Getting There
On the morning of February 3rd, we flew from Amsterdam to Sharm el Sheikh. Despite landing late in the afternoon, a taxi was ready to take us to our hotel just outside Dahab city. The one-hour, 80km ride south of Sharm el Sheikh took us through a stunning mountainous desert and many police checkpoints.
Diving in Dahab
We stayed at an all-inclusive hotel conveniently located next to our dive shop, Circle Divers. Over four days, we completed two shore dives each day, exploring some of Dahab’s best dive sites, including the Blue Hole & Bells and Coral Garden. During our surface intervals, we relaxed and enjoyed lunch at Bedouin cafés, often chatting with fellow divers. The food was fantastic, with plenty of vegetarian options available.
Mathijs and I wore 5mm wetsuits for our dives. I added a hood, a Sharkskin vest, and Bare exowear shorts under my Scubapro suit. Despite this, I still felt quite chilled about 20 minutes into the dive. Mathijs, on the other hand, with his Waterproof suit, didn’t feel as cold, even without a hood and extra protection under his suit. I guess I need a Waterproof suit next time!
We took two days off from diving to relax, either at the beach or exploring Dahab to get a taste of the local Bedouin culture. Dahab city is lively and laid-back, filled with numerous cafés, restaurants, and street markets. It attracts many backpackers and divers, with the streets bustling with young people.
Overall Impression
The diving experience was superb despite the cold. Since it was the low season, the hotel, dive shop, and dive spots were mostly deserted. The only exception was the Blue Hole & Bells dive site, which was quite busy at the entry. For the first two days, we had our guide all to ourselves. On the fourth and fifth days, two other divers joined us.
Returning Home
On February 10th, we flew back to Amsterdam. We took a taxi to Sharm el Sheikh Airport, once again passing through the desert and multiple checkpoints. This time, we were treated to a marvelous sunset that made the mountains in the desert glow a deep red.
Prices
- Taxi from Sharm to Dahab: €45
- Taxi from our hotel to Dahab city: Free (arranged by our hotel)
- Taxi from Dahab to Sharm: €30
All our taxis to and from the airport were arranged in advance by our dive shop.