Dive the Red Sea with a Local Who Knows Every Reef by Heart
I'm Osama - my family was one of the first to settle in Dahab back in 1983, opening the legendary Shark Restaurant. After years of hosting visitors on land, I took my hospitality underwater in 2011. Whether you're taking your first breath underwater or conquering the Blue Hole, you're not just a tourist to me - you're a guest in my home.
PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer | Pioneer Family Since 1983 | Shark Restaurant Legacy
Crystal-clear Red Sea waters, world-class dive sites, and a laid-back vibe you won't find anywhere else
There's a reason divers travel from every corner of the globe to descend into this legendary sinkhole. Open Water certification is the minimum requirement. The famous Arch is strictly for Technical Divers - recreational diving here tops out at 40 meters. Having explored the Blue Hole over 1,000 times, I know its secrets, its moods, and exactly how to show you its magic safely.
Imagine descending through a narrow passage as beams of sunlight pierce through the water above you. The Canyon is Dahab's underwater cathedral - dramatic walls covered in soft corals, home to lionfish, moray eels, and schools of glassfish.
Forget crowded dive boats and rough seas. In Dahab, you walk to your dive site. Gear up on the beach, wade in through calm waters, and you're diving within minutes. More time underwater, less time commuting.
My name is Osama, and my family's story in Dahab begins in 1983 - when we became the fourth family to settle here, moving from Cairo to this remote paradise where the desert meets the sea.
My family opened Shark Restaurant - now one of the most famous seafood restaurants in Dahab, rated 4.5 on TripAdvisor with over 1,350 reviews. For decades, we've welcomed visitors to our table. In 2011, I decided to extend that hospitality to a new dimension: underwater.
What makes diving with me different? I don't treat you as a tourist - you're a guest in my home. Just as we serve you at our restaurant with love, I share the underwater world with the same care. I know every dive site from north to south, the weather patterns, the sea life, and exactly where to find the magic.
From my years exploring Dahab's waters, here are the diving journeys I'm most passionate about sharing
Interested in any of these experiences? I'm happy to share recommendations and help connect you with CDWS-registered dive centers in Dahab.
Try Diving Before You Commit
Not sure if diving is for you? The Intro is a simplified demo dive at the Lighthouse - Dahab's authorized location with easy entry and exit. The water is shallow and confined, but don't let that fool you: fish, marine life, and coral reefs are right there. It's the perfect way to see if you love it before committing to the full Open Water course.
Typical Duration: Typically Half Day
Location: The Lighthouse, Dahab
Level: No experience needed
The Passport to a Blue World
Your Open Water certification unlocks every dive site on the planet down to 18 meters. But the real focus isn't just depth - it's learning to handle your equipment, deal with malfunctions, and perform essential exercises underwater. By the end, you'll have the buoyancy skills and confidence to continue your diving journey anywhere in the world.
Typical Duration: 3-4 Days
Location: Dahab
Level: Perfect for beginners
Unlock the World's Best Dive Sites
The Advanced course is where diving truly opens up. Five dives over two days, including two compulsory dives - Deep Adventure (to 30m) and Underwater Navigation - plus three electives you choose: Boat Diving, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Night Adventure, or Fish ID. Navigation isn't just about a compass - it's learning to read the environment: currents, light, reefs, and marine life as your guide. The compass is your backup when natural references aren't available. This is also where you learn to protect the marine environment.
Typical Duration: 2 Days (5 Dives)
Location: Dahab + North Sinai
Level: Open Water certified
Open Water Saves Yourself. Rescue Saves Others.
Open Water teaches you to rescue yourself. Advanced teaches you to protect the environment. Rescue is about saving others. This course transforms how you see diving - awareness sharpens, compassion deepens, and you become a true guardian of the sea. Prerequisites: Advanced certification plus a minimum of 20 logged dives. We're strict on the 20 dives - safety and competence come first.
Typical Duration: 3-4 Days
Location: Dahab
Level: Advanced + 20 logged dives
A Pilgrimage for Divers
People ask why I never tire of the Blue Hole after thousands of dives. This legendary sinkhole holds more moods than the sea has colors. Important: anyone diving the Blue Hole must have at least an Open Water certification. And The Arch? That's strictly for Technical Divers - it requires specialized tech courses, not recreational training. Recreational diving here is limited to a maximum depth of 40 meters. Safety first, always.
Typical Duration: Half Day Trip
Location: Blue Hole, Dahab
Level: Open Water certified (minimum)
The Old Way to the Sea
Before trucks, before cars, Bedouins crossed Sinai by camel. This safari honors that tradition - riding through bronze canyons to reach reefs that speedboats will never find. Best suited for Advanced divers due to the nature of the sites, but snorkelers are also welcome with a private guide. We never just drop snorkelers off - safety first, a guide always accompanies you.
Typical Duration: Full Day Adventure
Location: Ras Abu Galum
Level: Advanced recommended / Snorkelers with guide
Turn Your Passion Into a Profession
The Divemaster course is the first professional level in diving. Over 2 weeks to a month, you'll transition from recreational diver to dive professional - learning to lead dives, assist instructors, and manage diving activities. This is where your love for the ocean becomes a career.
Typical Duration: 2 Weeks - 1 Month
Location: Dahab
Level: Rescue Diver certified
Go Deeper Into What You Love
Want to specialize? Choose from Deep Specialty (3 dives, can be done in one day), Nitrox (extend your dive time), Night Diving, Peak Performance Buoyancy, or Boat Diving. Most specialties are 3-4 dives. Each one sharpens a specific skill and opens new underwater experiences.
Typical Duration: 1-2 Days
Location: Dahab
Level: Varies by specialty
Real experiences from divers who became friends
Diving with Osama felt like visiting a friend, not hiring an instructor. He picked us up, we had tea with his family, then explored the Blue Hole together. His father opened Shark Restaurant in 1983 - this family knows Dahab like no one else.
Markus W.
Munich, Germany
Oct 2024
I was nervous about my first open water certification. Osama never rushed me, explained everything twice if needed, and somehow made me feel completely safe 18 meters under. Best decision of my life.
Emma T.
Bristol, UK
Jan 2025
After the dive, Osama took us to his family's restaurant - Shark. Fresh grilled fish, the Red Sea sparkling in the sunset... I've dived all over the world but this was something else. You're not a tourist here, you're a guest.
Mike D.
San Diego, USA
Nov 2024
He knows where every Napoleon wrasse hides, which coral shelters the octopus, when the turtles come through. Forty years of family knowledge of these waters - you simply cannot get this from a regular dive shop.
Sophie L.
Lyon, France
Sep 2024
Safety first, always. Osama checked our equipment three times, briefed us thoroughly, and I never once felt uncertain. For a nervous diver like me, that confidence means everything.
Jan V.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Dec 2024
Did my Advanced cert with Osama. The night dive was incredible - bioluminescence everywhere! But the real highlight was the camel trip to Abu Galum. Bedouin tea, pristine reefs, no crowds. Magical.
Rachel K.
Melbourne, Australia
Aug 2024
Over the years, I've had the privilege of meeting amazing people from around the world who share my love for Dahab's waters
“Osama made my first diving experience absolutely incredible. His patience and expertise gave me the confidence to explore the underwater world. Dahab is now my favorite place on Earth!”
Sarah M.
Germany - First time diving in Dahab
“The Blue Hole dive was the highlight of my trip to Egypt. Osama's 15+ years of experience at this site really shows. He knows every inch of it. Felt completely safe the entire time.”
James T.
United Kingdom - Blue Hole adventure
“After an amazing morning dive at the Canyon, Osama took us to his family's restaurant for the freshest seafood I've ever had. That's Dahab - the diving is incredible, but it's the hospitality that makes you want to come back.”
Maria L.
Spain - The complete Dahab experience
Moments captured from the underwater paradise of Dahab - from the famous Blue Hole to hidden coral gardens
Have questions about diving in Dahab? Want to know which course is right for you? I'm happy to help you plan your underwater adventure.
Send me a message and I typically respond within a few hours.
