DAHAB - RED SEA - EGYPT
The name Dahab means ‘gold’ in English and the inhabitants chose it because of the shimmering gold-coloured sandy coast. The region of Dahab stretches across a wide plateau of rock and sand at the end of Wadi Nasab and emerged from a small oasis where Bedouins once settled. Diving camps were set up in the areas around this inconspicuous little town, and then in the past few years developed into a diving and holiday paradise. The little Bedouin village of Dahab, once known as a place for hippies and drop-outs, is about 75 km from Sharm el Sheikh on the East coast of the Sinai Peninsula and is surrounded by a bizarre high mountainous landscape. Nowadays in the center of the little Bedouin town Assalah, which is only a few minutes taxi ride from the hotels by the lagoon, there's a great array of cosy bars, typical Shisha eating places, little restaurants and lots of shops all situated along the seafront.
DIVING IN DAHAB
Dahab lies alongside the deepest section of the African rift, the giant crack in the earth’s crust that formed the Red Sea. The jagged mountains above, continue at much the same angle underwater, forming a dramatic seascape of valleys, canyons and caves. Most of Dahab’s dive-spots are geologically unique. Worldwide-known dive-sites like the Canyon, an impressive gorge on the bottom of the sea and the Blue Hole, a circular 50 m wide hole with a depth of a few hundred meters, are Dahab’s main attractions.
Sport divers are allowed to explore the two sites to a maximum depth of 30 m. To dive the deeper section of these fascinating formations one has to be a TEC-diver, using special gas-mixtures. Diving in Dahab is shore-diving. With a few exceptions you simply drive along the shore by jeep or pick-up truck, gear up at the beach and start your dive. When entering the water one has to be careful, especially with high waves and during low tide. Some dive sites are only accessible by camel. The drive through the picturesque Sinai Mountains is an experience for itself.
The most northern dive-site is “The Bell” and in the south “The Caves”. Ras Abu Galum and Gabr El Bint can only be reached by camel. The diving day with 2- 3 dives starts at 9am and ends at a around 5pm. Depending on the dive-site lunch is taken either at the Hotel or in one of the coffee-shops the beach. Night dives, exciting drift-dives or day excursions by jeep and camel extend the program. Two-day camel-safaris, trips to Ras Mohamed, the Straits of Tiran and the wreck of the Thistlegorm can be organized on request.
Masbat is in the center of the Assalah Bay. Here there are small, comfortable and reasonably priced hotels, camp sites, restaurants and souvenir shops.
Flora and Fauna: Due to the slightly colder water, coral growth is quite different than in Sharm El Sheikh. The dominant species are Acropora, Brain- and Stonecoral, Leather- and Blackcoral. Only occasionally you will come across Softcorals. Fishlife is represented by the typical Red Sea Reefdwellers, Trigger and Surgeonfish, all kind of Groupers, Emperor- and Parrotfish. With some luck you can observe Pelagius, such as Jackfish, Barracudas or even a Reefshark. All along the Sinai coast stretches a wide barrier reef. It made Dahab popular for its shore-diving.
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