Travel report: group trip to fine Dahab in Egypt

There are those trips that stick with you mostly because of the people you take them with. Our group trip to Dahab in early December 2025 was just such a trip. With 10 people, we spent a week on the Red Sea: from twenty-somethings to sixty-somethings, from novice divers to experienced divers. We stayed in a village known for its relaxed atmosphere, warm atmosphere and accessible way of diving.

Sebastiaan is co-owner of EWDR and often the first contact for the Netherlands and Belgium. He is also a fanatic diver. He has been diving for many years and has also visited several places around the world. In December 2025, he traveled with a group to Dahab, a diving village in northeastern Egypt, on the Sinai Peninsula. Read all about this successful group trip here.

Most of us flew from Amsterdam to Sharm el Sheikh. Thanks to the visa waiver for the Sinai Peninsula, we were able to go straight through and were soon in the van heading to Dahab. That drive through the quiet mountainous landscape is a kind of transitional moment where you feel you are coming home to a place where everything is just a little bit quieter, especially in the evening you experience this.

When we arrived at The Bridge Hotel around six in the evening, we were kindly received by Yasmeen from the front desk. She gave us the room keys and welcomed us. The Bridge is a small, warm complex with several large picnic tables in the courtyard, where you breakfast together, sit between dives or socialize. The rooms are spacious, clean and surprisingly comfortable by Dahab standards; just what you need for a relaxing week of diving.

After dropping off our stuff, the whole group decided to have dinner at Zanooba Slow Cooking, a cozy restaurant a few minutes’ walk from the hotel. Unlike some eateries outside downtown, at Zanooba you just sit at tables and chairs. Over drinks and a slowly prepared meal, we got to know each other a little better. It was a warm, quiet start to the week. Then we walked back to the hotel to unwind before the first day of diving.

The next morning we began with a delicious breakfast in the courtyard. This was followed by the necessary paperwork involved in diving, and our dive guides were introduced to us: Adel and Helmi. Two totally different personalities, but both with a huge love for Dahab and diving. Adel is calm, experienced and has a keen eye for details underwater. Helmi is energetic, enthusiastic and audibly enjoys every dive he makes. They are bursting with knowledge about Dahab, the environment, the history of the dive sites and everything underwater. You can tell that they do their work with genuine passion and pleasure, and that they enjoy passing on their enthusiasm to the divers they guide. We were split into two groups: one half went with Adel, the other half with Helmi. A division that worked extremely well.

Our first dives were at Mashraba and Lighthouse, two dive sites in the middle of Dahab. Because these are so close, we simply went back to The Bridge between dives, where we had a nice lunch at the picnic tables. In the kitchen were Nader and Mahmoud, who provided us with food and drinks throughout the week with great kindness and attention. This alternation of diving and leisurely walk back to the accommodation immediately gives the feeling that everything in Dahab is close and convenient in a pleasant way.

When you dive a little further from the center, it looks different again. Dive sites like The Caves, Golden Blocks and Moray Garden are further south. There you won’t find normal restaurants with tables and chairs, but rather the typical Dahab eateries with low tables, rugs, cushions and large tarps that provide shade. They’re the kind of places where you sit down after a dive, get a simple but tasty lunch and are often offered a cup of their famous drink “Vitamin Sea.” A little sweet, a little spicy, but mostly incredibly refreshing.

Further north are iconic dive sites like the Blue Hole and Bells. Here too you have such small eateries where you sit on cushions and shelter from the sun under tent cloths. Despite the rustic look, care is taken and you can safely leave your belongings while you dive. Our dive day to Blue Hole and Bells was made special by the fact that a rare rainstorm passed over, complete with thunderstorms. Due to the risk of mudslides, the day was cut short early – a wise decision. The rest of the week, however, was bright blue and we had plenty of diving to do.

The diving village of Dahab

In Dahab town itself, almost everywhere you just sit at tables and chairs. So it is a clear, typical Dahab distinction: in the center you sit at tables, outside the center you sit on cushions under tent cloths. Small details, but they help travelers get a good idea of what to expect.

An interesting fact for many visitors is that Dahab has plenty of stores where you can buy alcohol, but many restaurants do not serve alcohol. It is therefore quite normal to buy something yourself and take it with you; a kind of informal bring-your-own concept. In addition, if you ask in restaurants if you can pay in euros, a calculator is immediately grabbed and you can pay at the current daily rate without any problems. Almost everywhere this is accepted.

Camping in Ras Mohammed National park

One of the absolute highlights of the week was our two-day trip to Ras Mohammed National Park. Ras Mohammed is located at the southernmost point of the Sinai Peninsula, about an hour’s drive from Sharm el Sheikh and about an hour from Dahab if you go via the coastal road. The area is special because several sea currents converge here: warm currents from the south, cooler currents from the Gulf of Aqaba and local eddies created by the shape of the peninsula. This mixing of currents creates exceptionally healthy and colorful coral, abundant fish life and a diving experience unlike anywhere else in Egypt.

We dived at Yolanda Reef, Shark Observatory and, of course, Anemone City, which is one of the most vibrant and colorful areas of the Red Sea due to the power of the current. We camped one night in the park, ate at a campfire and slept on simple mattresses. Adel led most of the dives here, and his knowledge of the area and ability to point out subtle things underwater only made the experience richer.

We also did more dives this week than originally planned. Instead of the standard 11 dives, many of us decided to book additional dives. So we ended up with 15 dives, including 2 night dives. During those night dives we encountered a Spanish dancer, a zebra moray eel and several nocturnal animals that you hardly see during the day, among other things.

What made this trip so special was the dynamics within the group. The differences in age, experience and personality actually worked in reinforcement. Within a day it felt like we had known each other for much longer. The younger participants introduced new games for the evenings, the experienced divers helped the beginners and everyone contributed to the relaxed, warm atmosphere. Especially the novice divers made huge strides and it was nice to see how everyone motivated and supported each other.

Although I have dived in Egypt 7 times before, this was my first time in Dahab. And it really surprised me. Dahab is smaller, more friendly and freer than places like Hurghada and Marsa Alam. It’s all about the reef here, the warm water and the simplicity of diving. Ras Mohammed National Park in particular made a deep impression on me. The whole week felt like one big highlight, but Anemone City really stood out for me. The coral here is still untouched and vibrant, with bright colors and lots of fish life. I definitely want to go back there again.

Dahab is also an excellent destination for diving clubs. Costs are low; food and drinks cost about a third of what you would spend in Holland or Western Europe. In addition, you can do well there for all levels: from beginners doing their first outdoor dives to advanced divers enjoying deep walls, canyons and drift dives. The atmosphere is relaxed, the guidance is excellent, the options are extensive and everything is clear and well organized.

At The Bridge Hotel, the slogan hangs, “Come as a guest, leave as a friend.” And that turned out to be no empty slogan. Yasmeen’s hospitality, Bassem’s warmth, Adel’s expertise and Helmi’s enthusiasm made this trip complete.

Our group made it complete. A week that included a lot of laughter, learning and sharing. A week that will stay with me for a long time. And one thing I know for sure: I will be back. Maybe Dahab again, maybe another place, but this trip has left a lasting impression.