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Hotels, dive operators, gear, and how to get here are on the Ras Mohammed location page.
Overview
A near-circular sinkhole punched through the fringing reef on Sinai's east coast, 10 km north of Dahab, dropping past 100 m just a few fin-kicks from shore. Freedivers and scuba divers descend a coral wall thick with lyretail anthias, bluecheek butterflyfish and the occasional hawksbill turtle into still, clear blue water — the lack of current is why it became the world's premier shore freediving site. A shallow notch called the Saddle (about 6 m) links the hole to the open sea, while the notorious Arch — a 26 m tunnel whose ceiling sits at 55 m and whose floor falls to 120 m — pierces the seaward wall. The tunnel's deceptive clarity and depth have made this the deadliest dive site on record; most divers stay on the bright shallow reef rim.
Briefing note
Reputed to have the highest diver death toll of any site in the world — most fatalities involve recreational divers attempting the Arch (ceiling 55 m, floor 120 m), which is a technical-only objective requiring trimix and overhead training. The shallow reef rim and the Saddle are an easy open-water shore dive; do not be tempted deeper. Memorial plaques to lost divers line the cliff above the entry. Shore access only; small fee and parking at the Bedouin camps.
What you'll see
7 species curated- year-roundLyretail anthias
- year-roundBluecheek butterflyfish
- year-roundHawksbill turtle
- year-roundNapoleon wrasse
- year-roundBigeye trevally
- year-roundBluespotted ribbontail ray
- rareWhitetip reef shark
Conditions
| Month | Water | Visibility | Current |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 21–23 °C | 25–40 m | mild |
| Feb | 21–22 °C | 25–40 m | mild |
| Mar | 21–23 °C | 25–40 m | mild |
| Apr | 22–24 °C | 25–40 m | mild |
| May | 24–26 °C | 25–35 m | mild |
| Jun | 26–28 °C | 20–30 m | mild |
| Jul | 27–29 °C | 20–30 m | mild |
| Aug | 28–29 °C | 20–30 m | mild |
| Sep | 27–29 °C | 25–35 m | mild |
| Oct | 26–28 °C | 25–40 m | mild |
| Nov | 24–26 °C | 25–40 m | mild |
| Dec | 22–24 °C | 25–40 m | mild |
Season calendar
Peak season highlighted · current month outlined
Gear for this site
Beyond the basic kit- Dive computer with depth/deep-stop alarms — The wall drops past 100 m at the rim, making it easy to exceed your planned depth without a hard reference
- SMB — Boat traffic and freedivers share the surface; mark your ascent before you come up the open wall
- Reef hook or good buoyancy discipline — There is no bottom to stand on over the hole — neutral trim keeps you off the shallow corals on the Saddle
Next step
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