Abu Dabbab
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Why dive in Abu Dabbab?
BEST SEASON
Featured Animals 9
- Unlikely
- Likely
- Very likely
Nocturnal Frequent sightingsBluespotted Ribbontail Ray
Taeniura lymma
The Bluespotted Ribbontail Ray is a striking stingray with an oval, flattened body covered in bright electric blue spots on a yellowish to olive-green background, and blue stripes along its tail. It primarily inhabits shallow coral reefs and sandy flats across the Indo-West Pacific, often hiding in caves or under ledges during the day. This ray is a nocturnal carnivore, feeding on small benthic invertebrates and fish, and possesses venomous tail spines for defense.
BEST SEASON
Cathemeral Frequent sightingsDugong
Dugong dugon
The dugong is a large marine mammal, often called a 'sea cow' due to its herbivorous diet, primarily consisting of seagrass. They inhabit warm coastal waters across the Indo-West Pacific, playing a crucial role in maintaining seagrass meadows. These shy creatures are typically solitary or found in pairs, but can occasionally gather in large herds.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsGreen Sea Turtle
Chelonia mydas
The green sea turtle is a large marine reptile distinguished by its heart-shaped carapace and a single pair of prefrontal scales.
BEST SEASON
Variable Grey Reef Shark
Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos
The Grey Reef Shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) is a medium to large-sized requiem shark, common in Indo-Pacific coral reefs and adjacent waters. Characterized by its grey body and a distinctive broad black band on the trailing edge of its caudal fin, it is a fast and agile predator. These sharks are known for their social daytime aggregations, which disperse at night for individual hunting.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsHawksbill Sea Turtle
Eretmochelys imbricata
The Hawksbill Sea Turtle is a medium-sized marine turtle recognizable by its distinctive hawk-like beak and overlapping scutes, which create a serrated edge on its carapace. Primarily found in tropical coral reefs, it plays a crucial role in these ecosystems by feeding mainly on sponges, which are toxic to most other animals. This species is critically endangered due to historical exploitation for its beautiful shell and ongoing threats like habitat loss and bycatch.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsHumphead Wrasse
Cheilinus undulatus
The Humphead Wrasse is one of the largest reef fish, identifiable by a prominent hump on its forehead and thick fleshy lips. It is a protogynous hermaphrodite, meaning individuals are born female and some transition to males later in life. This carnivorous species plays a crucial role in coral reef ecosystems by preying on hard-shelled invertebrates and toxic animals like the crown-of-thorns starfish.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsOcellated Eagle Ray
Aetobatus ocellatus
The Ocellated Eagle Ray, also known as the Whitespotted Eagle Ray, is a large ray characterized by a dark greenish-grey to black dorsal surface covered with numerous white spots, and a white underside. It possesses a flattened, diamond-shaped body, a prominent snout, and a long, whip-like tail armed with venomous spines. This species primarily feeds on hard-shelled invertebrates, such as mollusks and crustaceans, which it crushes with its specialized dental plates.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Spotted Seahorse
Hippocampus kuda
The Spotted Seahorse (Hippocampus kuda) is a distinctive marine fish known for its horse-like head, prehensile tail, and often mottled or spotted coloration, ranging from yellow to black. It inhabits shallow coastal waters, including seagrass beds, mangroves, and coral reefs, across the Indo-Pacific region. Primarily diurnal, this species is a carnivorous ambush predator, feeding on small crustaceans and zooplankton, and is notable for the male carrying the eggs in a brood pouch until hatching.
BEST SEASON
Nocturnal Frequent sightingsStonefish
Synanceia verrucosa
The stonefish is one of the most venomous marine fish in the world, known for its exceptional camouflage that makes it resemble a rock or coral. It is a benthic ambush predator that remains motionless on the seabed, waiting for prey to pass close enough to strike.
BEST SEASON
More marine life 56
Black DurgonMelichthys niger
Blue-barred ParrotfishScarus ghobban
Bluecheek ButterflyfishChaetodon semilarvatus
Bluespotted CornetfishFistularia commersonii
Bluestreak Cleaner WrasseLabroides dimidiatus
Broadclub CuttlefishSepia latimanus
Broomtail WrasseCheilinus lunulatus
Bullethead ParrotfishChlorurus sordidus
Clark's AnemonefishAmphiprion clarkii
Common Bottlenose DolphinTursiops truncatus
Coral HindCephalopholis miniata
Cowtail StingrayPastinachus sephen
Ember ParrotfishScarus rubroviolaceus
Emperor AngelfishPomacanthus imperator
Eschmeyer's ScorpionfishRhinopias eschmeyeri
Fimbriated MorayGymnothorax fimbriatus
Garden EelHeterocongrinae
Giant MorayGymnothorax javanicus
Giant TrevallyCaranx ignobilis
Giant clamTridacna gigas
Guineafowl PufferArothron meleagris
Honeycomb MorayGymnothorax favagineus
Leaf ScorpionfishTaenianotus triacanthus
LionfishPterois spp.
Live SharksuckerEcheneis naucrates
Lyretail AnthiasPseudanthias squamipinnis
MandarinfishSynchiropus splendidus
Masked PufferArothron diadematus
Mimic OctopusThaumoctopus mimicus
Moorish IdolZanclus cornutus
Orange-lined TriggerfishBalistapus undulatus
Orbicular BatfishPlatax orbicularis
Pennant CoralfishHeniochus acuminatus
Pharaoh CuttlefishSepia pharaonis
Pickhandle BarracudaSphyraena jello
Red Sea ClownfishAmphiprion bicinctus
Ribbon EelRhinomuraena quaesita
Round Ribbontail RayTaeniurops meyeni
Rusty ParrotfishScarus ferrugineus
Short-tail StingrayBathytoshia brevicaudata
Silky SharkCarcharhinus falciformis
Silver SweeperPempheris schwenkii
Silvertip SharkCarcharhinus albimarginatus
Spot-fin PorcupinefishDiodon hystrix
Spotted Eagle RayAetobatus narinari
Tawny Nurse SharkNebrius ferrugineus
Teira BatfishPlatax teira
Tentacled FlatheadPapilloculiceps longiceps
Threadfin ButterflyfishChaetodon auriga
Tiger Tail SeahorseHippocampus comes
Titan TriggerfishBalistoides viridescens
White-spotted PufferfishArothron hispidus
Whitetip Reef SharkTriaenodon obesus
Yellow BoxfishOstracion cubicus
Yellow Longnose ButterflyfishForcipiger flavissimus
Yellowfin TunaThunnus albacares
Where is Abu Dabbab
Red Sea · Egypt
Frequently asked questions about Abu Dabbab
When is the best time to dive in Abu Dabbab?
The best time to dive in Abu Dabbab is from April to October. In those months the water is between 24°C and 31°C.
What marine life can you see diving in Abu Dabbab?
Divers can encounter 65 species in Abu Dabbab. Highlights include Bluespotted Ribbontail Ray, Dugong, Green Sea Turtle, Grey Reef Shark, Hawksbill Sea Turtle, and Humphead Wrasse.
When can you see the Hawksbill Sea Turtle in Abu Dabbab?
The Hawksbill Sea Turtle is most often seen in Abu Dabbab from April to October.
When can you see the Ocellated Eagle Ray in Abu Dabbab?
The Ocellated Eagle Ray is most often seen in Abu Dabbab from April to September.
When can you see the Bluespotted Ribbontail Ray in Abu Dabbab?
The Bluespotted Ribbontail Ray can be seen in Abu Dabbab all year round.
What is the water temperature in Abu Dabbab?
Water temperature in Abu Dabbab ranges from 22°C in January to 31°C in June.
What wetsuit do I need to dive in Abu Dabbab?
Most divers wear a 5 mm wetsuit in January, when the water drops to 22°C, and a rash guard or a 1–3 mm shorty in June, when it reaches 31°C.
What is the visibility like when diving in Abu Dabbab?
Visibility in Abu Dabbab ranges from 15 m to 30 m. The water is clearest from May to September.
What are the currents like in Abu Dabbab?
Divers in Abu Dabbab can expect light or moderate currents, depending on the month and the dive site.
What can you see on a night dive in Abu Dabbab?
After dark, Abu Dabbab reveals nocturnal species such as Bluespotted Ribbontail Ray, Stonefish, Fimbriated Moray, Giant Moray, Honeycomb Moray, and Leaf Scorpionfish.
Where is Abu Dabbab located?
Abu Dabbab is a dive destination in Egypt, in the Red Sea.
Every answer is built from the conditions and sightings data we keep for Abu Dabbab. Spotted something that looks off?
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