Abu Dabbab Bay, Marsa Alam
مرسى أبو دباب
A sandy bay north of Marsa Alam where seagrass beds attract green sea turtles. You can snorkel straight from the beach to swim with the turtles, and you may even spot a dugong.
Abu Dabbab Bay lies about 30 km north of Marsa Alam. It is a semi-enclosed bay with coral reefs on both sides and a sandy seabed with seagrass beds in the middle. Seagrass is the main food of green sea turtles, so several turtles live in the bay year-round. Visitors can walk out from the beach and swim 10 to 30 metres, and it is very likely they will see turtles grazing on the seabed and surfacing to breathe. A dugong once lived in the bay for a long time, but it has been seen less often in recent years. The reefs on either side are home to lionfish, stingrays and guitarfish. The beach is managed by nearby resorts, so outside visitors must pay an entry fee (includes sun loungers; subject to local rules). Snorkelling gear can be rented, or you can join shore dives with a dive centre. Around Marsa Alam there are also Sataya Reef (where spinner dolphins are commonly seen), Elphinstone Reef (oceanic whitetip sharks) and Wadi Gimal National Park, suitable for visitors who want to avoid the crowds in Hurghada. Keep at least several metres away from the turtles, and do not touch, chase or feed them. Reduce kicking up sand while swimming. Marsa Alam International Airport (RMF) has European flights. The drive from Hurghada takes about 3–3.5 hours.
Opening hours
Open all day (entry times per the resort)
Nearby sights
- Marsa Shagra
- Elphinstone Reef
- Marsa Mubarak
- Port Ghalib
- Marsa Alam Town
- Samadai Reef (Dolphin House)
- Sharm El Luli
- Wadi El Gemal National Park