Overview

The Blue Hole is Dahab's most famous site: a deep sinkhole in the reef about 8 km north of town, with coral growing right up to the surface around its rim. It is just as rewarding from the surface as it is for divers. The usual snorkel route starts at the Bells, a short walk north along the shore. You enter the water there and drift south with the current along a steep reef wall, then swim into the Blue Hole over the Saddle — a shallow gap in its seaward rim, about 6 metres deep — and finish along the inside of the rim. You stay on the surface the whole time. The Arch, the tunnel that gives the Blue Hole its dangerous reputation, lies 55 metres down and only concerns deep divers; memorial plaques on the shore remember the divers who died there. Your guide chooses the route on the day according to the current and the sea, and afterwards you can have tea or lunch at one of the Bedouin cafés on the shore.

Highlights

  • Snorkel Dahab's most famous site with a guide who reads the current
  • Drift from the Bells along a steep reef wall into the Blue Hole
  • Swim over the Saddle, the shallow gap in the hole's seaward rim
  • Bedouin cafés on the shore for tea or lunch afterwards

What's included

Included

  • Hotel pickup and drop-off in Dahab
  • Snorkelling guide in the water
  • Mask, snorkel and fins

Not included

  • Entrance fee (about $20–25 per person, US dollar cash)
  • Food and drinks at the Bedouin cafés
  • Tips

Meeting point & location

Meeting point

Hotel pickup in Dahab.

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Good to know

Run by
Ask Dahab partner guides
What to bring
Swimwear · Towel · Sunscreen · US dollar cash for the entrance fee
How booking works:

Pick your date and group size and hit Request to book — there is no payment online. We check availability with the local operator and confirm within a few hours, then you pay them directly on the day. Prices shown are indicative and confirmed before you commit.

Safety & cancellation

Cancellation

You don't pay anything when you request a date, so there's no deposit and nothing to refund. If your plans change, message us on WhatsApp as early as you can so we can free up the spot with the operator. Some operators may have their own on-the-day policy for very last-minute changes — we'll flag it if it applies to your booking.

Safety

Every experience runs through an established local operator: PADI/SSI-certified instructors for diving and freediving, IKO-certified instructors for kitesurfing, and experienced Bedouin guides for desert, mountain and camel trips. Safety equipment is included wherever the activity needs it — see What's Included above for specifics — and group sizes are capped so guides can keep an eye on everyone.

Why book with Ask Dahab

Why book with Ask Dahab

Local, vetted operators

We only work with dive centres, guides and boats already established in Dahab — the same operators you'd find if you spent a week asking around town.

No online payment, no risk

Requesting a date costs nothing and takes no card details. You pay the operator directly, in person, on the day.

Real replies, not a bot

A person checks availability with the operator and gets back to you on WhatsApp, usually within a few hours.

Transparent pricing

The price shown is the indicative local price. We confirm the exact total with you before you commit to anything.

Run this experience? List your business on Ask Dahab

FAQ

Is it safe to snorkel the Blue Hole if I'm not a diver?
Yes, if you stay on the surface and swim with a guide. The danger at the Blue Hole comes from deep diving — the Arch is 55 metres down — not from snorkelling. Part of the route passes over deep water, so you should be a confident swimmer. Never snorkel alone, and stay close to the reef rather than heading out over the drop-off.
How much is the Blue Hole entrance fee?
Foreign visitors pay about $20–25 per person (2026), split between the road checkpoint and the site. It is paid in US dollar cash, so bring clean, undamaged notes. The fee is not included in the trip price and changes from time to time — we confirm the current amount when you book.
Can children come?
Tell us your child's age and swimming level when you book. The guide decides on the day, depending on the sea conditions.
Blue Hole or Three Pools — which should I choose?
Three Pools has calm, shallow, sheltered water and is the easier choice for families and nervous swimmers. The Blue Hole has deep water and a reef wall, so it suits confident swimmers who want to see Dahab's most famous site.
Do I need my own snorkel gear?
No. Mask, snorkel and fins are included. You are welcome to bring your own if you prefer.

Plan around this experience

Useful Dahab guides to build the rest of your trip: