Quick answer
Abu Dabbab is a sandy, sheltered bay about 30 km north of Marsa Alam town where green turtles graze on seagrass in shallow water, often within a short swim of the beach. It is one of the most reliable places in Egypt to snorkel with turtles; dugongs once fed here too, but sightings are now rare.
Why is Abu Dabbab famous?
Abu Dabbab is famous because green turtles feed on its seagrass meadow all year, in water shallow enough for snorkellers to watch them from the surface. The bay is a wide horseshoe of sand framed by reefs on both arms, so the water in the middle is usually calm and clear.
The seagrass grows on the sandy floor from a few metres down. Turtles graze on it slowly, surfacing every few minutes to breathe, which gives patient snorkellers long, close encounters without needing to dive. Other regulars include blue-spotted stingrays, garden eels on the sand, guitarfish, and remoras hitching rides on the turtles. The reefs on either side of the bay add coral and reef fish for a change of scene.
Will I see a dugong?
Probably not: Abu Dabbab was once known for a resident dugong, but sightings have become rare in recent years, so treat one as a bonus rather than a reason to go. Dugongs are the Red Sea's sea cows, the same species that grazes the seagrass of Queensland's coast and Shark Bay in Western Australia.
Red Sea dugong numbers are small and the animals range widely between bays. When one is seen, guides and rangers ask snorkellers to stay well back and never block its route to the surface. If dugongs are your goal, ask local dive centres for recent sightings before you travel, and keep expectations modest. Our Red Sea marine life guide covers what you can realistically expect along the coast.
Rules and responsible snorkelling
Snorkelling at Abu Dabbab is regulated: visitors keep to marked zones, often have to swim with a guide, and must keep their distance from turtles. The specific rules have been tightened at different times, including requirements for guided groups and limits on where you can swim, so check the current arrangement on arrival.
- Stay at least a few metres from turtles and never touch, chase, ride or feed them.
- Don't dive down on top of a turtle or block it from surfacing; let it come to you.
- Keep your fins off the seagrass: kicking up sand smothers it and clouds the water.
- Use a buoyancy vest if you are not a confident swimmer, so you can float calmly rather than thrash.
- Skip sunscreen in the water where you can; a rash vest and leggings are kinder to the bay.
Read our reef-safe travel guide before you go; the same principles protect turtles and coral.
When to go and how long to spend
Go early in the morning: the light is good, the water is calmest and you get the bay before day-trip groups from other resorts arrive late in the morning. Allow two to three hours, which is enough for two snorkels with a rest between.
Turtles are present all year. The water is warmest from about July to October (27–29°C) and coolest from January to March (about 22–23°C), when a thin wetsuit helps on long snorkels. Afternoons are often windier, which stirs up sand and reduces visibility over the seagrass.
Getting there and facilities
Abu Dabbab is about 30–40 minutes by road from Marsa Alam International Airport and roughly the same from Marsa Alam town; from Hurghada it is about 3–3.5 hours. Hotels sit on the bay, and guests use the beach directly.
Visitors from other hotels come by day trip or taxi. Access to the beach has usually involved an entry fee for non-residents and sometimes a compulsory guide fee; at the time of writing, ask your hotel or operator what is included. There is a dive centre on the beach, plus sunbeds, toilets and a cafe. If Abu Dabbab is busy, Marsa Mubarak, further south, is another bay where turtles graze seagrass.
Diving at Abu Dabbab
Divers can visit the turtles and the reefs on both arms of the bay from the shore, which makes Abu Dabbab a gentle place for a first or refresher dive. On the outer reef, the coral slopes away to deeper water, and the bay is one of several shore-dive sites along the coast north of Marsa Alam.
The dive centres here also run boats to the offshore reefs. Experienced divers combine a turtle dive with a day at Elphinstone Reef, a short boat ride south. For a different kind of encounter, snorkel with resting spinner dolphins at Samadai Reef. Our Red Sea snorkelling guide puts Abu Dabbab in context.
Abu Dabbab Bay: FAQs
Are turtles guaranteed at Abu Dabbab?
Nothing is guaranteed with wildlife, but green turtles feed here all year and most snorkellers see at least one, especially in the morning.
Can non-swimmers see the turtles?
Yes, with a buoyancy vest and a guide. The turtles feed in shallow water and can be watched from the surface without diving down.
Do I need to pay to visit Abu Dabbab beach?
Hotel guests on the bay generally don't. Day visitors have usually paid an entry fee and sometimes a guide fee; amounts change, so check on arrival.
Is Abu Dabbab suitable for children?
Yes, for children who can swim or float confidently in a vest. The bay is sheltered and the turtles are a highlight for kids; see Egypt with kids.
Where else can you see turtles near Marsa Alam?
Marsa Mubarak and several hotel house reefs along the coast also have seagrass and feeding turtles. Ask your hotel about its own bay.