2025 Abu Dabbab Dugong & Turtle Trip: A Personal Review
You know, there are some places on Earth that just sort of call to you, right? So, for me, that place was always Marsa Alam. I had, like, this long-held dream of seeing a dugong in its natural home, and honestly, everyone I spoke to said Abu Dabbab was the spot. So, I finally booked the ‘Dive with Dugongs and Turtles’ two-descent trip for my 2025 holiday, and basically, I went in with some pretty high hopes. The idea of seeing these huge, peaceful sea cows and, of course, the resident turtles was almost too good to be true. At the end of the day, I wanted to share my real, honest-to-goodness experience for anyone thinking about doing the same thing. Frankly, I think it’s good to have a real story from someone who’s just been there, you know?
The Morning: Getting Ready and Heading to the Bay
So, the day started off quite early, obviously. A shuttle picked me up from the hotel, and honestly, the air was already warm and had that kind of salty smell that just gets you excited. We, that is the other guests and I, arrived at the aquatic center, and the team there was, like, really friendly and got us sorted out with gear pretty quickly. Frankly, everything seemed to fit well, which is always, you know, a bit of a relief. The lead guide then gathered us for a briefing, which was actually super interesting. He didn’t just talk about safety stuff, which of course is top priority, but he, like, told us about the bay’s ecosystem and the specific animals we hoped to see. He really painted a picture of what to expect, and that, you know, just made the anticipation build even more. As a matter of fact, his respect for the marine life was so clear, reminding us how to behave to keep the animals safe and comfortable, which I really appreciated. By the way, the ride out to the bay itself was short and gave us a stunning view of the coastline, so you will want your camera ready for that part, for sure.
The First Water Entry: Hello, Turtle Bay!
Okay, so that first moment of rolling back into the Red Sea water is just, like, incredible. It’s almost this instant silence, you know, where all you hear is your own breathing. Anyway, we began our descent, and the underwater world of Abu Dabbab just opened up beneath us. The bay has this very big, sandy floor, which, frankly, is dotted with huge patches of seagrass. This seagrass is basically what brings all the amazing creatures here. And seriously, it didn’t take long. Like, maybe five minutes into our time below, our guide pointed, and there it was, a massive green sea turtle just sort of chilling on the bottom. It was, like, completely unbothered by our presence. We watched it for a bit as it munched on some seagrass, and it was pretty much the most peaceful thing I’ve ever seen. We actually saw several more during that first outing, some swimming gracefully by, others just resting. I mean, they are so ancient and calm, and it really puts things into perspective, you know?
You know, there’s this feeling of being a visitor in their world, and honestly, you just have to slow down and appreciate how unbelievably special that moment is.
The Search for the Sea Cow
So, after the turtles, the next goal was, obviously, the dugong. This part of the experience felt a little bit like a safari, in a way. Our guide led us over these massive fields of seagrass, which are pretty much the dugongs’ dining room. At first, honestly, we didn’t see anything, and I was starting to think, okay, maybe today’s not the day. You can’t, you know, schedule these things. The guides were actually pointing out other cool things, like a bluespotted ribbontail ray and a few guitarfish, so the time was still really cool. And then, it happened. The guide gave the signal, and like, there in the distance was this huge, slow-moving shape. It was honestly massive, much bigger than I thought it would be. We kept a very respectful distance, as we were told, and just watched. This dugong, nicknamed Dennis by the locals, was just hoovering up seagrass, leaving little sand clouds behind. It was so incredibly serene. It’s hard to put into words, really, but watching such a rare and gentle animal go about its day is an experience that, like, stays with you for a very long time. It was a really special encounter, for sure.
Surface Interval and the Vibe Onboard
So, the time between the two explorations is what they call the surface interval. Basically, this is your time to rest, warm up, and, you know, get ready for the next part of the trip. The crew on our boat was, frankly, amazing. They had fresh fruit, biscuits, and hot tea waiting for us as soon as we got out of the water. Honestly, a warm cup of tea has never tasted so good. The atmosphere was just so relaxed and happy. Everyone was, you know, buzzing from what we had just seen, sharing pictures and stories. It was a really nice group of people from all over, all there for the same reason. It didn’t feel like a stuffy, formal tour at all; instead, it felt more like a day out with friends, sort of. This downtime is actually a big part of the whole experience, and they did it really well. At the end of the day, you get to chat with the guides more and ask all the questions you want about the marine life and the area.
A Few Honest Tips for Your Trip
Alright, so if you’re going to do this trip, I have a few pieces of advice, for what it’s worth. First, an underwater camera is pretty much a must-have. You will absolutely want to capture these moments. Anyway, just make sure you’re comfortable using it before you get in the water. Another thing is, listen to your guides very carefully, especially about keeping your distance from the animals. Seriously, this protects them and actually gives you a better, more natural encounter. Also, remember to put on reef-safe sunscreen, you know, to protect the delicate corals and sea life in the bay. Here are a few things to keep in mind, pretty much:
- Stay Calm: The calmer you are in the water, the more likely the turtles and dugongs will be comfortable around you. So, just breathe and move slowly.
- Patience is Key: You are, after all, in nature. A sighting is never guaranteed, so just enjoy the entire underwater world. There’s so much more to see, too.
- Listen to the Briefing: Honestly, the guides know these animals’ behaviors. Their information is golden for getting the most out of your time below.
- Hydrate: It’s pretty hot in Egypt, you know, and you can get dehydrated easily, even when surrounded by water. So, drink lots of fluids before and after.
To be honest, this trip was one of the highlights of my visit to Egypt. Seeing these creatures up close in their own habitat is a feeling that is, like, very hard to top. It’s a really well-managed experience that puts the welfare of the animals first, which is the most important thing, obviously.
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