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All Egypt Qesm Saint Katrin Red Sea Blue Hole

Red Sea Blue Hole

The deadliest diving spot in the world is also a stunning geological marvel.

Qesm Saint Katrin, Egypt

Added By
Allison Meier
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Red Sea Blue Hole   mattkieffer/Flickr
Red Sea Blue Hole   mattkieffer/Flickr
Memorials to divers who perished in the Blue Hole.   tim_uk/Flickr
The “saddle” around the Blue Hole.   tim_uk/Flickr
Red Sea Blue Hole   jrover/Flickr
Red Sea Blue Hole   strato56/Flickr
Red Sea Blue Hole   mattkieffer/Flickr
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About

The Blue Hole in the Red Sea just north of Dahab, Egypt, is known as the "Diver's Cemetery" for the staggering number of intrepid swimmers who perished in its depths.

At least 40 divers have died in the 462 feet deep blue hole — a geological phenomenon where a chasm created from an underwater cave opens for several hundred feet while the area around it is much shallower. Memorials on a ridge overlook the diving spot, where despite, or because of, its infamy, people still swim in the hole every single day. 

The danger of the Blue Hole is that there's a tunnel through the reef that connects it to open water, and while the signs on shore advertise "Easy Entry," it's the escape from the seaward tunnel that is deadly. 

Related Tags

Blue Holes Natural Wonders Water Nature
Atlas Obscura Adventures

Egypt Family Adventure: Pyramids, Mummies & The Mighty Nile

Cross dream-like deserts and uncover the secrets of ancient pyramids.

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Community Contributors

Added By

Allison

Edited By

Rachel

  • Rachel

Published

January 9, 2014

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Sources
  • http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/the-blue-hole-in-the-red-sea-is-the-deadliest-dive-site-in-the-world-a-844099.html
  • http://abcnews.go.com/International/visit-worlds-deadliest-dive-site/story?id=16772927
Red Sea Blue Hole
Qesm Saint Katrin
Egypt
28.509136, 34.513634

Nearby Places

Blue Desert

Qesm Sharm Ash Sheikh, Egypt

miles away

St. Catherine's Monastery

Qesm Saint Katrin, Egypt

miles away

Mount Horeb

Saudi Arabia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Qesm Saint Katrin

Qesm Saint Katrin

Egypt

Places 2

Nearby Places

Blue Desert

Qesm Sharm Ash Sheikh, Egypt

miles away

St. Catherine's Monastery

Qesm Saint Katrin, Egypt

miles away

Mount Horeb

Saudi Arabia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Qesm Saint Katrin

Qesm Saint Katrin

Egypt

Places 2

Related Stories and Lists

Red Sea Blue Hole

Podcast

By The Podcast Team

Blue Holes: A Descent into the World's Hidden Waters

blue holes

By Allison Meier

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