Few encounters beat a sea turtle gliding past, unhurried, with a trail of bubbles behind you. In Egypt they are among the most reliable big animals you can meet, and you do not need to be a diver to see one. Here is where to look around Hurghada and Marsa Alam, how to tell the two common species apart, and how to behave so they stay.
Which sea turtles live in the Red Sea?
The two you are most likely to see are the green turtle and the hawksbill. Green turtles graze on seagrass in shallow bays and have a smooth, rounded head and an oval shell. Hawksbills pick sponges from the reef and have a narrow, pointed beak and a patterned shell of overlapping plates. Both are protected, so every sighting is worth treating gently.
Where can you see turtles near Marsa Alam?
- Abu Dabbab: the classic. A shallow bay with seagrass where green turtles graze, and where dugongs are sometimes seen.
- Marsa Egla: another seagrass bay where turtles are seen, and dugongs occasionally.
- Marsa Murein: sheltered water where divers and snorkellers meet turtles close to shore.
Where can you see turtles near Hurghada?
- Ras Disha: a moderate reef, 9 to 18 m, where green and hawksbill turtles are regularly seen.
- Banana Reef: an easy reef known for its clownfish, where turtles also pass.
- Erg Sabina and Small Giftun: turtles are among the animals reported at both, in the Giftun group.
When is the best time to see turtles?
Turtles live here all year, so there is no off season, but calm, clear water and fewer people in the bay help. Go early. Our season guide points to calm summer months for the Abu Dabbab seagrass bays, and a morning visit usually means a quieter bay.
How should you behave around sea turtles?
- Keep your distance. Never touch, ride, chase or feed a turtle.
- Never block the way to the surface. Turtles must come up to breathe, so leave them a clear route.
- Stay off the seagrass and coral. Do not stand on or kick the bay floor where they feed.
- Follow your guide and the marine park rules. If the turtle swims off, let it go.
Can you see turtles without diving?
Yes. Turtles feed in shallow water, so a snorkelling trip to a seagrass bay is a good bet, for example our Abu Dabbab snorkelling trip. Sightings are likely but never guaranteed, because these are wild animals. Divers add the reefs of the south of Hurghada and the Giftun group.
Do turtles and dugongs share the same bays?
Often, yes: seagrass feeds both. Read what Egypt’s environment authorities reported in our dugong sightings guide and our full guide to Abu Dabbab, and see more animals in the 10 marine species you can really see.
