Japanese Gardens Coral Reefs - Dahab

Japanese Gardens isn't one of Dahab’s big names, but we love it for a relaxing, easy dive. It’s perfect for a second dive of the day, or just easing into your trip. We’d suggest going in the morning before any wind picks up, because it really makes the surface chop disappear, and then the light plays beautifully through the water. You drop straight onto a gentle slope, maybe 10 or 12 metres down, where the staghorn corals stretch out like, well, a garden. You’ll spot plenty of blennies here – the Smooth-fin and Arabian are regulars, darting in and out of the coral. We often find juvenile pufferfish hovering around the smaller coral heads, all studded and cute. Keep an eye out for the Coral hind, they’re usually lurking under ledges. The real draw here is the sheer density of the smaller stuff, the invertebrates especially. The Ringed Cones are often out, and if you’re lucky, you might even see a Spotted handfish doing its peculiar walk along the sand patches. It’s a site for slowing down, appreciating the smaller details, and just enjoying the warm Red Sea water.

Location
Dahab, Egypt, Red Sea & Middle East
Coordinates
29.429928, 34.973250
Type
reef

Marine Protected Area: محمية أبو جالوم

Best Time to Dive in Dahab

The warmest water temperatures in Dahab occur in August, averaging 27.9°C. The coolest conditions are in March at 20.9°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 22.0°C
  • February: 21.1°C
  • March: 20.9°C
  • April: 21.8°C
  • May: 24.0°C
  • June: 25.6°C
  • July: 26.5°C
  • August: 27.9°C
  • September: 27.3°C
  • October: 26.1°C
  • November: 25.4°C
  • December: 23.8°C

Nearby Dive Sites in Dahab

Nearest Dive Centres to Japanese Gardens Coral Reefs

Marine Life in Dahab

Home to 27 recorded species including 12 reef fish, 6 hard corals, 5 whales & dolphins, 1 clams & mussels, 1 sharks & rays, 1 sea snails & nudibranchs.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for Japanese Gardens Coral Reefs

Based on average water temperature of 24.4°C, currents 5 cm/s.

  • Shorty or Rashguard - warm 24°C water needs minimal exposure protection
  • Mask - essential for every dive
  • Fins
  • BCD - buoyancy compensator
  • Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
  • Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
  • Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
  • Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
  • Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories