Explore. Connect. Reset.
Under the Surface
A diving and wellbeing retreat in Dahab, Egypt. A week away from the noise of everyday life. Discover the Red Sea, experience something different and spend time with other men in an environment where you can simply be yourself.
Clearer. Calmer. Stronger. Together.
Same men. A brighter tomorrow.
Under the Surface is a small-group retreat from Mend Coaching, combining diving, outdoor adventure and meaningful connection with space to slow down, reflect and reconnect with yourself.
You don’t need to have everything figured out. You don’t need to arrive with a particular problem to solve. You just need to be open to the experience.
Summer 2027
Exact dates to be confirmed. Pricing coming soon. Register your interest below and you’ll be among the first to hear.
More than a diving holiday
Dahab is a place where life moves at a different pace. Between the mountains, the desert and the Red Sea, there is room to step away from everyday pressures and experience something new.
Our days will be built around diving and exploring, with time for rest, movement, conversation and connection. Some moments will be adventurous. Others will be quiet. There will be opportunities to reflect, but no pressure to share more than you want to.
This is not about fixing yourself or becoming someone different. It is about creating space to enjoy life, connect with others and perhaps return home with a little more clarity about what matters to you.
Why diving
Two kinds of going under
The name works twice. There is the literal version: dropping below the surface of the Red Sea and seeing what lives down there. And there is the quieter one: looking beneath the surface of your own life, at what sits under the noise, the roles and the routines you have stopped questioning.
The week holds both at once. Nobody will ask you to dig around in your history. But putting yourself in unfamiliar water, with unfamiliar men, has a way of loosening things that a normal week at home never touches.
Why diving, and not just a nice week away
Diving isn’t a metaphor we bolted on afterwards. The activity itself asks something of you that most of daily life doesn’t.
- It slows your breathing. You cannot dive well while breathing fast and shallow. The activity quietly trains a calmer, steadier way of being in your own body.
- It demands the present moment. Depth, air, buoyancy, your buddy. There is no attention left over to rehearse an argument or worry about work. It is one of the few places where the mind is quiet because it has to be.
- It changes your senses. Weightlessness and near-silence. No phone, no noise, no role to perform for anyone.
- The reef produces real awe. Colour, scale, life you have never seen. Awe tends to put ordinary worries back in proportion without anyone having to say anything about it.
- You dive with a buddy. A small, practical kind of trust gets built between men long before anyone has a “real conversation”.
- It gives the week a shape. Brief, dive, debrief, rest, repeat. Structure matters, particularly for men who find unstructured downtime harder than they would like to admit.
Why Dahab
Dahab is not a resort strip. It is a calm, unpretentious town where the pace is slower than a typical beach holiday and nobody is trying to sell you an experience. The water is warm and clear, and much of the diving is straight off the shore, which suits complete beginners and experienced divers in the same group.
Then there is the setting. Desert, mountains and sea meeting in one place does a good deal of the perspective work on its own, before a single conversation starts.
What to expect
Diving, connection, and room to breathe
Incredible diving
Explore the Red Sea with an experienced local dive centre. Whether you're already qualified or curious about trying diving for the first time, we'll help you explore the options appropriate to your experience.
Meaningful connection
Time with a small group of men through shared experiences, relaxed conversations and facilitated group circles. No pressure to perform, impress or have all the answers.
Space to slow down
Gentle movement, optional grounding and breathwork, quiet time and the chance for individual conversations. The wellbeing element supports your experience, it doesn't fill every hour of your day.
Adventure beyond the water
More of Dahab through desert landscapes, local culture, beach time and the freedom to explore at your own pace.
Time for yourself
Plenty of space to rest, read, wander, sit by the sea or simply do nothing. Not every moment needs to be productive.
A typical day
We might begin with breakfast and an optional grounding practice before heading out for the morning’s diving. After lunch, the afternoon is yours to rest, explore or spend time with the group. Later, there may be gentle movement, an optional sharing circle or time for a 1:1 conversation.
Evenings will be relaxed, with dinner together and the freedom to enjoy Dahab. Some days will be dedicated entirely to diving or other activities. The schedule will be designed to create a balance between adventure, connection and genuine downtime.
Day by day
- Day 1Arrive, settle in, welcome dinner and introductions.
- Day 2Diving and an evening connection circle.
- Day 3Diving, free afternoon and optional 1:1s.
- Day 4Desert adventure, rest, movement and reflection.
- Day 5Diving and an optional sharing circle.
- Day 6Diving or alternative activities, relaxed evening.
- Day 7Free day, exploring Dahab and farewell dinner.
- Day 8Departure.
The schedule may vary, with some days focused purely on diving or other activities.
Who is this for?
Under the Surface is for men who want to step away from everyday life and experience something meaningful in good company. You might be navigating a period of change, feeling disconnected from yourself, wanting to build confidence, or simply looking for an adventure that offers more than the usual holiday.
You don’t need to be in crisis, have a particular diagnosis or be an existing coaching client. The retreat is suitable for both qualified divers and beginners, subject to the appropriate diving requirements and available options.
The Mend Coaching approach
Mend Coaching is built around the belief that meaningful change does not always happen in a therapy room or through a structured programme. Sometimes it begins through connection, new experiences, honest conversations and having enough space to hear yourself again.
The retreat will be facilitated with care, clear boundaries and respect for each person’s experience. Participation in wellbeing activities will be optional, and nobody will be expected to disclose personal information.
This is a wellbeing and personal development retreat, not a substitute for therapy, medical care or mental health treatment. We will have a conversation with each prospective guest to make sure the experience is appropriate for them.
Real conversations. Brighter tomorrows.
Retreat details
- Location
- Dahab, Egypt
- Duration
- 7 nights
- Group size
- Approximately 6–8 men
- Diving
- Delivered by a qualified local dive centre
- Experience
- Beginners and qualified divers welcome, subject to suitable arrangements
- Dates
- Summer 2027 (exact dates to be confirmed)
- Price
- Coming soon
- Flights
- Not included (we'll support you with options)
- Accommodation
- Private villa or guesthouse
Register your interest
Be among the first to hear
We are currently developing Under the Surface and inviting expressions of interest from men who would like to be part of the first retreat. Registering your interest does not commit you to booking or paying a deposit. It simply means you will be among the first to hear when the dates, accommodation, diving options and pricing are confirmed.
Whether you are an experienced diver, have always wanted to try scuba diving, or are simply curious about the wellbeing experience, we would love to hear from you. Complete the short form and we will be in touch with further details as the retreat takes shape.
Not sure if it’s right for you? You’re welcome to contact Jaymes for an informal conversation about the retreat, the diving options and what you’re hoping to get from the experience. Places will be limited to keep the group small and the experience personal.
FAQ
What men ask about Under the Surface
Also on the horizon
Prefer to stay closer to home? There’s a 4-day men’s retreat in the UK countryside, and you can see everything we’re planning on the retreats page.