The coral rim
Snorkelling among fish.
Magellan — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Ggerdel - Fotografía tomada por: Gustavo Gerdel — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Mohamed kamal 1984 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Tim Sheerman-Chase — CC BY 2.0 · Francesco Lo Bello — CC BY 3.0 · Grand Parc - Bordeaux, France from France — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Tommi Salminen (Tsalminen (talk)) — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Tim Sheerman-Chase — CC BY 2.0
A deep sinkhole in the coral reef close to shore, a few kilometres north of Dahab, more than a hundred metres deep, its dark blue clearly set apart from the shallow turquoise water around it. The hole meets the open sea through a shallow gap about six metres down called the Saddle, and a deep tunnel called the Arch whose roof begins at fifty-five metres. Coral and colourful fish line its rim, making it good for snorkelling along the edge straight from the shore. The Blue Hole is one of the world's best-known freediving sites for its depth close to shore and calm water, but it is also one of the most dangerous dive sites, where many divers have lost their lives trying to pass the Arch; memorial plaques on the rocks near the shore remember them. Snorkelling on the rim suits most visitors, while deep diving is for experienced divers with licensed guides only. Simple cafés on the shore rent snorkel gear, and a small fee may be collected at the site.
Snorkelling among fish.
A world-famous site.
A hole in turquoise.
North of Dahab, on the Gulf of Aqaba coast
Snorkelling the rim with a life vest is safe for most people in calm water, while deep diving and passing the Arch is very dangerous and only for professionals.