Are you planning a trip to the Blue Hole, Dahab, but can’t be bothered to pay a tour for it? No need to worry. You can easily visit the Blue Hole without a tour. 

In this article we will explain to you how you can visit Dahab’s Blue Hol without a tour, what you need to know before you plan your trip, what to do at the Blue Hole and where to spend the night after your day trip. Let’s dive right in! 

Key Takeaways 

• Take a taxi, local van, or boat via Ras Abu Galoum to get to the Blue Hole. The boat route avoids the entry fee.
• Be ready to pay $25 if you arrive by road; no fee if you come by boat.
• Snorkel near the shallow saddle, scuba dive from Bells entrance (Advanced Open Water needed), or freedive if you have the skills.
• Stick to your skill level, follow safety rules, and bring the right gear for the season.

Where to Stay at the Blue Hole, Dahab: A Quick Overview

Are you checking out some final details for your trip to the Blue Hole? These are three of the best accommodation options around the Blue Hole, from affordable to luxurious: 

Hostel	Rafiki Hostel	from $39 per night	Click here for availability & rates.
Hotel	NEOM Hotel	from $120 per night	Click here for availability & rates.
Resort	Tropitel Dahab Oasis	from $114 per night	Click here for availability & rates.

An Introduction to Dahab’s Blue Hole Dive Site

The Blue Hole in Dahab is a famous dive site located on the southeast coast of the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt about 10 kilometre north of Dahab. 

It is a natural underwater sinkhole with a maximum depth of over 100 meters (330 feet). The Blue Hole is known for its clear, warm waters and abundant coral and marine life. It features a shallow opening called the “saddle” at about 6 meters deep, and a 26-meter-long underwater tunnel called “the Arch,” with its ceiling at 55 meters depth. 

The site is popular among snorkelers, freedivers, and scuba divers, but it is also known as one of the most dangerous dive spots in the world. More on this in the next section. Despite this, many divers visit the Blue Hole each year to explore its unique underwater landscape and rich biodiversity.

The Lore of the Infamous Blue Hole Arch 

Besides being a world-famous dive site, the Blue Hole in Dahab is also known as one of the most dangerous dive sites in the world. 

With its depth in excess of 100 meters and the infamous ” Arch” at about 55 meters deep, diving in the Blue Hole is not without its dangers. A popular divers’ challenge, diving through the Arch is very risky because it requires advanced training, careful gas management, and years of diving experience. 

Many divers have died here due to nitrogen narcosis, a condition caused by breathing compressed air at depth that impairs judgment and causes confusion. A memorial wall at the northern end pays homage to the divers that have died in the Blue Hole since its rise to fame in the 1980s. 

A well-known example is Yuri Lipski, a Russian-Israeli diver who died in 2000 after an uncontrolled descent to 115 meters. His tragic dive was recorded on his helmet camera, showing how nitrogen narcosis led to panic and fatal mistakes. His body and camera were later recovered by the Egyptian diving instructor Tarek Omar. 

In 2023, the Netflix documentary “The Deepest Breath” was released. It tells the story of freedivers pushing their physical and mental limits in the Blue Hole, highlighting both the thrill and the risks involved. Despite its beauty, the Blue Hole demands respect and proper training to avoid accidents. We highly recommend watching the documentary on Netflix, before making your way out to the Blue Hole. 

When to Visit the Blue Hole, Dahab 

When it comes to driving in the Red Sea, you are generally blessed with favourable conditions that allow for diving year-round. The waters around the Blue Hole are generally calm, clear and record relatively warm water temperatures.

The best time to visit the Blue Hole are the spring season from March to May and the fall season from September to November. During these time windows, you will get the best mix of comfortable air and water temperatures and the best visibility. If you want to avoid the tourist masses, try to visit the Blue Hole at the start of spring seasons and the end of fall season. 

While you can also visit the Blue Hole in summer and winter, there are some caveats to it. In summer, you will be exposed to much higher air temperatures. While this results in comfortably warm waters, it also takes a bigger toll on your body. Also, the summer season attract more recreational divers on summer holiday, making the Blue Hole more packed. 

In winter, you will encounter much less tourists at the Blue Hole, colder temperatures and stronger wind. While water conditions are still suitable for diving, you should make sure to bring the right equipment when you visit the Blue Hole in winter. Switch the wet suit for a dry suit and use a neoprene hood, both with a minimum thickness of 5mm. 

For more detailed insight into diving seasons in the Red Sea, check out our full-length guide on the best times to dive in the Red Sea. 

How to Get to the Blue Hole, Dahab 

The Blue Hole dive site is located approximately 10 kilometres from Dahab. To reach the Blue Hole, you can use one of the following three methods:

• Take a taxi from Dahab: The most direct and hassle-free way to reach the Blue Hole is hailing a local taxi in Dahab. Depending on your pickup location, a return trip to the Blue Hole should cost you no more than 500 EGP. Share the taxi with others to split costs. The trip to the Blue Hole takes about 20 minutes. Upon arrival, foreigners have to pay an entry fee of $20 per person plus another $10 for each car. Egyptians per 40 EGP per person. 
• Take a van from Dahab: In case you are heading to the Blue Hole alone or wanting to save a bit more money, you can try the local vans heading to the Blue Hole site. The vans to the Blue Hole depart from nearby YAM YAM Restaurant in Dahab. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to confirm the price of the vans. Be aware that taking the vans will take a bit more time as it fills up first and does stops along the way. Upon arrival, you will pay either $20 per foreigner or 40 EGP per Egyptian. 
• Take a boat to Ras Abu Galoum: Alternatively, take a direct boat from Dahab to Ras Abu Galoum, a dive site north of the Blue Hole. You can arrange boat rides from Assalah beach in advance or catch a boat in front of Daniela Village Dahab. Depending on the size of your group, the boat ride should cost you between 200-400 EGP per person. At Abu Galoum, you can take another short boat ride to the Blue Hole for 100-150 EGP. Upon arrival, you do NOT have to pay the entry fee. 

About the Blue Hole Entry Fee 

When visiting Dahab’s Blue Hole, foreigners have to pay a military surveillance fee of $5 and an entrance fee of $20 per person. Egyptians currently pay 40 EGP to enter the Blue Hole site. Payment is strictly in cash and in US-Dollars – pristine bills only. You may be asked to present a copy of your passport. 

The entrance fee charged at the Blue Hole is not an official national park fee. Therefore, you will find no official information on it online. Still, it exists. It was introduced by the local military several years ago and has been on a steady climb ever since. If you arrive by road from Dahab, there is no way of avoiding this entry fee. 

If you want to avoid paying the fee, we recommend taking a boat ride to Ras Abu Galoum first and taking another boat ride to the Blue Hole from there. This way, you will arrive directly at the Blue Hole without being asked to pay an entrance fee. If you have time to spare, make sure to go for a dive at Ras Abu Galoum, too, before continuing towards the Blue Hole. 

What to Do at the Blue Hole, Dahab

The Blue Hole is one of Egypt’s most popular dive sites. It is most popular among scuba divers and freedivers, but also allows for snorkeling along its edges: 

Snorkeling 

If you are planning to snorkel at the Blue Hole, we recommend bringing your own goggles and fins, and water shoes. Alternatively, you can rent snorkel equipment at one of the shops at the Blue Hole. 

The easiest way to enter the Blue Hole is the new jetty set up a few meters north of the Blue Hole. Alternatively, you can enter from two ladders at the southern and northern edge of of the Blue Hole or at Bells. The Bells entrance is located 250 meters north of the Blue Hole and allows for snorkelling down to the Blue Hole with the current. 

When snorkelling at the Blue Hole, it is best to snorkel along it edges where you can observe lots of colourful corals and marine life. Avoid standing on any corals in the shallow areas of the dive site. 

Scuba Diving 

For scuba divers, visiting the Blue Hole makes the most sense as part of a scuba diving tour as they will drive out to bring your equipment anyways. 

The classic Blue Hole dive begins at the Bells entrance 250 meter north of the Blue Hole. At the Bells Entrance, scuba divers descent through a chimney to a depth of around 26 meters. There, they exit the chimney through a mini arch and drift dive along the lush corals downstream to the saddle of the Blue Hole. The saddle is located at a depth of around 7 meters. From there, scuba divers exit the Blue Hole from the south entrance.

For dive the Blue Hole from the Bells entrance, you a required to hold a PADI Advance Open Water Diver license. This is due to the depth of up to 30 meters, but also due to the narrow entrance.

Freediving 

Despite past tragedies, the Blue Hole remains a prime location for freedivers from all around the world. It offers opportunities for freediving at every level. 

Beginners can dive along the edges of the Blue Hole and explore corals and marine life at a depth of up to 7 meters at the so-called Saddle. With its depth of up to 130 meters in close proximity of the shore, the Blue Hole also offers a great controlled environment for line diving and deep diving.

The infamous Arch, a 26-meter tunnel with its ceiling at a depth of around 55 meters, remains accessible to advanced divers. 

Looking for more activities around the Blue Hole? Discover 10+ more activities on the Sinai Peninsula that should be part of your Egypt itinerary. 

Where to Stay at the Blue Hole, Dahab

For your visit to the Blue Hole, it is best to stay in Dahab. Dahab is the closest village to the Blue Hole, located just 10 kilometers south of it and has the best infrastructure for getting equipment, tours and transport for the Blue Hole. Alternatively, you may choose to stay in a resort hotel between the Blue Hole and Dahab for a shorter trip. 

In Dahab, you can find plenty of affordable hostels and comfortable boutique hotels. If you are looking to save money on accommodation, consider staying at Rafiki Hotels in Dahab. Its main branch is affordable, bustling with other backpackers and right on the Main Street to the Blue Hole. 

Alternatively, you could stay at one of the boutique hostels in Assalah Beach, such as NEOM hotel, to take a boat to the Blue Hole from there. 

On the road from Dahab to the Blue Hole, you can also find some resort hotels that will give you quicker access to the Blue Hole. One of which, the Tropitel Dahab Oasis, is located just 5 kilometers from the Blue Hole and offers comfortable room, outstanding meals and a private beach. From there, you can reach the Blue Hole within just 10 minutes. 

The Bottom Line 

So, what is the best way to visit the Blue Hole without a tour? First, you want to visit the Blue Hole in early spring or late fall to avoid the tourist masses, but still have good conditions. Then, you want to get a direct taxi to the Blue Hole or taxi a boat to Ras Abu Galoum. 

Combine Ras Abu Galoum with your day trip to the Blue Hole to see two great diving sites in one day and to avoid paying the $25 entrance fee to the Blue Hole. At the Blue Hole, there are activities for divers of all levels from snorkeling and recreational diving to advanced diving tours and freediving. Book a hotel in Dahab, if you wish to stay close to the Blue Hole and always stay safe when diving. 

Frequently Asked Questions