Nick Pelios
Freediver, Creator
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Nick Pelios
Freediver, Creator
There are many freediving locations all around the world but Dahab stands out. With good weather all year round and the Blue Hole right at your feet, Dahab is the mecca of freedivers of all levels. Close to Europe, with all the facilities needed in terms of accommodation, transport, food, and sea, Dahab is the best choice to improve your freediving skills surrounded by a welcoming community. You can discover a peaceful town while training with your buddies, do a workshop with a world champion, or enter in one of the many competitions held at the Blue Hole.
Livio Fakeye looks into everything you need to know before traveling to Dahab for your first - and surely not last - time.
- They are cheap direct flights from Europe to Sharm El Sheikh, or you can do a stopover in Istanbul first. From Sharm Airport, you get a taxi directly to Dahab that lasts 1 hour. The best is to ask a freediver you know or a school to arrange transport for you, in order to avoid the hassle of negotiating with local drivers.
- Once in Dahab, you can walk around, the distances are small but I prefer having a bicycle. There is a big second-hand bike market and it’s always nicer to move around, especially during summertime.
- You will need a taxi in order to go to the Blue Hole as it’s a bit far from Dahab itself. Usually, we share taxis between freedivers to reduce the cost.
- In terms of accommodation, Airbnb is a well-used platform or Booking. You can have your own house or flat for around 250 euros a month for a long stay.
- It’s easier to find a long-term place when you are in Dahab. It’s important to visit before and make sure everything works, the standards are very low most of the time and you could end up with something very dirty or/and malfunctioning. Talking with other freedivers is the key.
- If you plan a short stay, hotels could be a good solution too. I recommend Red Sea Relax or Sinbad Camp, right in front of the training spot, bars, restaurants, and nightlife. Red Sea Relax is a classic hotel, with a swimming pool and all the commodities for a decent price. If you are looking for a more chill and basic experience, Sinbad Camp is the place. Very cheap, good community and delicious food.
When you are hungry, you can shop in a local supermarket to make your own food or you can enjoy restaurants. There are many good options to eat on daily basis. From local food to pizza, Indian food, meat, or vegan, you can find your happy spot. My favorites are:
- Marine Garden, fully vegan and organic. The owner is a truly amazing chef and person.
- The Soup Bar: only soup, differs from day to day, depending on the veggies they have.
- The Vegan Lab: fancy but delicious.
- Red Cat: probably the most famous, make sure to book a table. They have all kinds of food and everything is delicious. If you are looking for a freediver friend, he/she is probably there.
- Namaste: Indian food, good value for money.
- The best one you will go to for sure, is at the famous Blue Hole. Make sure to eat and chill at Aqua Marina, the place to be for every freediver. Ali and Mohammed are probably the friendliest people in Dahab, they will welcome and treat you the best way they can. The food is just delicious!
- Make sure as well to try and eat a lot of Falafel sandwiches at a local shop. There is one in Lighthouse near the taxi and one at Assalah Square. Super cheap and delicious.
- Every Friday, there is a market with local products at Eel Garden. A good opportunity to fill your stomach with delicious food right at the beach.
- Lighthouse: the main bay of Dahab, with a maximum depth of 50m accessible without a boat and for free. Anyone can train there. Most of the days the weather is superb, without waves, due to its location. There are very few days in a year where you can not train there. The easiest place to train, a short walk or ride from home, then you can chill in a restaurant or bar to discuss your training, have tea, and some food.
- Blue Hole: Maximum depth of 92m, open to everyone. Be aware that there is a police check before arriving where you have to pay an entrance fee. Depending on the visa you have (short or long), you will pay more or less.
In these 2 places, every day dozens of people are training, the conditions are 99% of the time good. A true paradise. For dry training, there is a super cheap gym where you can build your muscles. Running along the coast is a good option as well or go swimming in the bay. Don’t forget the amazing mountains right behind the town, where you can trek and dream on top of the peaks.
This is the best part of Dahab. The freediving community is huge with local residents and tourists. You will meet freedivers from all around the planet, coming here with the same goal - going deeper! Soon you'll have new friends, training buddies, and people to share stories with. The nighttime is the moment to socialize while eating some good food and drinking local beers or fresh juice!
You can find amazing instructors working for schools or freelancing. They will help you get better in many ways. I strongly recommend Dahab Freedivers, which bring a community together on their terrasse with good vibes, if you want to meet people rapidly and be coached by skilled instructors. There are many freelancers as well, very talented that I recommend like Harry Chamas or Sara Campbell for example.
Bored of training? I totally get you. Here are some of the best spots around.
- Lighthouse: Go have a look at the famous elephant statue standing 27m deep right in the bay.
- Eel Garden: White sand and corals, the perfect combination to observe the eels popping out of the bottom.
- Canyon: Make sure to go with someone who knows the places and you will love it. A crack on the seafloor will take you on an incredible journey.
- Bells: right next to the Blue Hole, “El bells” is a vertical crack in the reef going to about 25m where there is a little arch you can fly through!
- Ras Abu Galum: go away for a weekend, rent a hut, and snorkel around this inhabited paradise.