How to Find a Dugong in Marsa Alam: My Success Story


 

The Red Sea is one of the best snorkeling and diving spots for those living in Europe, as it offers excellent conditions at very affordable prices.


Basically, there are three well-known locations on the Egyptian side of the Red Sea: Sharm el Sheikh, Hurghada, and Marsa Alam. Since I had already been to the first two, which are more touristy, this time I chose Marsa Alam, especially because, in terms of underwater conditions and marine life, it's considered by many to be the best place.


In my research, I always look for attractive prices and good snorkeling spots from the shore, particularly accessible from the hotel, the so-called house reefs.


I read reviews of several hotels and ended up choosing the Three Corners Equinox Beach Resort, which was known for having an excellent house reef and several people had seen dugongs there.


Three Corners Equinox Beach Resort



I verified that this hotel was an excellent starting point for snorkeling, and I will write another post on snorkeling in Marsa Alam in the future.



Pier providing access to the reef


While spending my days on the hotel beach, between dives, I noticed several snorkeling and diving tour boats about 100/200 meters out in the water in front of the hotel, patrolling the area at various times, looking for something.


In conversation with a lifeguard on the beach, he explained that these tour boats were looking for dugongs in that area, that it would be possible to notice when they found them, and that he could even let them know when it happened.


The distance was still something to consider, as were the sea conditions in the day, but it was possible for someone with some preparation.


The first time I received the lifeguard's recommendation to go, I managed to arrive in time and see the dugong up close, and it was an incredible experience.




I was very close to the Dugong



The dugong is a herbivorous marine mammal that can reach up to three meters in length and weigh 500 kilograms.


The name "dugong" derives from the Malay word *duyung*, meaning mermaid, a reference reflecting the legend that these animals were mistaken for mermaids by ancient navigators.


Despite their impressive size, they are docile and peaceful animals.


The species is classified as vulnerable due to several threats, such as hunting, habitat destruction, and ocean pollution.



🐚 The Dugong: Real-World Facts:

  • Family Ties: They are closely related to manatees, but you can tell them apart by their tails. While manatees have paddle-like tails, dugongs have fluked tails similar to dolphins or whales.
  • The "Sea Cow" Diet: They spend their days grazing on seagrass meadows in the shallow coastal waters of the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans. A single adult can eat up to 40kg of seagrass a day.
  • Long-Lived Giants: They can live for 70 years or more, though they are slow to reproduce, making their populations very vulnerable to environmental changes.
  • Breath Control: Being mammals, they must surface to breathe. However, they can hold their breath for up to 11 minutes while diving to feed.



See my video of the dugong encounter:





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