Snorkelling with turtles at Abu Dabbab Bay

Many people book a Red Sea holiday hoping to see a turtle. Abu Dabbab is one of the most reliable places on the coast to try, because the animals come to eat there. The bay is calm and the entry is easy, which is why it appears on so many first-week plans.

What makes the bay different

The sea floor is covered with seagrass, a green meadow that green turtles feed on. Where there is grass, there are turtles, and where there are turtles, there are usually small fish and rays. The water is shallow near the shore and gets deeper slowly, so you can stand up whenever you need to.

How the morning runs

• Pick-up from your hotel at about 07:30.
• Arrival at the bay about an hour later.
• Roughly three hours to snorkel and relax on the sand.
• Tea and a light snack before the transfer back around midday.

The guide shows you where turtles were seen that day and helps anyone who is nervous. You swim at your own speed. Mask, snorkel and fins are provided, and the beach entrance is covered.

What you might see

Green turtles are the main attraction. They come up to breathe every few minutes, so watch the surface as well as the bottom. Some mornings several turtles are grazing close to each other, and some mornings you see none. A dugong, a large sea mammal related to the manatee, appears only occasionally and is a bonus if it does.

Behaving around turtles

• Stay at least a few metres back, and never block a turtle's route to the surface.
• Do not touch, ride or feed them.
• Float on the surface instead of standing on the seagrass.
• Keep your fins up and moving gently, as kicking damages the grass.

These rules protect the bay for the people who come after you. Following them also tends to give you longer, calmer encounters, since the animals stay relaxed.

Good to know before you go

Lunch, drinks, and sun bed and umbrella hire are not included, so bring cash if you want them. The bay can get busy by late morning because other groups arrive, and that is another reason to go early. Winter water is cooler, so consider a thin wetsuit between December and February.