Dahab

A former Bedouin fishing village on the Gulf of Aqaba coast of the Sinai Peninsula that developed into a low-key diving and snorkelling hub. The town's shallow lagoon, the Masbat, provides calm water for beginners, while sites such as the Blue Hole — a vertical underwater sinkhole a short distance north of town — are among the most famous dive sites in the world. The rugged Sinai mountains form a backdrop visible across the bay, and the Jordanian coast and Saudi mountains are visible on clear days. The town retains a more relaxed character than the large resort clusters further south at Sharm el-Sheikh.