Snorkeling Abu Dabbab Beach from Hurghada: Turtles & Dugongs

Spend a full day in the water with green sea turtles and dugongs in their own bay.

Snorkel Abu Dabbab Beach, a full-day activity from Hurghada 210 kilometers south, where you spend the day in warm shallow water with green sea turtles and dugongs alongside colorful coral reefs. The operator picks you up early morning and brings you back to Hurghada in the evening; lunch, beach entry, and all-day mineral water are included. Snorkel equipment is available to rent on the beach if you don't bring your own.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full day snorkeling at Abu Dabbab Beach

• Pick up from Hurghada early morning
• Arrive at Abu Dabbab Beach
• Choose umbrella and settle belongings
• First snorkel at coral reefs
• Relax or have a drink
• Second snorkel to see turtles and dugong
• Lunch around midday
• Snorkel until 16:00
• Depart back to Hurghada

The Experience

The drive south takes you out of Hurghada early, and by mid-morning you're standing on Abu Dabbab's clean sand with the whole day ahead. The beach itself is the base — you choose where to sit, leave your things, and return between water sessions. Two guided snorkel sessions are built into the day: the first takes you to either the southern or northern coral reefs, and the second heads into the middle of the bay where the turtles and dugongs actually are. Between those, you have free time to rest, swim on your own, or grab a drink.

The water here stays warm and shallow enough that you can see the seafloor clearly. Green sea turtles graze on the seagrass, and dugongs — the slow, gentle marine mammals — move through the same bay. The corals are maintained and colorful, and the range of fish life means there's always something moving in your field of view. Lunch arrives around midday, and you can keep snorkeling until 4 p.m., when the day winds down and the transfer back to Hurghada begins.

If you don't have snorkel gear, you can rent it on the beach for a small extra charge. The operator provides mineral water throughout the day, so you're not paying for drinks separately. The whole setup — the early pickup, the lunch, the entry fee, the two organized snorkel sessions — means you show up and the day is already structured; you just decide how much time you spend in the water versus on the sand.

What’s included

• Transfer from Hurghada early morning and return in the evening.
• beach entry.
• lunch.
• mineral water throughout the day.
• two guided snorkel sessions to the coral reefs and the turtle and dugong bay.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availableNot for heart conditions

Operated by Ashraf El Masry

Is this one for you?You're snorkeling in the water yourself — not watching from a boat — so this suits anyone who wants to spend a full day moving through shallow reefs and a bay where turtles and dugongs actually live. The shared schedule and group snorkel sessions work well if you want the structure and the company; if you prefer to snorkel on your own pace between the two guided sessions, the free time between them gives you that space.

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Top questions

How far is Abu Dabbab Beach from Hurghada?

Abu Dabbab Beach lies 210 kilometers south of Hurghada. The drive is part of the full day, and the operator handles the transport both ways.

Will I actually see turtles and dugongs, or is that not guaranteed?

Abu Dabbab is known as a home for green sea turtles and dugongs, and the second snorkel session specifically heads into the middle of the bay where they feed and move through the water. The bay is where they live, so sightings are the normal outcome, not a rare one.

What's included in the price, and what costs extra?

Transfer from Hurghada, beach entry, lunch, and mineral water all day are included. Snorkel equipment rental is available on the beach if you don't bring your own; drinks from the bar are separate.

How much time do I actually spend snorkeling versus sitting on the beach?

Two guided snorkel sessions are scheduled — one to the coral reefs and one to see the turtles and dugongs — with free time between them and after lunch. You control how much of the remaining daylight you spend in the water; many people snorkel on and off until 4 p.m. when the day ends.

Is this activity safe for children or people who aren't strong swimmers?

Children from age 1 are welcome, and the water at Abu Dabbab is shallow and calm. The activity is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health, and a moderate level of physical fitness helps, since you're in the water for extended periods across the day.