99%

Sighting Rate

Resident Green turtle colony

1.5–6m

Lagoon Depth

Sheltered shallow pasture

Port Ghalib

Departure Base

15 min speed boat ride

22–30°C

Water Temp

Crystal turquoise clarity

Overview: The Natural Turtle Haven of Port Ghalib

Located just 10 kilometers south of Port Ghalib International Marina and 15 kilometers north of Marsa Alam Airport, Marsa Mubarak (25.5160° N, 34.6465° E)—widely known as Turtle Bay—is arguably the most reliable and sheltered marine wildlife haven in the entire Egyptian Red Sea.

This sweeping natural amphitheater is naturally protected from open-sea swells by two elongated barrier reef promontories. Inside the bay, the sea is almost always as flat and clear as a swimming pool. The shallow seabed is covered by an immense carpet of lush, succulent seagrass, creating an idyllic sanctuary that supports an astonishingly dense population of wild Giant Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas) and provides a favored grazing territory for the elusive Dugong (Dugong dugon).

Whether you arrive on a high-speed zodiac from Port Ghalib Marina or take the scenic coastal footpath from neighboring beachfront resorts, Marsa Mubarak delivers an effortless, close-up encounter with wild sea turtles measuring up to 1.5 meters long grazing peacefully in shallow, sunlit water.

Red Sea Bestseller Port Ghalib: Marsa Mubarak Speedboat Turtle & Dugong Snorkel Safari

★ 4.9 (850 reviews) • ⏱️ 6.5 hours

Port Ghalib: Marsa Mubarak Speedboat Turtle & Dugong Snorkel Safari

✔ Book on GetYourGuide

🛡️ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before

Speedboat or yacht cruise to Marsa Mubarak turtle bay with guided seagrass snorkel safari, lunch, gear, and Port Ghalib transfers.

From $42 USD

Book on GYG →

Marine Biology: The Ecosystem of Turtle Bay

The sheltered bathymetry and constant sunshine of Marsa Mubarak produce optimal conditions for dense submarine meadows of Halophila stipulacea and Cymodocea rotundata.

                   [ MARSA MUBARAK SEAGRASS DYNAMICS ]
                                     │
       ┌─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────┐
       ▼                             ▼                             ▼
[ Giant Green Sea Turtle ]     [ The Red Sea Dugong ]      [ Spotted Eagle Ray ]
 (Chelonia mydas - 1.5m)       (Dugong dugon)             (Aetobatus narinari)
       │                             │                             │
       ▼                             ▼                             ▼
Forages on tender shoots      Excavates roots & rhizomes   Glides over sand hunting
leaving cropped grass tops    leaving bare sand furrows   bivalves & ghost shrimps

1. Giant Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas)

Up to 20 resident Green turtles inhabit Marsa Mubarak. These mature animals can reach ages of 60 to 80 years and carapaces measuring up to 150 cm in length. Accustomed to peaceful, respectful snorkelers, they remain remarkably calm, grazing continuously for 20 to 30 minutes at a time before ascending gently at a 45-degree angle to take a single deep breath of air before descending back to the grass.

2. The Red Sea Dugong (Dugong dugon)

Marsa Mubarak is considered the single most consistent bay along the Egyptian Red Sea coast for wild Dugong encounters. The bay’s resident Dugong (affectionately nicknamed “Dennis” by local dive guides) visits the inner bay several mornings a week to feed on deep root rhizomes.

3. Fringing Coral Gardens & Hawksbills

Along the northern and southern edges of the bay, vibrant hard coral reefs (Porites, Acropora, Millepora) provide habitat for foraging Hawksbill Turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata), giant moray eels, blue-spotted rays, and schools of yellowfin goatfish.

💡 How to Spot Dugong Trails

While snorkeling across Marsa Mubarak's seagrass meadows, look down at the sandy floor for long, clean, winding white channels through the grass. These "feeding furrows" are carved out by dugongs excavating roots. If you see fresh, unclouded trails, look ahead in the direction of the furrow—the dugong is often feeding just 20 to 30 meters away!

Reef Bathymetry & Swim Circuits

 NORTH CORAL WALL (Hawksbills, Moray Eels: 2m - 12m)
 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
 
   [ SHALLOW SHORE ENTRY ] ───> [ CENTRAL SEAGRASS MEADOW: 2.0m - 5.5m ] ───> [ MOORING BUOYS ]
    Sandy walk-in path           15+ Giant Green Turtles grazing,              Day boat moorings,
    1.0m - 2.0m depth            Dugong feeding zone, Eagle rays               6.0m - 10.0m
 
 ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
 SOUTH CORAL WALL (Pinnacles & Lionfish: 2m - 10m)

Area	Depth	Seabed Features	Marine Encounters
Inner Shallows	1.0 – 2.5 m	Fine white sand with young seagrass shoots	Easy wading for beginners, juvenile turtles, pipefish.
Central Feeding Basin	2.5 – 5.5 m	Dense carpet of Halophila stipulacea	10 to 15 giant Green turtles grazing simultaneously, remoras, dugongs.
North Fringing Wall	2.0 – 12.0 m	Sloping hard coral reef wall	Hawksbill turtles, clownfish in anemones, titan triggerfish.
Outer Mooring Zone	6.0 – 10.0 m	Clear sand patches between coral bommies	Spotted eagle rays, cruising barracuda, batfish schools.

Logistics: Reaching Marsa Mubarak

                   [ PORT GHALIB MARINA HUB ]
                               │
            ┌──────────────────┴──────────────────┐
            ▼ (15 min Speedboat / Zodiac)         ▼ (Walk 25 min South)
  [ Boat Excursion directly to Bay ]     [ Shore Path from Fayrouz Resort ]
            │                                     │
            └──────────────────┬──────────────────┘
                               ▼
                    [ Marsa Mubarak Bay ]

Boat Departures from Port Ghalib Marina: Speedboats take just 15 minutes to reach Marsa Mubarak, while spacious day yachts take approximately 30 minutes.
Shore-Walk Access: Guests staying at the Three Corners Fayrouz Plaza Beach Resort can walk south along the designated coastal desert footpath (approx. 20–25 minutes walk) to access the sandy beach entry of Marsa Mubarak directly from the land.

Expedition Routine: A Day in Marsa Mubarak

08:00 AM

Port Ghalib Marina Boarding

Meet your dive guide and crew at Port Ghalib Marina. Board the custom speedboat or day cruiser and cruise past the stunning coastal desert scenery.

08:30 AM

Arrival & First Guided Turtle Snorkel

The boat secures to a designated HEPCA mooring buoy inside the calm bay. Slide into the warm, turquoise shallows and spend 60 minutes floating above 4 to 8 giant Green turtles feeding on the seagrass meadow.

10:30 AM

Outer Reef Wall Snorkel & Hawksbill Spotting

Swim along the northern coral wall to observe Hawksbill turtles feeding among colorful coral pinnacles and spot blue-spotted ribbontail rays.

12:30 PM

Fresh Buffet Lunch on Board

Enjoy a freshly prepared hot lunch buffet on the sun deck of your yacht while anchored in the sheltered waters of the bay.

02:00 PM

Afternoon Dugong Search & Return Cruise

Take a final relaxed snorkel across the central sandy channels in search of cruising dugongs and spotted eagle rays before the return cruise to Port Ghalib.

Red Sea Environmental Regulations (EEAA & CDWS)

Marsa Mubarak is strictly monitored under Egyptian Nature Protectorate legislation (Law 102/1983).

⚖️

**Marsa Mubarak Marine Protection Rules:** - **3-Meter Standoff Rule for Turtles / 5-Meter for Dugongs**: Swimmers must keep a strict distance from marine animals. - **Zero Touching or Harassment**: Touching, restraining, riding, chasing, or encircling turtles or dugongs is strictly illegal. - **Surface Corridor Clearance**: Never swim directly above an ascending turtle; always allow an unobstructed path to the surface. - **Vessel Speed Limit**: All motorized boats must adhere to a strict 5-knot speed limit within the bay. - **No Anchoring on Seagrass**: Vessels must use authorized HEPCA mooring buoys exclusively.

Local Operators Comparison Matrix

Operator	Base Location	Primary Focus	Boat / Group Features	Contact & Booking
Emperor Divers Port Ghalib	Port Ghalib Marina	Daily guided boat safaris to Marsa Mubarak and Elphinstone	PADI 5-Star IDC centre, spacious custom day boats, marine biologists	emperordivers.com / +20 122 234 0995
Extra Divers Fayrouz	Fayrouz Plaza Beach	Zodiac speedboat trips and guided shore-walk tours	Closest dive base to the bay, modern speedboats, multilingual guides	extradivers-worldwide.com / +20 100 606 5581
Coraya Divers Marsa Alam	Madinat Coraya	Luxury small-group snorkel and scuba excursions	PADI 5-Star CDC facility, high-speed RIB transfers	coraya-divers.com / +20 100 004 4594

Seasonal Calendar & Conditions

Month       Jan   Feb   Mar   Apr   May   Jun   Jul   Aug   Sep   Oct   Nov   Dec
Water (°C)   22    22    23    24    26    28    30    30    29    27    25    23
Visibility  20m   20m   25m   30m   35m   35m   30m   30m   30m   30m   25m   20m
Turtles     ███   ███   ███   ███   ███   ███   ███   ███   ███   ███   ███   ███
Dugongs     ▒▒    ▒▒    ██    ██    ██    ██    ██    ██    ██    ██    ██    ▒▒
Calm Bay    ███   ███   ███   ███   ███   ███   ███   ███   ███   ███   ███   ███

Essential Gear & Packing Recommendations

Low-Volume Silicone Snorkel Mask: Clear or dark silicone skirt for panoramic views over the seagrass.
UPF 50+ Rashguard or 2mm Wetsuit: Shields against the intense Egyptian sun and adds buoyant comfort.
Flexible Full-Foot Fins: Allows effortless cruising across the shallow bay without tiring.
Reef-Safe Mineral Zinc Sunscreen: Protects the fragile Red Sea corals from chemical damage.
GoPro Action Camera with Floating Grip: Capture crisp 4K footage of giant turtles grazing.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do I get to Marsa Mubarak? +

Marsa Mubarak is accessible by organized boat excursions departing daily from Port Ghalib Marina (15 minutes by speedboat, 30 minutes by day yacht), or via a 20-minute coastal walk from the Three Corners Fayrouz Plaza Resort.

How big are the turtles at Marsa Mubarak? +

The resident Green sea turtles at Marsa Mubarak are colossal adults, with many carapaces measuring between 1.2 and 1.5 meters (4 to 5 feet) in length and weighing over 150 to 200 kg.

Is Marsa Mubarak suitable for non-swimmers and children? +

Yes! Marsa Mubarak is one of the most sheltered and wave-free bays in the Red Sea. Tour boats provide lifejackets, flotation rings, and experienced guides in the water to assist beginners.

What is the best time of day to see the Dugong in Marsa Mubarak? +

Dugongs are most frequently spotted in the early morning between 07:30 AM and 10:30 AM when the bay is calm and boat traffic is minimal.

Can I touch the turtles if they swim close to me? +

No. Under Egyptian environmental law, touching, holding, or chasing marine life is strictly prohibited. You must maintain at least 3 meters of standoff distance at all times.

What other marine life can I see at Marsa Mubarak? +

In addition to Giant Green and Hawksbill turtles, visitors frequently encounter wild Dugongs, Spotted Eagle Rays, Blue-Spotted Ribbontail Rays, Giant Moray Eels, and hundreds of vibrant Red Sea reef fish.

Swimming with Turtles in Marsa Mubarak / Turtle Bay (Port Ghalib, Red Sea)

Top-Rated Marsa Mubarak / Turtle Bay (Port Ghalib, Red Sea) Snorkel Tours & Charters