Exploring the Enigma of the Blue Hole, Near Dahab 

Just a short drive from Sharm El Sheikh, you’ll find one of the Red Sea's most intriguing and thrilling attractions: the Blue Hole near Dahab. THINGS TO DO IN SHARM EL SHEIKH (Dahab)—ranging from exhilarating desert safaris and vibrant coral snorkeling to sipping Bedouin tea beneath a starlit sky—the Blue Hole is a remarkable spot that merges natural wonder with adventure. This stunning underwater sinkhole captures the attention of divers from all over the globe, thanks to its dramatic vertical drop-offs, rich marine biodiversity, and the awe-inspiring formation known as “the Arch.” However, hidden beneath its allure is a challenging and enigmatic nature waiting to be explored.
 

What Makes the Blue Hole Unique

• The Blue Hole offers an extraordinary underwater experience just off the shore, dropping straight down more than 100 meters into the depths of the Red Sea. For easy access, there's a shallow ledge known as “the saddle” located around 6 meters deep, while adventure seekers can explore the renowned Arch, resting at a remarkable depth of about 55 meters.
• The Arch Tunnel: Stretching 26 meters in length, this stunning natural limestone tunnel leads out to the open sea. With a ceiling height around 55 meters, the floor descends dramatically to depths exceeding 120 meters. Beyond this point, the drop becomes truly breathtaking, plunging to over 1,000 meters.
   
• Breathtaking Underwater World: Explore the vibrant ecosystem teeming within and around the hole, where you'll find a dazzling array of hard and soft corals, gorgonians, sea anemones, clownfish, parrotfish, rays, and turtles—particularly abundant near the saddle drop-off.

The Haunting Reputation

Marked by rugged beauty and extreme depths, the Blue Hole is often referred to as the world’s most dangerous dive site, with estimates of 130–200 diver fatalities recorded over the past decades A memorial site near "the Bells" entry point honors those lost exploring its depths .

Beneath the Surface: Lesser-Known Insights

• Oxygen Toxicity: At depths past ~55 m, standard compressed air becomes oxygen-toxic, risking convulsions. That’s why technical divers opt for mixed-gas blends like trimix or heliox to stay safe
• Deceptive Illusions: The tunnel’s light-filtered glow tricks divers into thinking they’re near the exit—sometimes cutting through 10 m thinking it's 26 m. This often leads to disorientation and misjudged gas reserves
• It looks like a short tunnel… divers report that the tunnel appears to be less than 10 m long but has been measured as 26 m.
• Currents Against You: Inward-flowing currents at the Arch slow progress, increasing air consumption and dive duration. Combine this with compressed buoyancy gear, and divers may unknowingly sink deeper, burning more air

Freediver Feats: Ukrainian champion freediver Nataliia Zharkova became the second woman ever to pass under the Arch on a single breath, reaching ~56 m and swimming 30 m through the tunnel in 2016 — a rare and awe-inspiring achievement

Safety & Recommendations

For divers fascinated by the Blue Hole, these guidelines are essential:

1. Don’t Go In Alone – Always dive with certified technical professionals. Recreational divers are legally and practically constrained from deep dives
2. Understand Gas Physiology – Know about nitrogen narcosis, oxygen toxicity, and decompression sickness. Gas mix and depth planning are life-critical.
3. Respect Buoyancy & Orientation – Proper weighting and monitoring depth gauges are crucial—many accidents begin with descending unintentionally
4. Maintain Discipline – Resist the alluring Arch. It’s a siren for thrill-seekers—and for many, the final lure.

Final Thoughts

The Blue Hole near Dahab is a paradox: a breathtaking underwater spectacle offering a doorway into deep-sea adventure—but with genuine risk lurking beneath its luminous beauty. From the vibrant coral communities at its rim to the dizzying chasm beyond the Arch, it invites awe, respect, and caution in equal measure.

For those drawn to this mysterious blue abyss, the message is clear: experience its wonders wisely, with knowledge, training, and humility.