Abu Dabbab

A shallow seagrass bay north of Marsa Alam, the coast’s most reliable place to see dugongs and green turtles — and one of its easiest shore dives.

Depth

3–20m across the seagrass bay; the outer reefs run deeper

Access

Shore entry from the beach at Abu Dabbab, about 30 minutes north of Marsa Alam town

Best season

Year-round; the bay is sheltered enough to dive on days when offshore sites are cancelled

Level

Beginner

Conditions

• Shallow, sandy and sheltered; minimal current inside the bay
• Easy shore entry, which makes it a common training and check-dive site
• Visibility varies with wind and with how much the seagrass has been stirred up

What you are likely to see

• Dugong — the reason most people come, though sightings are never guaranteed
• Green turtles feeding on the seagrass, seen most dives
• Guitar sharks and stingrays on the sand
• Giant moray on the outer reefs

What to watch out for

• The bay gets busy, and crowding around a feeding dugong is the main threat to the animal and the main reason a sighting ends early. Keep your distance and stay behind it.
• Do not chase, touch, or block the path of a dugong or turtle. Beyond the harm, it is the fastest way to get the site restricted for everyone.
• Seagrass is the habitat, not scenery: fin control matters more here than on a coral wall.

This is planning information, not a dive briefing or a substitute for one. Conditions change; your guide on the day is the authority. Diving emergency numbers and the coast’s recompression chambers are on our emergency contacts page.