Marine Life . 3 species

Sea TurtlesHabituated, photogenic, year-round.

Marsa Alam is one of the world's best places to dive with sea turtles. Two species are resident - green turtles in seagrass bays and hawksbills on coral reefs.

3Species in this group

BestYear-round

Where7 dive sites

About sea turtles

Sea turtles are an icon of Marsa Alam diving. Abu Dabbab Bay and Marsa Mubarak are world-famous for resident green turtle populations - some individuals so habituated they continue feeding within arm's reach.

The species

Every sea turtle you can meet in Marsa Alam.

Very common

Green Sea Turtle

Chelonia mydas

The larger of the two resident species. Adults are herbivorous, grazing on seagrass meadows.

Did you know? Their green colour comes from a vegetarian diet - the body's tissues take on the colour of the seagrass.

Size: 1.5 m, 150 kg
Diet: Seagrass, algae
Season: Year-round

Best places to see one

Abu Dabbab Bay Marsa Mubarak Marsa Egla Marsa Abu Sail

Common

Hawksbill Turtle

Eretmochelys imbricata

Smaller, more colourful, with a distinctive pointed beak. Prefers coral-rich offshore reefs.

Did you know? They are critical reef herbivores - removing sponges that would outcompete corals.

Size: 90 cm, 80 kg
Diet: Sponges, sea anemones
Season: Year-round

Best places to see one

Dolphin House (Samadai)Elphinstone Reef Sataya Reef

Rare

Loggerhead Turtle

Caretta caretta

Rare visitor to Red Sea waters. Larger head and stronger jaws than green or hawksbill.

Did you know? Their massive jaws can crush horseshoe crab shells with ease.

Size: 1.2 m, 150 kg
Diet: Crustaceans, mollusks
Season: Year-round

Best places to see one

Abu Dabbab Bay

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