Diving Spot of the Day: Dahab Blue Hole, Egypt — Freediving's Most Iconic and Controversial Site
The Dahab Blue Hole is a 100-meter-deep circular sinkhole in the Red Sea, famous for its electric blue color, the legendary Arch passage at 56m, and a history that commands both reverence and caution.
Why the Blue Hole Has Its Reputation
The Blue Hole at Dahab, Egypt is arguably the single most famous freediving site in the world — and also the most sobering. A near-perfectly circular sinkhole roughly 60 meters in diameter, it drops to 100 meters before opening into the open Red Sea via a submerged arch at a depth of 56 meters. The Arch is the feature that defines the Blue Hole's legend and its risk: it draws in experienced divers who attempt to pass through it and exit on the ocean side on a single breath. The site's disproportionately high accident rate among visiting divers earned it the grim nickname "Divers' Cemetery" — though that history applies almost entirely to divers pushing beyond their training depth, not to the majority of recreational freediving that takes place here.
For the vast majority of visitors, the Blue Hole is extraordinarily beautiful and approachable. The inner wall of the hole is covered in coral and hosts reef fish, moray eels, lionfish, and occasional octopus. The Saddle — a shallower opening near the surface on the ocean side — is accessible to trained freedivers at around 8–12 meters and provides dramatic views looking up through the opening at the blue above. The water clarity is among the best in the Red Sea, often exceeding 30 meters.
What to Do at the Blue Hole
Most freediving visitors spend time on static practice in the calm interior, working on equalization training along the buoy line, and exploring the upper portions of the wall down to 20–30 meters. The adjacent Bell dive site, connected to the Blue Hole via an inland trail, offers a chimney entry descending to 26 meters and is a popular side excursion. Night diving is occasionally permitted and produces excellent encounters with reef species that are inactive during the day.
Getting There from Korea
Flights: From Incheon International Airport (ICN), fly to Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport (SSH) with connections through Dubai (Emirates), Doha (Qatar Airways), or Cairo (EgyptAir). Flight time is approximately 12–14 hours with one connection. From Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab is a 90-minute taxi ride north along the Gulf of Aqaba coast. Budget airlines including EasyJet, Ryanair, and TUI connect European hubs to Sharm in high season.
Where to Stay
Budget: Dahab is famous for its backpacker-friendly camps right on the Blue Hole plateau — Bedouin camps with basic rooms and sea views from $20–40/night. Mid-range: Blue Hole Divers, Freedom Divers, and several established operations offer accommodation packages. Practical note: Dahab's Old Town has excellent cheap restaurants and coffee shops along the waterfront; the local Bedouin-influenced cuisine (fresh fish, ful, koshary) is inexpensive and excellent.
Practical Notes
Water temperature: 21–28°C depending on season; a 5mm wetsuit covers most months. Best time: October–May for mild air temperatures; summer months (July–August) are extremely hot on land. Safety rule: Never attempt the Arch without a qualified guide, confirmed deep equalization ability, and proven no-fins capability at depth. The enjoyment ceiling for a recreational freediver is around 30–40m inside the hole, which is more than enough for most.