Lighthouse, Dahab: Reef, Artificial Structures, and Night Dives

Lighthouse Reef, situated at the northern end of a sheltered bay in Dahab, Egypt, offers a straightforward shore entry into a diverse underwater landscape. Divers begin directly from the shore, entering a shallow sandy area that gradually slopes down, making it an ideal spot for gear checks and buoyancy control. This initial section transitions into calm, shallow areas with sand and seagrass beds before evolving into rich coral gardens. The topography is characterized by a gentle slope scattered with coral formations, descending in a series of terraces to depths beyond 40 metres, accommodating various dive profiles and certification levels.

The site's structural diversity ensures new encounters even across multiple dives. Heading left from the entry point, divers can explore vibrant coral reefs and different depth contours down to 40 metres, where groupers and parrotfish can be found. Moving to the right leads towards a seagrass bed, often called Banner Fish Bay, which hosts a different ecosystem for macro life. This area, sometimes referred to as 'the dump' due to scattered debris like tyres and old structures, provides a unique environment for keen-eyed divers to discover small white moray eels and shrimp. A notable artificial reef project at Lighthouse includes an underwater military museum and an expanding sculpture garden, featuring submerged statues ranging from human figures to marine-inspired art. A distinctive elephant statue rests at 26 metres, adding unique visual elements and serving as artificial habitats.

Lighthouse Reef is home to a rich array of marine life. Resident species include lionfish (Pterois miles), octopuses (Octopoda), scorpionfish, and moray eels (Muraenidae), often found sheltering within the reef structures and artificial installations. Clownfish (Amphiprioninae) are also present among the corals. Seahorses (Hippocampus spp.) can be found in the seagrass beds, rewarding patient observation. Large loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) are consistently encountered throughout the year, and during the summer months, large rays (Myliobatoidea) frequent the area. The site also attracts pelagic species, with occasional sightings of Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus), sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus), and tuna (Thunnini). Dolphins (Delphinidae) and whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) have also been observed visiting the bay.

After sunset, Lighthouse transforms into a prime location for night dives. The marine life shifts, with Spanish dancers (Hexabranchus sanguineus) emerging, alongside anemone crabs (Lybia tessellata) and various shrimp (Caridea). Lobsters (Palinuridae) and other crustaceans become more visible, patrolling the reef and sandy areas. Lionfish actively hunt, and the water comes alive with bioluminescent plankton. Moray eels and octopuses are also active hunters during the night. The gentle slope and clear layout of the site facilitate navigation in low light, defining it as one of Dahab’s premier night diving destinations.

While Lighthouse Reef is an easily accessible and popular site, divers should be aware of surface activity. Surfers operate close to the shoreline, particularly in certain zones, so planning ascents and safety stops away from these areas is a practical consideration. This shared space requires attention during ascent to ensure surfacing clear of overhead traffic. The site's relative calm and protected nature make it an excellent environment for buoyancy control development, with the absence of strong currents across most of the dive profile allowing divers to focus on trim and finning techniques in a stable setting.