Marsa Mubarak Snorkeling – Swim With Dugong In Marsa Alam Egypt

Do you want to swim with a dugong? Then, visit the Marsa Mubarak (Marsá Mubārak) snorkeling site in Egypt. This large sandy bay on the Marsa Alam coast is popular with snorkelers and divers because it is where you can encounter this rare marine mammal. Coral reefs and vibrant marine life, including sea turtles and a variety of colorful fish, complete the experience.

Snorkeling in Marsa Mubarak was on our bucket list for a long time. We will never forget the day when we spotted the dugong for the first time. Being near such a unique creature is a lifetime experience, but unfortunately, there aren’t many places in the world where you can see them. Therefore, we prepared this guide to share all the information you need about visiting this site.

About The Marsa Mubarak Snorkeling Site

Marsa Mubarak is a famous snorkeling spot in Egypt because it is one of those sandy bays where you have a high chance of seeing a dugong.

The snorkeling area is the bay’s northern side, between the reef on the north and the jetty in the middle, but primarily the shallow north corner (3-6 m /10-20 ft) and the section in front of the onsite resort. This area has extensive seagrass beds, so this is where you have the highest chance of seeing the dugong and the bay’s resident sea turtles.

The sea bottom is gradually deepening towards the open sea. The water is approx. 6-10 m (20-33 ft) deep in the central part and ~12-15 m (40-50 ft) on the outer side of the bay.

If you are staying in the resort on the site or coming from the shore, you can enter the water by simply walking in from the beach. Should you come on a boat, it usually anchors in front of the north reef so you can jump into the water and swim towards the snorkeling areas.

What To See While Snorkeling In Marsa Mubarak?

Most people go snorkeling in Marsa Alam because they want to swim with a dugong. Indeed, the biggest attraction of Marsa Mubarak is seeing a sea cow, but this site provides a complete experience with a vibrant, beginner-friendly coral reef and other beautiful creatures to see!

Dugong

The rich seagrass meadows of Marsa Mubarak provide excellent habitat for dugongs. Seagrass is their primary food source, this is why they are often called sea cows. Logically, you need to look for the dugong around the seagrass-covered areas, in the shallow northern side corner, or the central part of the bay (around the orange buoy).

Sea Turtles

Giant Green Sea Turtles are also residents of the bay, so locals often refer to Marsa Mubarak as Turtle Bay. Some of them are as big as an adult human. You can find them in the shallow areas on the north side and the middle of the bay, over the seagrass fields. Around the reef, you can encounter another common Red Sea turtle species, the hawksbill.

Reef Fish

When in Marsa Mubarak, it is worth checking out the reef on the north side too, where you can observe various Red Sea fish species. You can see colorful anemonefish, parrotfish, bannerfish, angelfish, butterflyfish, damselfish, surgeonfish, and lionfish around the small patch reefs and the main reef wall.

Rays

The sandy seafloor provides an excellent habitat for rays too Blue Spotted Ribbontail rays, Cowtail rays and Leopard rays are common here. You can also see guitarfish, which is also a species of ray despite its name. They often bury themselves in the sand to camouflage their bodies, but if you look closely, you can spot them.

What Is The Best Time To See A Dugong In Marsa Mubarak?

First of all, please accept that you will not be guaranteed to see a dugong in Marsa Mubarak. The bay has several resident dugongs and at least one territorial male, but they are free creatures who move along the coastline, so of course, they are not always “at home”. Still, Marsa Mubarak is where they are the most frequently seen; the second best spot is the nearby Abu Dabbab Bay.

Dugongs can be anytime in the bay as they come to feed on the seagrass fields, but our experience is that there is a higher chance of seeing them early morning or late afternoon when the bay is less crowded.

Although dugongs seem to enjoy being near humans, they typically leave the bay and search for quieter areas when it becomes too noisy during the day. Try your luck before the tour boats arrive in the morning or when they leave in the afternoon.

Where Is The Marsa Mubarak Bay?

Marsa Mubarak is situated on the Red Sea coast of Egypt, in the Marsa Alam region. It is 10 km (6.2 miles) south of the Marsa Alam International Aiport, 6 km (3.7 miles) south of Port Ghalib.

How To Visit Marsa Mubarak?

The best way to visit Marsa Mubarak is by staying in the onsite Iberotel Costa Mares Resort, which provides direct access to the bay, or in the nearby Three Corners Fayrouz Plaza Hotel, which is within walking distance.

If you are staying in another Marsa Alam hotel, you can visit the site with a tour. Marsa Mubarak excursions are also available from the Hurghada region by bus or boat.

We don’t recommend visiting Marsa Mubarak on your own. It was possible to catch a taxi and come to the bay individually before the onsite resort opened, but we are not sure that this is doable since it became a private beach; the security guards might not allow you to enter the area unless you are coming with an organized tour.

Is There An Entry Fee?

Marsa Mubarak is a national park and there is a fee (~5 USD) to enter. Most tour prices include this fee, but you might be required to pay it as an extra. Guests of the onsite resorts can enter the bay for free.

Marsa Mubarak Snorkeling Tours

Snorkeling tours to Marsa Mubarak can be booked through local agencies and online activity sites. Most of them are boat tours that depart from the Port Ghalib Marina and usually include a visit to another nearby snorkeling site. Some operators offer pick-up from the Hurghada area too. Here we showcase some highly-rated options:

Full Day Snorkeling Boat Trip: relax on a full-day adventure while discovering the area’s finest snorkeling sites, including coral reef islands and the Marsa Mubarak Turtle Bay.

Half-Day Marsa Mubarak Boat Tour: Consider this option if you prefer a half-day excursion. On board the luxurious Elite VIP Cruise Boat, you can discover Marsa Alam’s most stunning coral reefs and marine life. Choose a morning or afternoon departure.

Marsa Mubarak Snorkeling from Hurghada: if you are staying in Hurghada but want to visit Marsa Mubarak, book this full-day excursion. You will be picked up from your accommodation in Hurghada and visit two picturesque sites, Marsa Mubarak and Marsa El Shuna.

Where To Stay Near Marsa Mubarak?

Although there are several good hotels in the Marsa Alam region, the choices are limited if you wish to stay near the bay because you want to visit it more times or even daily to maximize your chances of encountering dugongs.

There is one resort directly in the bay and another within walking distance; we recommend choosing these or a nearby resort north or south of the bay. But let’s see our recommendation with exact names:

Iberotel Costa Mares: this is the best resort to choose when coming for a Marsa Mubarak snorkeling vacation, as it is situated directly in the bay. You can enter the water straight from the shore whenever you want and stay as long as you wish. The Iberotel Costa Mares is a recently opened, 5-star luxury resort with outdoor swimming pools, a fitness center, and a lush tropical garden.

Three Corners Fayrouz Plaza Beach Resort: although this resort is not directly in the bay, it is within walking distance of it, approximately. 800 m (0.5 mile) north of Marsa Mubarak. You can freely walk from the hotel to the bay on the shore anytime you want without paying any fee.

Fayrouz Plaza is an exclusive 5-star resort that is famous for its family-friendly atmosphere and high service level. The polite, qualified staff pays attention to the smallest details to make your vacation carefree and unforgettable. With its great location near the airport, excellent hospitality, and top-notch house reef, it is a fantastic place for a family vacation.

We stayed here and loved it; read more about our experience in our Three Corners Fayrouz Plaza Beach Resort snorkeling post.

Concorde Moreen Beach Resort: it is one of the nearest resorts on the south of Marsa Mubarak, about 16 km (10 miles) of it. It is a simple, older resort; expect it to be 3.5 stars by European standards. We recommend it for travelers seeking a budget-friendly option as it is less expensive than the previously mentioned resorts. Also, there is a huge advantage while snorkeling at the Concorde Moreen Beach Resort, to know more read our article!!

Pickalbatros The Palace Port Ghalib: if you want a bit of nightlife with bazaars and souvenir shops around, stay in one of the Port Ghalib hotels, from where the bay is available with a short, 15-minute boat ride. Port Ghalib is a luxurious marina and tourist center just 5 km (3 miles) from the airport. Our pick is the Pickalbatros Palace, a 5-star, beautifully designed luxury resort that will surely exceed your expectations. With beautiful views, high service quality, excellent cuisine, and a wide range of facilities, such as a spa and aqua park, this is a great choice for all travelers.

FAQs And Helpful Infos About Swimming With Dugongs

What is a dugong?

Dugongs are marine mammals, the only living member of the Family Dugongidae. They are herbivorous; they depend on seagrass for food and can eat up to 30kg of it a day, that’s why they are called sea cows too! Although they are not migratory species, they travel long distances along coastlines when searching for food. Their freshwater cousins are manatees.

Where Can You See Dugongs/Sea Cows?

This rare marine mammal lives in warm coastal waters from the western Pacific to East Africa. Being hunted for a long time for meat and oil, IUCN lists the species as vulnerable to extinction. Sea cows have already disappeared from the Maldives and Mauritius. They can still be seen in North Australia, in the Persian Gulf and around New Caledonia, Kenya, Mozambique and at some places in Southeast Asia too. If you live in Europe, the closest place to see dugongs is the Marsa Alam region in Egypt. However, the Red Sea population is very small and declining.

Are Dugongs Dangerous?

Despite their massive body (an adult dugong is typically between 551-1980 lbs/250-900 kg and around 9.8 ft/3 m) dugongs are peaceful creatures; they are not aggressive and do not attack humans.

How To React If You See A Dugong?

Snorkeling with a dugong in Egypt or anywhere else in the world is a lifetime experience. First, they are huge, but you should not fear them; they are harmless creatures.

The most important is that you should not touch the dugong. Furthermore, never disturb the animal and leave enough room for him to come to the surface to breathe. If he decides to go, don’t swim after them; chasing might stress the animal.

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