The Blue Hole at Dahab is one of the most famous dive sites on the planet, a stunning submarine sinkhole that plunges 100 meters straight down into the deep blue of the Red Sea, surrounded by a shallow coral reef teeming with tropical fish just meters from the Sinai coastline. The site is a near-perfect circle roughly 60 meters in diameter, with an underwater arch at 56 meters depth known as The Arch that connects the hole to the open sea. For experienced technical divers, the Blue Hole offers one of the most exhilarating deep dives in the world, but the site is equally spectacular for snorkelers and recreational divers who explore the shallow coral gardens that ring the sinkhole’s lip. Floating on the surface and gazing down into the abyss, where the crystalline turquoise water transitions through shades of cobalt to a bottomless indigo, is a mesmerizing experience that requires no diving certification at all.

The setting of the Blue Hole is as enchanting as the underwater world below. Dahab itself is a laid-back Bedouin fishing village turned backpacker haven, where simple seafront restaurants serve fresh fish on cushioned platforms overlooking the Red Sea, and the pace of life moves to the rhythm of the tides. The surrounding coastline offers a string of world-class dive sites including the Canyon, the Islands, and Gabr el-Bint, while the spectacular desert landscape of the Sinai Peninsula provides a dramatic backdrop of rust-colored mountains meeting azure water. A short drive inland leads to the Coloured Canyon, a narrow slot canyon with psychedelic bands of red, orange, and purple sandstone, and to the ancient monastery of St. Catherine at the foot of Mount Sinai.

Pro tip: Book a morning snorkeling session at the Blue Hole when the sun is high and penetrates deepest into the water, creating the most vivid blue color effect. The reef along the rim is at just 1-5 meters depth and hosts an incredible variety of clownfish, parrotfish, lionfish, and hard corals, making it one of the best snorkeling spots in Egypt even if you never dive. Have lunch afterward at one of the beachside restaurants right at the Blue Hole, where you can eat grilled fish while watching divers descend into the depths.