Diving Dahab in July

[Yogaman]

Hey everyone,

I'm planning a trip to visit Dahab in July this year, and I'd like to get some travel advice. Info would be much appreciated!

1) Arriving in Cairo, I believe there are relatively good buses that you can catch to Dahab and the Sinai Peninsula?

2) I'm aware July is a hot time to go - it's the only time I can go (maybe August) - but is it like, unbearably hot? Basically, will there be other divers there at that time, or will I be the only idiot out there in the desert getting grilled?

3) Diving wise, are there lines in place at the Blue Hole, and is it possible to walk there from the town?

Finally, maybe I'm kidding myself as to how hot it's going to be (I've heard it's like 40 degrees celsius some days), so if anyone knows of other good freediving spots to visit in July around the world, please let me know. They must be cheapish, and having a few other divers around to hook up with would be a bonus. Oh, and the water must be warm and clean

[Pastor]

Originally Posted by Yogaman

Hey everyone,

I'm planning a trip to visit Dahab in July this year, and I'd like to get some travel advice. Info would be much appreciated!

1) Arriving in Cairo, I believe there are relatively good buses that you can catch to Dahab and the Sinai Peninsula?

2) I'm aware July is a hot time to go - it's the only time I can go (maybe August) - but is it like, unbearably hot? Basically, will there be other divers there at that time, or will I be the only idiot out there in the desert getting grilled?

3) Diving wise, are there lines in place at the Blue Hole, and is it possible to walk there from the town?

Finally, maybe I'm kidding myself as to how hot it's going to be (I've heard it's like 40 degrees celsius some days), so if anyone knows of other good freediving spots to visit in July around the world, please let me know. They must be cheapish, and having a few other divers around to hook up with would be a bonus. Oh, and the water must be warm and clean

Dude don't worry about the heat, yes it is hot but there is a strong breeze that blows down the gulf, very refreshing You won't notice it that much, just drink plenty of water and wear sun cream/block or whatever the stuff is these days.

Busses from Cairo take about 10 hours but enjoy it, there is some spectacular scenery to take in

Lucky bugger!!!

[fcallagy]

Hi Yogaman,
Dahab is a great spot but I don't think a walk to the blue hole would be an option unless you really like exercise its about 6-8k from Dahab itself. I don't think there are any permananet lines there the only I was one was brought by Linda from freedive dahab who I am sure will organise a training day if you wanted and not do a course. There are pontoons or obvious ways of entry into the blue hole. Don,t know about buses from Cairo as I came from Sharm you may need to check out visas for the area you are travelliing to as well.

[Marwan]

Originally Posted by Yogaman

Hey everyone,

I'm planning a trip to visit Dahab in July this year, and I'd like to get some travel advice. Info would be much appreciated!

1) Arriving in Cairo, I believe there are relatively good buses that you can catch to Dahab and the Sinai Peninsula?

2) I'm aware July is a hot time to go - it's the only time I can go (maybe August) - but is it like, unbearably hot? Basically, will there be other divers there at that time, or will I be the only idiot out there in the desert getting grilled?

3) Diving wise, are there lines in place at the Blue Hole, and is it possible to walk there from the town?

Finally, maybe I'm kidding myself as to how hot it's going to be (I've heard it's like 40 degrees celsius some days), so if anyone knows of other good freediving spots to visit in July around the world, please let me know. They must be cheapish, and having a few other divers around to hook up with would be a bonus. Oh, and the water must be warm and clean

its hot but breezy so like pastor said... take sunblock and drink lots of water..
about getting there, There are buses like (east DELTA TRAVEL), but they're not the best (and forget about on-line reservations).I would not recommend the bus. from cairo unless you are going with a good travel agency or youre a big group and renting a private bus..i would recommend you take a plane to sharm then go by taxi from sharm...its more expensive for sure but thats the way i would recommend...
you cannot walk to the bluehole from dahab.. you have to go by taxi or by the dive center transport car..chances are that things will be pretty crowded at the blue hole,, it gained a lot of attention lately and people are flocking over there, it remains a cool spot nonthelss..if you are going i would also recommend that you take the camel ride to abou galloum.. its just north of dahab.. youy take a camel ride for about 2 hours from the blue hole all along the shore line unil you reach it .. beautiful spot.. you could dive there and they serve lunch etc... its part of the marine park in the red sea.. i camped theer once for 4 days really cool..
good luck mate, enjoy!!

[Scorp]

Hi Yogaman,
don't worry about the heat. like the others said, most of the time there is a breeze, maybe during the night when sleeping you will be a bit hot, but u get used.

Be shure, there will be other freedivers, i guess there is no saison in dahab without some of them ...

Concerning your trip from Cairo to dahab, I would definitely go for the bus, i did the trip twice, was never a problem, you can go overnight as far as I remember, and you have the opportunity to whatch some really exciting arabic movies in the bus tv which gets never switched off . Just ask for information at the airport. I dont remember anymore wether the bus leaves from the airport directly or you have to go to a bus station.
As Marwan said, you have to buy a visa for the Sinai, but you get it at the airport. Travelling by bus in any case will be cheaper then flying from Cairo to Sharm, I dont think you will find a cheap flight easily, but if you do, of course thats the comfortable option.

No walking to the Blue Hole, too far! Not even to the Canyon, half way.
Take a taxi, find out the usual fee (quite cheap) before taking it the first time, otherwise u loose all your money for this first taxi trip ...
I dont like the taxi trip to the Blue Hole (almost half an hour), if you sit in the back of these crappy oldtimer jeeps you almost soffocate from the exhaust gases swirling around your head. Therefore i did a lot of freediving in the bay, there are ususally some lines in place directly in front of Desert Divers, right out in the middle of the bay. Just ask (linda, lotta ...). If there aren't, you could bring or set your own, not a big deal.

BTW, maybe I am going to be there myself in July/August. Hopefully

Cheers,
Ivo

[Marwan]

wow i never knew you had to buy a visa to go to sinai...but then again im a local... i buy a visa to everywhere else in the world

[Scorp]

oops, that was fcallagy talking about visa, not you marwan, sorry ...
Anyway, as a foreigner you got to have a visa for the sinai region. Never got there without having paid this little entrance ticket ...

[Yogaman]

Hi everyone!

Jee, thanks a lot for all the information!! Seems as if you're all regulars there! Really helpful and I'm glad to hear the heat isn't toooo bad. That was my biggest worry.

I think I'm gonna go for the bus option from Cairo: I actually like roughing things a bit when travelling, and would be stoked to see some of the scenery and cultures..

Happy diving everyone!

[Sergiu]

The heat IS bad but bearable! I mean you gotta take it into account really, expecially if you want to freedive 1-2 sessions a day. Last year i was there in July and it was really great (minus the millions of tourists dumped by tour buses at the Blue Hole!) but I, for one, had to drink 3-4 l of water everyday, with some energy powders that you can find at any drug store in town. They come in 10 packs in a box, cost like 50 cents a box and are really great to replanish all what you sweat out, one way or another!

On travel from Cairo to Dahab, we (two of us) took a minibus, pick up from the airport and drop off in front of the BishBishi, our choice of accommodation in Dahab - great! it will set you off by 100 EUR (90 EUR if you know to strike a bargain - 150 if you dont ) for the whole minibus and about 6-7 hours drive. it's a great way to see Sinai too and have flexibility. Even in two, the price is acceptable (really depands on your budget though) but if you are a part of 3-4, it's a bargain and likely as fast as by plane (to sharm)+transfer to dahab!

serge

[Haydn]

We took a private minibus.......It broke down at Suez and we had trouble being allowed on the bus when it passed by hours later. The whole trip was in the dark. The bus was freezing and played that constant Arab film (loud). The return journey on a different minibus was through the day. The driver seemed to be falling asleep and we had to force him to stop for a rest. It seems to me to be very dangerous and wastes 2 days freediving. Take the plane to Sharm! Forget the Camel trip to Abu Gollum, its better to fin swim along the coast, just past the Blue Hole headland you get to the sweeping bay of the next beach, the reef is virtually continuos and unspoilt, 100 times better than the dead reef at the blue hole. Damn, I want to get wet again.......