onto the outer reef wall. The dive is not inherently dangerous but requires: trimix gas (not air), technical diving certification, an experienced guide familiar with the site, and the discipline to abort if conditions aren't right.

Narcosis at depth causes divers to lose judgement. Many fatalities occurred when recreational divers attempted The Arch on air, overestimated their depth limit, and ran out of gas before exiting. If you want to dive The Arch, train with a technical centre like Big Blue Diving first.

How to Get There

The Blue Hole is 10km north of Dahab town on the coast road toward Nuweiba. Getting there:

  • Taxi: The most common option. Negotiate 100–150 EGP (~$2–3) from Dahab town. Agree the return fare or arrange a pickup time.
  • Minibus: Shared minibuses (microbuses) run along the coast road for 10–15 EGP. Slower and less reliable but very cheap.
  • Tuk-tuk: Available in Dahab, typically 80–120 EGP each way. Fun, slightly bumpy.
  • Bicycle: 10km along a coastal road — feasible in cooler months (Oct–Mar), brutal in summer. Rent bikes in Dahab for 50–100 EGP/day.
  • With your dive center: All dive centres offering Blue Hole dives include transport.

What's There

Beyond the water, the Blue Hole has:

  • Bedouin cafes: Several relaxed cafe-shacks serving tea, coffee, cold drinks, simple food and shisha. Sitting here after a dive or snorkel is a Dahab tradition. Expect 50–150 EGP for food and drinks.
  • Equipment rental: Mask, fins and snorkel available from the cafes and a small shop. ~$5 for the set.
  • Showers/changing: Basic facilities at the cafes (small fee).
  • Dive centre: Big Blue has a presence on site for pre-booked divers.

Best Time to Visit

The Blue Hole is accessible year-round. Water visibility is best March–May and September–November (25–30m). Summer (June–August) is hot on land (35–40°C) but water is warm (27–29°C). Winter (December–February) is cooler but still good — wear a wetsuit for diving.

Tip: Go early morning (before 10am) to beat tour groups from Sharm El Sheikh, who typically arrive mid-morning. By afternoon the site is often quieter again. The light is also much better for snorkeling in the morning.

The Blue Hole vs The Bells

Most experienced divers combine the Blue Hole with The Bells — a nearby dive site where you enter through a narrow chimney at the surface and drop down the outer wall. The circuit enters at The Bells, drops down the wall, swims through to the Blue Hole, then exits via the Saddle. One of the classic dives in Sinai.