Updated for 2026 · An honest, safety-first look at Dahab's most famous — and most misunderstood — dive site.
The Blue Hole is a submarine sinkhole on Dahab's coast, roughly 130m deep, connected to the open sea by a shallow archway known as "the Saddle" at around 6-7m and an opening known as "the Arch" at around 55-56m. Most recreational diving happens in the shallower rim and reef around the hole itself, not the hole's full depth.
The Blue Hole is sometimes called one of the world's most dangerous dive sites, and it has a documented history of diver fatalities. It's important to understand why: nearly all recorded incidents involve divers attempting the Arch — a deep, technical passage requiring proper training, gas planning, and often trimix certification — without that training, frequently while diving alone or without a guide, and sometimes chasing depth records.
Open Water divers (18m limit): the rim and shallow reef area, always with a guide. Advanced Open Water (30m): slightly deeper reef sections, still with a guide, never solo. Technical/Trimix certified divers only: the Arch itself — this is not something to attempt without the specific technical certification and an experienced local guide, regardless of how experienced you are elsewhere.
Most guided Blue Hole trips depart Dahab by boat or a short drive, brief divers on the site and any current conditions, then guide a reef dive along the rim for 40-50 minutes at depths matched to the group's certification level, before a safety stop and surface interval.
Only book the Blue Hole through a center that assigns a dedicated guide for every dive here, checks your certification level before accepting the booking, and won't take beginners past their depth limit "for an extra fee." Every center listed on ScubaDahab meets this standard.