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Marsa Alam, Fury Shoals & the Deep SouthBeginnerbay

Marsa Abu Dabbab

Also known as Mersa Abu Dabbab; Abu Dabbab Bay; Dugong Bay; Turtle Bay

Large sheltered sandy bay with an extensive seagrass meadow - the best-known dugong and green-turtle site in Egypt

No detailed dive map yet

A close-up reef map of Marsa Abu Dabbab will appear here when available.

Large sheltered sandy bay with an extensive seagrass meadow - the best-known dugong and green-turtle site in Egypt. Sandy shore entry. The seagrass sits in 3-12 m so most of the interest is shallow. Depth 0–20 m; shore or day boat; Usually slight in the bay current. Red Sea Protectorates / Marsa Alam–Wadi el Gemal marine park area; Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) Red Sea Protectorates, with HEPCA involvement in mooring and site management.

Highlights

  • Large sheltered sandy bay with an extensive seagrass meadow - the best-known dugong and green-turtle site in Egypt
  • Sandy shore entry
  • the seagrass sits in 3-12 m so most of the interest is shallow

Marine life

  • dugong (Dugong dugon) - the bay's signature animal, resident but not guaranteed
  • large green turtles feeding on the seagrass meadow
  • guitar ray
  • frogfish
  • seahorses
  • crocodilefish
  • stingrays
  • giant moray

Good to know

Protected status
Red Sea Protectorates / Marsa Alam–Wadi el Gemal marine park area; Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) Red Sea Protectorates, with HEPCA involvement in mooring and site management. Local codes of conduct ask divers and snorkellers not to crowd, chase, touch or block the path of the dugong or turtles, and to keep clear of the animal's head; several operators impose a maximum group size and a minimum distance. The bay is heavily used by snorkel excursions.
Fees
Red Sea marine park / environmental fees have been levied intermittently; HEPCA records that as of January 2011 'no fees collection at all except the entrance fees to Samadai reef'. Day-boat operators commonly bundle a marine-park charge into the trip price.

More sites in Marsa Alam, Fury Shoals & the Deep South

Abu Bassala

Sickle-shaped reef with coral columns, gullies and cracks running down to a sandy bottom at 15-20 m

Abu Dabbab I

Coral garden with pinnacles and a cave

Abu Dabbab II

Caves and swim-throughs

Abu Dabbab III

Hard-coral reef with a cave crossing and a coral garden

Helwa Ya Baladi

Dalida