Abu Dabbab is a bay approximately 25km north of Marsa Alam. It is one of the most reliable dugong sighting sites on earth, supported by extensive seagrass meadows that cover the sandy floor from the shallows down to about 12m, providing year-round feeding grounds.

The dugongs feed on the seagrass, sometimes singly, sometimes in pairs, and have become partially accustomed to careful divers. The approach is the same as Sataya's dolphin briefing: descend slowly, hover neutrally, do not position yourself above the animal. A patient diver at 6m watching a dugong graze at 8m is one of the most unusual wildlife encounters the Red Sea offers.

Green turtles are extremely common at Abu Dabbab. Hawksbill turtles are present. The dive is gentle by nature: shallow, warm, clear. The macro life on the reef patches at the edges of the bay, filefish, pipefish, seahorse, blue-spotted ribbontail rays on the sand, rewards photographers considerably. This is not a wall dive and not a pelagic dive. It is a site for patience, proximity and wildlife. That specific combination makes it irreplaceable.

Accessible as a shore dive from the beach, or on a day trip from Marsa Alam by most local operators. Red Sea Diving Safari and Wadi Lahami both run day trips.