Penguin Divers

Penguin Divers is an established dive centre and hotel situated in Dahab, South Sinai. Positioned a few steps from the main promenade, the centre provides easy access to the local cafes, restaurants, and shops that make the town a popular base for divers.

The centre has been operating for 30 years, combining professional diving services with on-site accommodation at the Penguin Village Hotel. This setup allows you to transition easily from your morning briefing to your afternoon rest, all while staying within walking distance of the shore.

The centre is affiliated with PADI and employs a team of certified instructors dedicated to safety and professional service. They cater to a wide spectrum of divers, from those looking to try the water for the first time to advanced divers seeking technical progression.

Their training programmes include everything from introductory dives to full Open Water and Advanced courses. Whether you are a complete novice or an experienced diver looking to refine your skills, the staff focus on delivering a structured and reliable learning environment.

Penguin Divers offers a complete range of PADI training. Beginners can start with Try Dives or Intro Dives to get comfortable in the water before progressing to the full Open Water Diver course.

For those looking to expand their capabilities, the centre also provides Advanced training. The instructors are experienced in guiding students through these certifications, ensuring you meet the necessary standards for your next level of diving.

The centre provides high-quality diving equipment for hire, including regulators, wetsuits, fins, and masks. This is a practical option for those travelling without their own full kit or for divers needing specific items for their stay.

For those staying at the Penguin Village, the facilities include a restaurant with a sea view and a Nubian-style lounge area by the Red Sea, providing a comfortable place to relax between dives.

The reefs around Dahab are home to a vast array of colourful reef fish. You will frequently encounter schools of fish, including snapper schools, fusiliers (Caesio), and anthias (Anthias). Larger residents such as groupers (Epinephelus), Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus), and various triggerfish (Balistidae) patrol the reef structures, while parrotfish (Calotomus) and unicornfish (Naso) graze on the coral.

For those watching the blue water, pelagics are a regular highlight. You may spot various sharks, including whitetip reef sharks (Triaenodon obesus), grey reef sharks (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos), and occasionally whale sharks. Schools of jacks (Carangidae), trevally, and tuna (Thunnus) move through the area, alongside rays such as blue-spotted stingrays and southern stingrays (Hypanus americanus).

Macro life and smaller inhabitants provide endless interest for observant divers. Keep an eye out for octopus (Octopus vulgaris), cuttlefish (Sepiidae), and various species of scorpionfish (Scorpaenidae). You might also find seahorses (Hippocampus kuda), nudibranchs (Chromodoris willani), and various shrimp (Caridea) tucked into the crevices.

The underwater landscape is built upon a foundation of healthy corals, including brain coral, soft corals, and sea fans (Gorgoniidae). These are accompanied by sponges (Porifera), sea anemones (Actiniaria), and various species of anemonefish.

Diving in the Dahab area is characterized by access to over 20 different tropical reefs. While specific current and swell data are not provided, the centre organises daily excursions to sites ranging from shallow reef flats to deeper wall dives.