Dahab
Warning! It’s not uncommon for people who visit Dahab to never leave! Be prepared for a potential change in lifestyle
About Dahab
Dahab, a name which literally means ‘gold’ in Arabic, was once a sleepy Bedouin village on the coast of the Sinai Peninsula.
Backpackers discovered the village in the early seventies. It was then, and still can be now, a real paradise for people who wished to relax on the cheap without any luxuries. The growth of recreational diving in the eighties and nineties saw the development of many Dive Centers, restaurants and hotels.
Dahab now boasts an amazing choice of hotels, guest houses, cafes and restaurants to suit all tastes and budget. You no longer have to ‘rough it’ to enjoy the delights Dahab has to offer
Even with this growth in infrastructure Dahab has remained a place where you can find not only a diver’s paradise, but a town which has managed to retain its traditional atmosphere where it’s still common to see the local Bedouins go about their daily business by camel.
What really sets Dahab apart from other Egyptian destinations is the vibrant mix of people from all over the world, all with a common love of the sea, be it scuba diving, freediving, wind-surfing, kite-surfing, snorkelling or swimming. Most people who make Dahab their home also share a desire to live a lifestyle not based on consumerism and the rat-race of modern life.
The combination of starkly beautiful desert scenery, majestic mountains, vibrant marine life and relaxed pace of life make Dahab truly unique compared with other destinations and aptly named as “Gold”.
FREEDIVING
Dahab is one of the world’s top destinations for freediving. PADI and AIDA courses are available, plus individual training packages for those wanting to push their limits and see what is possible on a single breath!
DAY TRIPS/DESERT SAFARIS & TOURS
There are some fantastic day trips from Dahab. Mt Sinai and St Catherine, camel rides, Ras Abu Galum and more…
SNORKELLING/BOAT TRIPS
The snorkelling around Dahab is truly exceptional, an incredible variety of fish and coral can be found just from the shore
There is no other place like Dahab!
Are you ready for a thrilling mix of scuba diving, Sinai desert and Bedouin culture.
Plan your trip to Dahab
Transport Services
We can arrange taxis and transfers all around Sinai and beyond. For buses it’s best to head to the offices located near the bridge for information as online info is often out-dated and wrong.
Ferry services are always changing, just about the only reliable service is the daily boat from Nuewiba to Aqaba in Jordan. The service from Sharm to Hurghada is always being promised to resume, but at time of writing was suspended indefinitely.
For flights, check online
Money
At Sea Dancer we accept cash in Euros, Egyptian pounds, US Dollars, British Sterling or Swiss Francs. We also accept credit/debit cards at a 3% fee (5% for Amex) Bank transfers are also possible but subject to pre-agreement by ourselves.
There are lots ATM’s scattered around town and in the large hotels. Many of these will also do ‘card-less’ money exchange. For other services, the main banks are located to the south of Mashraba. There are also some local money-exchangers, while not strictly legal (so we can’t name or recommend them!) they often give good rates.
There is NOT a Western Union in Dahab anymore, even if they tell you there is!
Shopping in Dahab
Dahab has shops that stretch all along the beach front (and beyond!) you can find the standard tourist nick-knacks, clothes, shishas (water-pipes) and a whole manner of curiosities and gems (particularly turquoise) in the area from Lighthouse to Mashraba. Bargaining is expected in most places, haggle hard, but remember that they have to make a living too! For more everyday wares you can visit one of the many supermarkets or head into the local Bedouin center at Assalah for a more local experience
Restaurants & Bars
This is potentially the most contentious of all areas to recommend as people like different things! Most restaurants along the seafront offer a wide range of cuisine and do it pretty well. The pick of the bunch is probably Shark restaurant. At time of writing Nirvana and Namaste both do excellent curry, Box Meal for great oriental food and Red Cat has arguably the best pizza (even though it’s a Russian restaurant!) There are many, many other good places to discover too.
The best place to grab an early breakfast or coffee before diving is at one of ‘Ralphs German Bakeries’ They are also perfect for a sandwich or light meal during the day.
For a cold beer or wine cooler most divers head down to Blue Beach bar (The Furry Cup) or Coral Beach (at Coral Coast hotel) in the evening. There are also several bottle shops around town for take-away alcohol.
Sea Dancer does not recommend eating Sea food in Dahab.
Fishing is not a vital industry in Dahab and people do not rely on it to make a living. What fishing that is done here is often illegal and very damaging to the coral reefs and marine environment in general. An argument you may hear is that ‘the fish were not caught here!’ which may be true, but then how actually fresh is it?
Health
No one plans to get sick on holiday, but if the worst happens Dahab has some great medical and dental facilities. For day-to-day ailments we prefer to visit Dr Heikal at his local clinic. Dr Heikal is also a specialist hyperbaric doctor and is our first call for any (non-emergency) diving related illness or injury.
For diving emergencies there is a hyperbaric chamber located to the North of Dahab on the road to the Blue Hole.
No one likes going to the dentist! But, if you have to, we have some brilliant dentists in Dahab. The work done here is exceptional and often a fraction of the cost in your own country*
Be careful at pharmacies, many are rip-offs! Try to use the local ones in Assalah to avoid being over-charged.
All divers are recommended to have diving and general health insurance in case of emergency. DAN (Divers Alert Network) is widely regarded as the best option for divers.
*Info correct at time of writing!
Kids
Lots of activities around Dahab can be done by kids as well, but if you need them off your hands for a while you have a few options for Dahab day-care.
We can often arrange for someone to come and baby-sit while you take time out for diving, or you can check some options online
PADI Bubblemaker
The kids can take the first scuba plunge with the PADI Bubblemaker program.
Mermaiding
With a fish-tail, your kid can dive in a world of fantasy and imagination.
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