FAQs
No, all the dive sites in Dahab are classed as local dives and don’t need a visa to dive.
As long as you are staying less than 14 days in the Sinai and don’t plan travelling to any other parts of the country such as Cairo, Luxor or Hurghada, you won’t need a visa. The Sinai only stamp, which is stamped in your passport when entering via Sharm el Sheikh International Airport, allows you to travel freely between Ras Mohammed Park, Sharm el Sheikh, Dahab, and even along the coast to Nuweiba, St Catherine's, or Taba.
The only time you may need a visa for diving is SS Thistlegorm, where the port authorities often ask for a 30-day visa, which can be purchased on arrival for $30. (Ask at the dive centre when booking for more details.)
Or if you plan to stay more than 14 days!
As long as you are staying less than 14 days in the Sinai and don’t plan travelling to any other parts of the country such as Cairo, Luxor or Hurghada, you won’t need a visa. The Sinai only stamp, which is stamped in your passport when entering via Sharm el Sheikh International Airport, allows you to travel freely between Ras Mohammed Park, Sharm el Sheikh, Dahab, and even along the coast to Nuweiba, St Catherine's, or Taba.
The only time you may need a visa for diving is SS Thistlegorm, where the port authorities often ask for a 30-day visa, which can be purchased on arrival for $30. (Ask at the dive centre when booking for more details.)
Or if you plan to stay more than 14 days!
Yes, the Sinai-only stamp is only given out at Sinai points of entry to Egypt including Sharm el Sheikh, Taba or Nuweiba. If you are flying with Egyptair or any other carrier via Cairo you will need to buy a visa at Cairo Airport.
Online visas are available but can vary depending on your country of origin. Check with your local Government travel advice for more information.
Online visas are available but can vary depending on your country of origin. Check with your local Government travel advice for more information.
If you are planning to complete your PADI Divemaster training and stay 4 to 6 weeks, you may want to look into a 6-month Extended Stay Visa, especially if you plan to follow up with a PADI Instructor Development Course at our dive centre in Dahab.
As long as you originally purchased the 28-day visa ($30) on arrival in Egypt you can visit the local passport office, currently the nearest is Sharm el Sheikh, where you can apply for a 6-month extension (depending on your nationality) with relative ease. Our booking department or Dahab dive centre office will be able to advise you on this.
Many European nations now offer e-visas, which can often run for longer periods, up to 6 months in one stay, and be multi-entry if you decide on multiple dive trips to Dahab. Find out more at your Government’s travel advice website pages.
As long as you originally purchased the 28-day visa ($30) on arrival in Egypt you can visit the local passport office, currently the nearest is Sharm el Sheikh, where you can apply for a 6-month extension (depending on your nationality) with relative ease. Our booking department or Dahab dive centre office will be able to advise you on this.
Many European nations now offer e-visas, which can often run for longer periods, up to 6 months in one stay, and be multi-entry if you decide on multiple dive trips to Dahab. Find out more at your Government’s travel advice website pages.
Egypt's national currency is the Egyptian pound (LE), which is widely used in Dahab and the surrounding areas. Currently, the largest denomination note is the 200 Egyptian pound note – other commonly used notes include 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 pound notes. Single one-pound notes or coins are very rarely seen.
Many businesses accept Euros, dollars, pound sterling and Swiss francs but beware of the exchange rate you may be offered. (Current exchange rates can be found at www.xe.com)
Egyptian banks, independent exchange bureaus and often your hotel reception is the best way to exchange foreign notes. International coins can not be exchanged or used in the resort.
ATMs are widely available in Dahab, where you can use international cards to withdraw local currency or even exchange foreign notes for Egyptian notes. Credit cards and payment cards are accepted by many local businesses, including our diving centre in Dahab.
Many businesses accept Euros, dollars, pound sterling and Swiss francs but beware of the exchange rate you may be offered. (Current exchange rates can be found at www.xe.com)
Egyptian banks, independent exchange bureaus and often your hotel reception is the best way to exchange foreign notes. International coins can not be exchanged or used in the resort.
ATMs are widely available in Dahab, where you can use international cards to withdraw local currency or even exchange foreign notes for Egyptian notes. Credit cards and payment cards are accepted by many local businesses, including our diving centre in Dahab.
Most of the year, Egypt Standard Time is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+2) or 1 hour ahead of Central European Time (CET +1).
Egypt does observe Daylight Saving Time, but the dates the clocks change are different from Europe. Check with our dive centre if in doubt.
Egypt does observe Daylight Saving Time, but the dates the clocks change are different from Europe. Check with our dive centre if in doubt.
In a largely unprotected bay, the weather can often seem more extreme in Dahab. The winds can sometimes be slightly stronger than in Sharm el Sheikh, which can be a bonus in the extreme heat of the summer.
Dahab enjoys warm, sunny weather throughout the year, with hot summers and mild winters. The table below shows the average daily high air temperature and average Red Sea temperature for each month.
Month Air Sea
January 20°C 22°C
February 21°C 21°C
March 24°C 21°C
April 29°C 22°C
May 33°C 24°C
June 36°C 25°C
July 37°C 26°C
August 37°C 27°C
September 35°C 26°C
October 30°C 26°C
November 25°C 25°C
December 21°C 23°C
Dahab enjoys warm, sunny weather throughout the year, with hot summers and mild winters. The table below shows the average daily high air temperature and average Red Sea temperature for each month.
Month Air Sea
January 20°C 22°C
February 21°C 21°C
March 24°C 21°C
April 29°C 22°C
May 33°C 24°C
June 36°C 25°C
July 37°C 26°C
August 37°C 27°C
September 35°C 26°C
October 30°C 26°C
November 25°C 25°C
December 21°C 23°C
No, there are currently no legal obligations for vaccinations when entering Egypt unless you are travelling from an infected area. Although a diving trip to Dahab doesn’t require any specific vaccinations, it is advised to make sure you are up to date with Hepatitis A, Rabies and Tetanus vaccinations, recommended as a precautionary measure.
No it is not advised to drink the local tap water at all, which, although desalinated, does not meet the standards of hygienic water in some other countries. Bottled mineral water is widely available in Dahab at very low cost. It is advised you keep yourself properly hydrated due to the high temperatures, especially when indulging in physical activities such as diving in Dahab.
Avoid long exposure to the sun; use high-factor sun cream to avoid sunburns and heat strokes.
It is a good idea to have rehydrating salts with you.
Avoid long exposure to the sun; use high-factor sun cream to avoid sunburns and heat strokes.
It is a good idea to have rehydrating salts with you.
Most international hotels have an onsite physican and the pharmacies are normally staffed by very knowledgeable pharmacists who can assist and diagnose many problems.
There are several hospitals and medical centres in Dahab and even private hospitals which cater for the international market and generally offer better services – just make sure your holiday insurance and diving insurance policies are up to date. A member of our diving team or office staff will be able to advise you of the nearest hospital or doctor if needed.
For more serious emergencies, most patients would be referred to Sharm El Sheikh International Hospital, which is just an hour away by ambulance or private car.
There are several hospitals and medical centres in Dahab and even private hospitals which cater for the international market and generally offer better services – just make sure your holiday insurance and diving insurance policies are up to date. A member of our diving team or office staff will be able to advise you of the nearest hospital or doctor if needed.
For more serious emergencies, most patients would be referred to Sharm El Sheikh International Hospital, which is just an hour away by ambulance or private car.
It’s the last thing you want to think of when planning a diving trip to Dahab but any resort where diving is popular must responsibly offer some hyperbaric services.
Yes, Dahab does have a hyperbaric chamber – it may not be as large and well equipped as the one in Sharm el Sheikh, and it may not have the world-renowned diving physician, Dr Abdel, that Sharm does, but they are equipped to deal with any decompression emergencies.
For more serious cases, as long as your circumstances allow it, you would often be transferred to the Hyperbaric Chamber in Sharm el Sheikh. Dr Abdel has been a world-leading diving physician for over 40 years, and his expertise in the world of diving medicine is unrivalled.
Yes, Dahab does have a hyperbaric chamber – it may not be as large and well equipped as the one in Sharm el Sheikh, and it may not have the world-renowned diving physician, Dr Abdel, that Sharm does, but they are equipped to deal with any decompression emergencies.
For more serious cases, as long as your circumstances allow it, you would often be transferred to the Hyperbaric Chamber in Sharm el Sheikh. Dr Abdel has been a world-leading diving physician for over 40 years, and his expertise in the world of diving medicine is unrivalled.
The nearest airport is Sharm el Sheikh International (SSH), also known as Ophira, approximately 92 km by road from Dahab. The journey by private car or transfer will take roughly 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes depending on traffic conditions and the time of day.
There are many direct flights for European countries to Sharm International and it is well connected to many airports such as Cairo or Istanbul with connecting flights daily. For Istanbul or many of the Italian connecting flights you will not need to buy a visa as long as your port of entry is Sharm El Sheikh. For travel onwards from any other Egyptian airport you will need a visa or if leaving with a connection in another Egyptian airport.
There are many direct flights for European countries to Sharm International and it is well connected to many airports such as Cairo or Istanbul with connecting flights daily. For Istanbul or many of the Italian connecting flights you will not need to buy a visa as long as your port of entry is Sharm El Sheikh. For travel onwards from any other Egyptian airport you will need a visa or if leaving with a connection in another Egyptian airport.
For guests who are already staying in Sharm el Sheikh, or maybe even diving in Sharm, the trip to Dahab is one straight (ish) road with a journey time of just over an hour. Private taxis are the normal way of organizing the trip, although some taxi drivers may need a copy of your passport 24 hours in advance for the security forces on the road to Dahab.
It is advisable to always carry your passport or some form of ID when travelling between Sharm and Dahab.
We can help arrange transfers if needed and even provide a minibus for day trips diving in Dahab with a minimum of 6 pax. For smaller groups, we can help with travel arrangements and advise our dive centre in Dahab of your arrival.
It is advisable to always carry your passport or some form of ID when travelling between Sharm and Dahab.
We can help arrange transfers if needed and even provide a minibus for day trips diving in Dahab with a minimum of 6 pax. For smaller groups, we can help with travel arrangements and advise our dive centre in Dahab of your arrival.
From Cairo, there is a road which passes under the Suez via the tunnel and traverses down the Sinai road where you can turn off to Dahab. It can be a long journey, however, and is probably much easier by plane. You will also need a visa to travel from mainland Egypt to the Sinai diving resorts.
From Taba or Nuweiba you can follow the coastal road down to the diving resort of Dahab. There are many bus companies which offer this route, or private car/transfer is another option with a travel time of approx. 2 to 3 hours all the way to Taba. You don’t normally need a visa for this journey, but it can depend on your nationality. Check your Government travel advice for details.
From Taba or Nuweiba you can follow the coastal road down to the diving resort of Dahab. There are many bus companies which offer this route, or private car/transfer is another option with a travel time of approx. 2 to 3 hours all the way to Taba. You don’t normally need a visa for this journey, but it can depend on your nationality. Check your Government travel advice for details.
There is a direct ferry from Aqaba to Nuweiba with a sailing time of approx. 3 hours. A bus journey from Nuweiba to Dahab will typically take around 1 hour 40 minutes, but minivans can be a much quicker option with a distance of approx. 83 km from Nuweiba to Dahab.
Our dive centre in Dahab can be found in the beach area of Jaz Dahabeya hotel, just steps away from our stunning house reef. The Jaz Dahabeya is located in the Lagoona area of Dahab about 5 minutes taxi ride from the main central area or a good 20-minute walk or so.
Don’t worry we will arrange pick-up for you and your party from any hotel within the Dahab vicinity when you are diving in Dahab and will provide transport to all the local sites.
Don’t worry we will arrange pick-up for you and your party from any hotel within the Dahab vicinity when you are diving in Dahab and will provide transport to all the local sites.
Yes Dahab can be a foodies' paradise! There may not be a McDonald's or KFC, but there are plenty of independent restaurants and cafes if you get bored of the hotel food.
Along the seafront you will find many cafes which specialize in seafood, and there are restaurants of every nationality in the town, from Thai, Korean, and Japanese sushi to Italian, Mexican, and even Indian.
The seafront cafes provide the ideal spot to wind down with a sundowner beer or two with fellow divers and recount your diving adventures of the day.
Along the seafront you will find many cafes which specialize in seafood, and there are restaurants of every nationality in the town, from Thai, Korean, and Japanese sushi to Italian, Mexican, and even Indian.
The seafront cafes provide the ideal spot to wind down with a sundowner beer or two with fellow divers and recount your diving adventures of the day.
We know you may want to take some souvenirs home; maybe you need to replace a piece of diving gear or just some essentials like snacks and soda for your accommodation.
There are some very good diving equipment shops in the town centre, some nice little bohemian places to buy your souvenirs from, and some mini markets where you can buy all your essentials.
For clothes, Dahab may not have Gucci or Prada (some pretty good fakes, though) but can be much less expensive than other resorts in Egypt
There are some very good diving equipment shops in the town centre, some nice little bohemian places to buy your souvenirs from, and some mini markets where you can buy all your essentials.
For clothes, Dahab may not have Gucci or Prada (some pretty good fakes, though) but can be much less expensive than other resorts in Egypt
Not really – Dahab is not a clubbing centre . Some of the international 5-star hotels have bars which non-customers can use, but for everybody else seafront cafes tend to be the place to chill. Alcohol is widely available at several bottle shops in the town centre for those who want to do their own thing – just remember that early morning dive tomorrow – the main reason you came to Dahab.
We recommend that all our guests take out insurance to cover cancellation, lost or stolen luggage and medical/hospital costs.
Divers can get insured by Aquamed, DAN or a similar organisation.
Divers can get insured by Aquamed, DAN or a similar organisation.
The CDWS (Chamber of diving and water sports) is implementing the World Recreational Scuba Training Council (WRSTC) standards for recreational diving in Dahab and Egypt.
The maximum depth for diving with compressed air is 40 meters, if the training qualifications and the experience of the divers allow it.
The CDWS recommends not wearing gloves, if not needed as thermal protection.
Carrying of dive knives as a tool, to cut lines and to free entanglements is allowed.
And CDWS strongly forbids scuba divers and photographers to use the Muck Stick, Pointer Stick or Lobster Tickle Stick (is usually made of solid stainless steel or aluminium and is 12 to 18 inches long) in an attempt to promote an eco-friendly marine environment in the Red Sea. The penalty list for environmental violations will apply.
The maximum depth for diving with compressed air is 40 meters, if the training qualifications and the experience of the divers allow it.
The CDWS recommends not wearing gloves, if not needed as thermal protection.
Carrying of dive knives as a tool, to cut lines and to free entanglements is allowed.
And CDWS strongly forbids scuba divers and photographers to use the Muck Stick, Pointer Stick or Lobster Tickle Stick (is usually made of solid stainless steel or aluminium and is 12 to 18 inches long) in an attempt to promote an eco-friendly marine environment in the Red Sea. The penalty list for environmental violations will apply.
In general, the standards of some diving organizations may allow you to dive without a computer.
At Circle Divers, we have a strong focus on the safety of all our guests. Therefore, we highly recommend you to dive with a dive computer.
At Circle Divers, we have a strong focus on the safety of all our guests. Therefore, we highly recommend you to dive with a dive computer.
