Abu Dabbab Bay at a glance
Abu Dabbab is a sheltered bay with seagrass meadows and coral habitat, and it is the Marsa Alam bay most closely linked with dugongs and turtles. Visitors come to snorkel from the beach and to spend a day by the water. Entry is not free and not left to chance: the beach is run with paid day passes that carry a digital ticket with a QR code.
The same name is used for more than one thing. The beach in the bay is entered with a day pass. The dive sites listed as Abu Dabbab are numbered offshore sites that divers reach by boat, and they are a different matter from the beach pass. When someone sells you "Abu Dabbab", ask which of the two it is.
Our pick: a day at Abu Dabbab
A beach day at the bay with a snorkel guide and equipment, an easy way to see the bay.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Abu Dabbab and snorkeling trips from Marsa Alam
Beach days, boat trips and snorkeling tours around Abu Dabbab and nearby bays, with live prices and availability.
How entry to Abu Dabbab works
The model is a booked day pass, not a gate fee you pay on the spot.
Book ahead
Booking in advance is strongly advised in 2026, because the number of guests per day is limited. Do not count on buying a pass at the gate on a busy day.
The price depends on you
A pass is priced per person, includes the applicable taxes and depends on the season, the age of the guest and the currency you pay in. Because of that, a single entry price for everyone does not exist. Check the amount on the booking page for your date and age group.
Children
Children under 6 go in free, children aged 6 to 11.99 pay the child rate, and from the age of 12 the adult rate applies.
At the gate
Bring a photo ID and your booking confirmation. Food and drinks from outside are not allowed.
The pass is a day-guest model. It does not give you access to neighbouring hotel beaches, and it should not be confused with the price of a boat trip.
What the beach offers
The beach has loungers and umbrellas, lifeguards, showers and toilets, and lockers. That is enough for a full day on the sand and in the water. Ask when you book about opening hours, a weekly closing day and parking.
The bay is shallow and sheltered, which suits snorkeling. Come early if you want the water to yourself, and bring reef-safe habits: do not stand on corals and do not touch the seagrass beds.
Snorkeling at Abu Dabbab with turtles and dugongs
What the bay is known for, and what it cannot promise.
Seagrass is the reason animals come here. Turtles graze on it, and dugongs use it as a grazing ground. That makes the bay a good place to look, and it does not make a sighting certain. An animal can be present on one day and gone the next.
Follow the rules. Keep your distance, move slowly and quietly, and never touch or feed anything. Do not circle a turtle or block a dugong's way to deeper water. The pages on the dugong and on sea turtles list the rules in detail. Organised snorkeling trips are limited to 12 guests per snorkel guide, and an environment briefing comes before you enter the water.
Beach day or boat trip? A short comparison
Two ways to spend a day around Abu Dabbab and the neighbouring bays.
| Question | Beach day at Abu Dabbab | Boat snorkeling trip |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | Paid day pass with a digital ticket | Included in the trip or paid separately, check the listing |
| Facilities | Loungers, umbrellas, lifeguards, showers, toilets, lockers | Depends on the boat |
| Good for | A relaxed day on the beach with snorkeling from the shore | Reefs and bays that you cannot reach from the beach |
| Booking | In advance, as daily capacity is limited | In advance for fixed departure days |
| Wildlife | Seagrass habitat, no guarantee | Varies by stop, no guarantee |
For most visitors, a beach day at Abu Dabbab is the easier choice for a family or for a first snorkeling day. A boat trip suits those who want several stops and are happy to leave the beach infrastructure behind. Reef and bay trips are compared on the snorkeling page.
Beach rules and practical tips
Habits that protect the bay and your day.
Do not stand on corals
Corals are alive, and a step with shoes or fins breaks them. Keep your fins away from the reef.
Take nothing from the sea
Shells and coral stay where they are.
Respect the sea animals
Keep your distance and do not feed or touch turtles or dugongs.
Carry what you need
Sun protection, a hat and water are worth bringing. Food and drinks cannot be brought in, so plan to buy on site.
More Marsa Alam guides
Pages that fit a day around Abu Dabbab.
Abu Dabbab: frequently asked questions
How much is entry to Abu Dabbab?
The amount depends on the season, the age of the guest and the currency, and it is shown on the booking page for your date. Passes are sold per person and include the applicable taxes.
Do I need to book in advance?
Yes, booking in advance is strongly advised, because the number of guests per day is limited.
How much do children pay?
Children under 6 go in free. Children aged 6 to 11.99 pay the child rate, and from age 12 the adult rate applies.
Can I bring my own food and drinks?
No. Food and drinks from outside are not allowed.
Will I see a dugong at Abu Dabbab?
You may, but nobody can promise it. Dugongs graze on the seagrass there, and sightings vary from day to day.
What should I bring to Abu Dabbab?
Sun protection, a hat, water, a photo ID and your booking confirmation. Food and drinks from outside are not allowed, so plan to buy on site.