Snorkeling Marsa Mubarak: Dugongs and Sea Turtles

Swim alongside dugongs and sea turtles in the Red Sea's clearest waters

Snorkeling at Marsa Mubarak and Small Shenwa near Marsa Alam puts you in the water with dugongs, green sea turtles, clownfish and vibrant coral reefs across two guided stops. Hotel pickup and a 30-minute boat ride get you there. An expert guide leads both snorkeling sessions and stays with you in the water to spot marine life and keep you safe. Lunch or dinner, an air-conditioned vehicle and snorkeling gear rental are included. The guide speaks English, Italian or German.

The experience

Your day starts with hotel pickup and a drive to the port, where your boat waits for a 30-minute cruise across turquoise water to Marsa Mubarak. The first snorkeling stop is where dugongs (rare, gentle marine mammals also called sea cows) graze on seagrass in shallow water alongside green sea turtles that glide through the reef. Your guide enters the water with you at both stops, pointing out clownfish in their anemones and the coral formations that shelter them. The reef here is dense enough that you move slowly, watching the same stretch of color shift as light hits it differently.

The second stop, Small Shenwa, sits south of Marsa Mubarak and offers a different section of reef and a different mix of fish. Between the two snorkeling sessions, you have time at a marina: 45 minutes to walk around, shop or rest on the boat. Lunch or dinner (chicken, kofta, fish, salads and soups) is served as an open buffet, so you eat what appeals to you and how much you want.

The whole outing runs about four and a half hours from pickup to return. You travel in an air-conditioned vehicle, and snorkeling gear is available to rent if you don't bring your own. The guide can point you to shops at the marina if you need it on arrival. The boat and all surfaces are wheelchair accessible, and infants can ride in a pram or stroller or sit on an adult's lap.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and return transport in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• 30-minute boat ride to Marsa Mubarak.
• two guided snorkeling stops with an expert guide who enters the water with you.
• 45 minutes at the marina for shopping or rest.
• open buffet lunch or dinner with chicken, kofta, fish, salads and soups.
• snorkeling gear rental available at the marina.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00 and 14:00

Book up to8h before

AgesAdult (9 and older) · Child (4 to 8 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupUp to 100

Live guideEnglish, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 11.36

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Egypt Sunmarine Fleet

Is this one for you?If your guide speaks English, Italian or German, you can follow the commentary and safety instructions comfortably: the guide stays in the water with you at both stops, so you're not navigating the reef alone or guessing what you're seeing.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 8 years); Infant (under 4).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What marine life will I actually see when I snorkel at Marsa Mubarak?

Dugongs, green sea turtles, clownfish and vibrant coral reefs are the main sightings at Marsa Mubarak. Dugongs are rare and graze on seagrass in shallow water. Sea turtles glide through the reef alongside them. Your guide enters the water with you and points out where clownfish shelter in anemones and how the coral formations create habitat for the fish living there.

How long is the boat ride from the port to Marsa Mubarak?

The boat ride takes 30 minutes across turquoise water to reach Marsa Mubarak from the port.

Do I need to bring my own snorkeling gear or is it included?

Snorkeling gear rental is available. If you don't bring your own, you can rent it from shops at the marina upon arrival, and your guide can direct you to them.

What's included in the lunch or dinner served on this snorkeling trip?

An open buffet lunch or dinner includes chicken, kofta, fish, salads and soups, so you choose what you want and how much.

How many snorkeling stops are there, and what's the difference between them?

There are two guided snorkeling stops: Marsa Mubarak, where dugongs and sea turtles are common, and Small Shenwa to the south, which offers a different section of reef and a different mix of marine life.