Marsa Mubarak

Four distinct environments unfold within this single horseshoe bay south of Port Ghalib — the seagrass flats where turtles graze daily are only the start.

A typical day at Marsa Mubarak covers multiple dive profiles in sequence. The mooring point leads into shallow coral pinnacles richly inhabited by butterflyfish, wrasse, and surgeonfish. A boat repositioning to the northern edge lets divers drift back along the fringing reef through patch corals and moray eel territory, with bluespotted rays half-buried in the sand. The third profile — the one most divers specifically come for — is the central seagrass meadow running at 4-6 m, where large green turtles graze alongside their remora companions, sometimes with three or four shark suckers attached to a single animal. The southern coral garden completes the circuit.

The dugong, if present, feeds in the seagrass on the left side of the bay. Divers who timed their arrival before the main snorkeling boats cluster midday are split between those who have seen it on every visit and those who have come many times and are still waiting — both groups agree it is worth coming back for.

The combination of a near-guaranteed turtle encounter and a genuine, unscripted dugong possibility in calm, shallow water is rare anywhere in the Red Sea. This is not a structured wildlife tour — the animals use the bay naturally, and the experience reflects that: unhurried turtles grazing at knee depth, a dugong that may or may not be on the seagrass that day.

Where Sharm Shoona to the north offers a wider, quieter bay, Marsa Mubarak pairs wildlife access with real reef diversity — the northern coral garden and outer reef provide a structural backdrop beyond seagrass flats. The horseshoe shape protects it from ocean swell, making conditions suitable for every level from first-time snorkelers to certified divers exploring the outer drop-off.

Floating vests are mandatory on dugong tours and guides enforce this without exception — freediving toward the dugong is not permitted. A portion of the bay is closed to motorized vessels to protect dugong from propeller injuries, so Zodiac positioning around the seagrass relies on guides reading where the animal is feeding.

Shore access works from Iberotel Costa Mares (beachfront) or Three Corners Fayrouz Plaza Beach Resort via a 20-minute walk south. The swimming route along the house reef between the two properties is not permitted. Most divers arrive on boat trips from Port Ghalib Marina, 20-30 minutes by sea. The bay is busy from mid-morning onwards — early starts improve both the wildlife chances and the conditions.