Planning a trip?
Hotels, dive operators, gear, and how to get here are on the Ras Mohammed location page.
Overview
A limestone slot canyon punched through the fringing reef 8 km north of Dahab, entered through a shallow sandy lagoon called the Fish Bowl at 14 m. The fissure snakes upward from the depths almost closed at the top, with three windows in the roof: the Fish Bowl entry, a wide opening at 22 m, and the seaward exit at 52 m where divers swim out into open water. Inside, glassfish swarm the chimney walls in clouds thick enough to dim the surface light. The coral garden outside at 5 to 10 m holds octopus, scorpionfish, lionfish and bluespotted ribbontail rays, and serves as both the safety stop and the recreational alternative for divers staying out of the slot itself.
Briefing note
Overhead environment with all canyon depths exceeding recreational limits and a documented history of narcosis fatalities at the deep exit. Many divers and operators treat the slot as a technical objective and run the shallow coral garden plus the Fish Bowl as a separate open water profile. Shore access only; a small fee covers the Bedouin car park and rest area at the entry.
What you'll see
7 species curated- year-roundGlassfish
- year-roundDay octopus
- year-roundCommon lionfish
- year-roundScorpionfish
- year-roundBluespotted ribbontail ray
- year-roundGiant moray
- rareHawksbill turtle
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- Torch — The canyon roof is almost closed at the top; a light reveals the glassfish curtains and the cracks in the limestone walls
- Dive computer with deep alarms — The exit at 52 m sits well outside recreational limits and narcosis at depth has killed divers here
- SMB — Surface support is shore based and boat traffic crosses the bay; mark your ascent if you drift away from the entry
Next step
Book your trip to Ras Mohammed
Hotels, liveaboards, dive operators, gear recommendations, and travel logistics for the whole region.
Plan your trip →Some links earn us a commission. Learn more