Gabr el Bint
Also known as: Gabr El Bint, Gabr El-Bint, Gabu El Bint, Grave of the Girl, Grave of the Little Girl
Remote southern wall and gorgonian dive, boat-access only from Dahab — two dives in one, with a dark chasm-cut wall and a pristine gorgonian forest.
Last updated June 2026
The dive
Gabr el Bint is two dives in one, divided by a hard coral buttress that splits the site into entirely different underwater worlds. The north side opens with a wall beginning around 8 metres, draped in gorgonian sea fans from 12 metres down to 30 metres and beyond. Work the wall, cross a sandy lagoon at 5 to 10 metres where crocodile fish wait on the bottom and a shoal of black-and-white snappers often holds in the shallows, and return along a reef crest thick with table corals. The south side is a different proposition. The wall drops sheer from the surface to 60 metres, broken by chasms, overhangs, and cave openings that appear at around 22 metres. Beyond the wall edge is open blue water where grey reef sharks move in and out of visibility at depth.
Each dive follows the same overall format: wall, blue water, reef return. The distinction is character. The north dive is warm and colourful. The south dive is raw and vertical.
What makes it special
The 1-hour boat ride from Dahab is not an obstacle — it is the point. Dahab's shore sites handle high visitor numbers daily, and the traffic shows in patchy reef sections and habituated animals. Gabr el Bint, because reaching it takes a committed half-day, sees a small fraction of that pressure. The reef is in outstanding condition. The gorgonian forest on the north wall is exceptional by Red Sea standards, not just by Dahab's. It is one of Dahab's most rewarding dives and one of the most unusual sites along the Sinai coast — and it earns those descriptions precisely because so few people make the trip.
Local divers treat the site as a special-occasion destination rather than a routine slot. That framing is accurate: Gabr el Bint is a full day spent well, not a quick fix between breakfast and lunch.
Know before you go
Pack food and water for the boat. Surface intervals happen on the deck with no shore access, and early morning departures are standard to make the most of the day. Gulf of Aqaba water runs significantly saltier than other oceans at around 41 parts per thousand; carry more weight than your usual loadout or ask your guide to advise before the first descent.
The south wall suits Advanced Open Water and above. If your group is mixed certification, the north wall and lagoon are the appropriate dive for Open Water divers — they offer excellent reef, full marine life, and no pressure to go deep. Do not enter the cave openings on the south wall without cave diving certification. The camel safari option exists through some operators and is worth considering if you want an unusual day with a more adventurous approach — plan for significantly more travel time each way.
Why Dive Gabr el Bint
What makes this dive site stand out.
- Two dives in one site
Dark south wall with chasms to 60m and colourful north gorgonian wall are distinct experiences
- Gorgonian forest 12-30m
Dense sea fan colonies on the north wall, described as exceptional even by Red Sea standards
- Pristine reef condition
Remote boat access keeps visitor numbers low; reef health is outstanding and consistently reported
- Full-day boat excursion
1-hour trip from Dahab; two dives plus possible bonus dives on the return
- Cave entries at 22m
South wall has cave openings accessible to certified cave divers
Depth & Profile
Location
28.3534°N, 34.4336°E
Conditions & difficulty
Summary
Moderate current runs along both walls. South wall suits advanced divers; north wall and lagoon are accessible to OW+.
Safety considerations
What can go wrong here, and what divers do about it. Conditions change - take the briefing from the operator on the day.
- Depth: South wall drops to 60m. Plan within certification and gas limits.Agree max depth before descending; south wall is for AOW and beyond.
- Current: Moderate current can run along both walls.Buoyancy control and close buddy contact. Brief with guide on current direction before each dive.
- Remote location: No shore access at the site. 1-hour boat ride from Dahab.Maintain boat check-in protocols. Confirm emergency contacts and nearest hyperbaric facility before departure.
- Overhead: Cave openings at ~22m on the south wall.Cave entry requires cave diving certification. No penetration without proper certification and equipment.
Marine Life
Regulations
No collecting, no fish feeding, no spearfishing, no walking or anchoring on reef, leave before sunset, no motor vehicles on beaches. Falls within a managed resources protected area. National Park entrance fee applies, typically included in operator boat-trip packages. Verify fee coverage at booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get to Gabr el Bint from Dahab?▾
By day boat from Dahab marina, approximately 1 hour each way. Some operators also offer a camel trek approach from the south, which takes 2 or more hours but adds a coastal expedition element. Most divers take the boat to maximise dive time.
Is Gabr el Bint suitable for Open Water divers?▾
The north wall and sandy lagoon are accessible to Open Water divers with experience in moderate current. The south wall below 30m requires Advanced Open Water or equivalent, and the cave openings at 22m are strictly for cave-certified divers. Most day-trip groups are mixed-certification, with each diver working their appropriate depth on each side.
What makes Gabr el Bint different from Dahab's shore sites?▾
The remote access is the main distinction. While shore sites like the Blue Hole and The Canyon absorb hundreds of divers weekly, Gabr el Bint sees a fraction of that traffic. The result is exceptional reef health and larger animal encounters that are harder to find on the well-dived northern sites.
Can you do both the north and south dive on the same day?▾
Yes, and that is the standard format. The full-day trip covers one dive on the north gorgonian wall and one on the south dark wall, with a surface interval on the boat and often a bonus dive at a nearby site on the return. Bring food and sun protection.
What is the name Gabr el Bint about?▾
The name translates from Arabic as 'Grave of the Little Girl' or 'Grave of the Girl.' A Bedouin legend connects the name to a young girl who drowned near the site. The name appears consistently across all accounts of the site.
When should I dive Gabr el Bint?▾
The site is diveable year-round. March to June and September to December offer the most comfortable conditions. September to November is particularly recommended — water retains summer warmth, visibility is at its best, and the site is quieter.
Are there sharks at Gabr el Bint?▾
Grey reef sharks have been reported by multiple divers at depth on the south wall and in the open water beyond it. Sightings are not guaranteed, but the site consistently produces large animal encounters compared to Dahab's busier shore sites.
Where is the nearest hyperbaric chamber, and what are the emergency contacts?▾
This matters more here than at Dahab's shore sites, because Gabr el Bint is a remote deep boat dive about an hour from the marina. Dahab operates its own hyperbaric chamber (the Hyperbaric Medical Center, Dahab); the larger DAN-network facility is in Sharm el-Sheikh, roughly 90 km south. Emergency number in Egypt is 123. DAN Europe diving-emergency line: +39 06 4211 8685. Before departure, confirm the boat carries oxygen and that the crew has these contacts.
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