Diving in Dahab

I've been AWOL for a little while, thanks to a wonderful trip back to Egypt and the town that inspired me to write Trouble in Paradise. I spent some time diving while I was out there, and thought I'd post a couple of videos to take you on a trip under the water and experience some of the dive sites I wrote about.

 

Big thanks to the talented Jack Tomkins for the wonderful camera skills.

First a visit to Canyon followed by the Blue Hole:

Canyon is reached by travelling in a truck to the north of Dahab (no road!) From there, relax at a bedouin cafe before heading into the water. The entrance to the Canyon itself is about 20m deep
, but the swim to and from it is also beautiful. Last year I saw an eagle ray in the sandy lagoon at the start.

The Blue Hole is one of the world's most famous dive sites, and also one of the most dangerous. My favourite way to get there is to drop through the chimney at El Bells, where you pop out at around 26m into a wall of blue. The reefs spectacular, with large elephant ear coral, and if you're lucky you'll get a visit from a cleaner wrasse.

Followed by a couple of dives from the boat at Gabr el Bint and Sho'ab Said:

Gabr el Bint, or Grave of the Girl, is without doubt one of the most beautiful dive sites around, and as it can only be reached by boat or camel it remains unspoilt. A large coral garden and beautiful reef makes for some stunning scenery.

Sho'ab Said, or Happy Reef, is a stunning maze of coral pinnacles, combined with an array of fish and other marine life. This year brought a turtle and an eagle ray.