Level: Free shore access This spot have a free shore access: you can go snorkeling there freely and without having to book a tour or pay an entrance fee.
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Last updated on November 10, 2023
The Caves is one of the most popular snorkeling spots in Eilat. Its varied underwater landscapes and its moderate depth make it an ideal site to observe the numerous fish that populate the Israeli reefs.
The Caves Snorkeling Spot is a haven for both novice and experienced snorkelers, offering crystal-clear waters that showcase the breathtaking beauty of the Red Sea’s diverse ecosystem.
Surgeonfish, angelfish and anemonefish are among the many species that can be seen here.
The Caves is located in the south of the Israeli Riviera, just before Princess Beach. It is in front of the parking lot you will see on the right when you arrive from Eilat, where Snuba Dive Center is located. You can park in the spaces on the side of the road.
Several passages in the reef, marked by buoys, allow entering the water without damaging the corals.
The Caves location got its name from the numerous small caves found in the reefs facing the beach. Most of the caves are closed by metal grids, and it is dangerous to try to venture into the ones that are still open.
This spot has the following topography: several round-shaped reefs, from 4 to 15 yards in diameter, are laid out on a sandy bottom. The reef tops are almost touching the surface (↕ 1-3 ft), and the sandy beds are about 15 to 18 feet deep.
While swimming from reef to reef, you will encounter rich and colorful sea life. On the small flats at the top of the reefs, Sohal surgeonfish are busy grazing on small algae, while many sergeant majors are swimming close to the surface. These fish swim along with the huge clown coris and rusty parrotfish visiting the reefs.
On the small drop-offs, all around the reefs, you will see the most fish: lionfish, groupers, purfferfish, anemonefish, and occasionally the beautiful emperor angelfish. Schools of squirrelfish and Arabian scolopsis shelter in the shaded areas near the caves entrances.
You will see a lot of scuba divers at this location, which is one of the most popular in Israel for a first dive.
There is no restaurant or hotel on site. If you go about 770 yards north, you will find places to eat, such as Migdalor Beach, in front of which there is excellent snorkeling.
These snorkeling spots are accessible to beginners and kids. You will enter the water gradually from a beach, or in a less than 3ft. deep area. The sea is generally calm, shallow, with almost no waves or currents. These spots are usually located in marked and/or monitored swimming areas. It is not necessary to swim long distances to discover the sea life. This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.
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Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.
