GENERAL INFORMATION

Dahab is a small Bedouin town, located approximately 100km north of Sharm el Sheikh. Dahab has a very relaxing atmosphere and is a very peaceful place. Dahab means "Gold" in Arabic, referring to its beautiful golden beaches. Everything is normally much cheaper in Dahab than Sharm and for this reason is popular with backpackers. The dive sites in Dahab are also different and unique, compared to those found in Sharm el Sheikh.

ITINERARY

We start our day early, with departure from the Dive Africaat 6:30am. We then head for Dahab which is approximately 1 hour drive. Upon arrival in Dahab do we head for the famous Canyon dive site first. After the first dive do we then have a surface interval and transfer to the Blue Hole for our second dive. We normally finish the second dive by around 12:30pm, after which we head to Dahab town for the rest of the afternoon. In Dahab town will you have the opportunity to eat lunch at one of the many beautiful restaurants located right on the beach. The afternoon can be spent relaxing on the beach or exploring Dahab's town. Other activities in Dahab: Snorkeling, horse riding, camel rides, windsurfing, kite surfing...
At 17:00pm the bus departs, arriving in Sharm el Sheikh at around 18:00pm.

THE DIVES

Dive 1 - The Blue Hole

The Blue Hole is literally a hole in the shallow reef plate, that is approximately 150 meters wide, with a maximum depth of 110 meters. The Blue Hole is then connected to the open sea, via a shallow channel which is about 7 meters deep.

We normally do the dive as a drift dive. We start the dive at a site called, the Bells. The Bells is almost like a "chimney" or crack in the reef, starting at the surface and then dropping vertically down. You normally enter the Bells at the surface, descending through the "chimney", to a depth of 30 meters where you exit. It is possible to exit at any time during the descend as the "chimney" is open at almost all the way down. We then head south toward the Blue Hole, diving along a beautiful wall with amazing hard corals. Close to the end of the dive will we reach the shallow channel and then enter to the Blue Hole. Once in the Blue Hole will we traverse across the center, giving a free floating blue water experience, where no walls or bottom can be seen!

Dive 2 - Canyon dive site

The Canyon dive site is done as a shore dive. The reef is characterized by a deep wide canyon, that cuts into the reef floor. Some area's of the canyon is enclosed and it is only possible to enter and exit the Canyon from a couple of points. We normally enter the Canyon from an opening which is located at a depth of 20 meters. Descending through the opening you reach a sandy bottom at around 30 meters. We then follow the canyon, heading shallower towards the "fish bowl", an enclosed circular cavern, and then exiting through an exit point at around 12 meters. The Fish bowel is normally full of glassfish. We then spend the rest of the dive exploring the nice coral gardens around the site. The site offers easy entry / exit via a shallow lagoon, which has an opening to the main reef. It is also possible to spot seamoths in the lagoon, which is rarely seen at other dive sites.

 

Cost: Euro 75 per person
Minimum 6 persons
 
Included: tanks, weights, belt, guide, 2 dives at Dahab and transfers to/from.
 
Excluded: Any other equipment rented, lunch and softdrinks.Chamber fees.

GENERAL INFORMATION
 
 Located 25 km north of Sharm El Sheikh, Nabq is a region of contrasts. From the high mountains in the North, to rolling dune systems of the South, to the rich coral environment where the desert meets the sea, Nabq provides varied and in some cases unique landscapes and habitats. The park covers a massive area 600 2 km.

The marine life of Nabq is particularly rich, from the reefs which stretch the entire length of the coast with their diverse coral communities and large fish populations, to the well developed sea grass beds, in particular, in front of the visitor center and the shrimp farm. The coral reefs is probably some of the best on offer in the Red Sea, with an abundance of smaller marine life.

The coastline of Nabq, as well as exhibiting a well developed coral reef system, is fringed by 4.8 km of mangrove forest. This mangrove which is composed of just one species of tree, Avicennia marina, is very fragile. In addition, being the most northerly in the Red Sea / Indian Ocean system, it is worthy of protection. Mangrove forests play an important role in shoreline protection and are vital as fish breeding and nursery areas. They also support a large resident bird population, as well as providing a rest stop for migratory birds.

The Itinerary
 
We start off from Sharm El Sheikh at around 9:00am in the morning and then drive for approximately 50 minutes before we reach the first dive site. The scenery is really beautiful, and gives one a very good idea of what Sharm El Sheikh was about 15 years ago. At some places it is possible to watch the tracks of wild gazelle that past earlier in the day....
 
The first dive is made at Ras Tantur. After that we have a short surface interval and transfer to Naklet El Tal for the second dive. After all the dives are finished we visit a Bedouin restaurant for light refreshments, before returning to Sharm at around 15:30 pm.
 
The atmosphere of Nabq is really special, normally no other divers, cars etc. just pure nature.
 

The Dives
 
Dive 1 - Ras Tantur
This reef is a very nice fringing reef with an excellent variety of hard and some soft corals. Fish are general smaller than what is found in Sharm El Sheikh, but in vast in varieties, shapes and colours. The reef starts at the surface dropping down to 12 - 16 meters on a sloping sandy bottom. Corals are really dense and profuse and is in a state of phenomenal preservation.
 
The particular site also boasts the one of the widest ranges of species in the whole of Sinai... Other interesting marine life includes: blue spotted stingray's, stone fish, lionfish, scorpion fish, frogfish, garden eels, moray eels etc...
 
Dive 2 - Naklet El Tal
The entry to this reef involves a walk over part of a sea grass bed. The actual reef is not very deep, between 0,5 meter to 14 meters. The reef consists of massive boulders of hard coral formations, with sea grass in between. The effect with all the different colours from the corals mixing with the sea grass fields is really amazing.
 
Fish life here is also rich, with a big variety of pipefish including the ghost pipefish. You will also have a good chance of seeing seahorses. This is a very relaxing dive with absolutely no currents. It blends in perfectly with the relaxing atmosphere of Nabq!
 
Interesting marine life that can be seen includes: Turtle's, huge variety of pipefish, jacks, wrasse, groupers, stonefish, lionfish, moray eels.
 

Cost: Euro 75 per person
Minimum 6 persons
 
Included: tanks, weights, belt, guide, 2 dives at Nabq and transfers to/from. Entrance fees.
 
Excluded: Any other equipment rented, lunch and softdrinks.Chamber fees.