Home TRAVELS Marsa Alam – Abu Dabbab – English Version

Marsa Alam – Abu Dabbab – English Version

529
2

Abu Dabbab is probably the most beautiful bay of Marsa Alam, Red Sea, which has recently also become a protected natural park by the Egyptian government. So it is obligatory to pay a fee to visit this beautiful lagoon.

Abu Dabbab

As you can see in the picture by satellite, which you can click to go to Google Maps, the lagoon is huge, with very fine sand. On the right stands the hotel complex Sol Y Mar Abu Dabbab. The Reef to visit are placed on two sides of the lagoon, both starting from the shore, the left reef is the most attractive (or at least so say the guides) and is probably the finest of Marsa Alam, from what I saw .

Amtra sconto 20%

The lagoon is interesting too, because inside there are almost always the giant green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and with high probability the famous Dugong (Dugong dugon), marine mammal very famous because of being on the brink of extinction. In August is very difficult to see them because they don’t like the people and the heat. We have not seen them, but was seen in the bay of Marsa Shoona the day after our visit in the same bay. Pity.

Abu Dabbab is several kilometers from the airport of Marsa Alam, even if it is before the town. So to get there from our resort we spent a good half an hour.

The Desert Gas station in the middle of desert Oasis?
Telecomunication in the desert Street to airport Wonderful desert

Here we are wonderful pictures of this place

Abu Dabbab

Right side, with Sol Y Mar Abu Dabbab Resort

Abu Dabbab

The reef, from left side

Abu Dabbab

The Sol Y Mar

Abu Dabbab

The beach

Abu Dabbab

In this lagoon we have made a total of 3 dives divided over two days. The first on left reef and the second in the lagoon to search turtles (found) and dugongs. The third still on the reef on the left along with Simo, for her first dive. In the third dive there is also the diving profile to make you realize how you move underwater. All dives are very easy.

Technical data of first dive:

Maximum depth: 22,2 meters
Minimum Temperature: 28°C
Dive time: 53 minuti
Diving: SeaWorld
Divemaster: Bazooka

We begin to take our armour 🙂

Abu Dabbab

The great Bazooka will be our divemaster for the next dives.

Abu Dabbab

Bazooka smiling

Abu Dabbab

Lumaz is ready to go…

Abu Dabbab

Bazooka & Lumaz

Abu Dabbab

Lumaz and Bazooka are entering into the Red Sea

And finally we go … The first meters are full of suspension because of the sea not too quiet and the multitude of people who are in the lagoon to snorkel and dive. After the first few meters, and especially when it starts to go under, things improve exponentially, and is almost like stepping on their own.

Abu Dabbab

A wonderful yellow Acropora, impossible not to note it

Abu Dabbab

Ampiphrion Bicinctus and anemone

Abu Dabbab

Ampiphrion bicinctus and anemone

Abu Dabbab

Seascape…

Abu Dabbab

Fishes and diver in the same place…

Abu Dabbab - naso lituratus

Wonderful Naso lituratus

Abu Dabbab - Synanceia verrucosa

Stone fish, Synanceia verrucosa, thanks to Bazooka’s eye

Abu Dabbab - Synanceia verrucosa

Again

Abu Dabbab - Scorpaenopsis oxycephalus

Wonderful scorpionfish, Scorpaenopsis oxycephalus, thanks again to Bazooka’s eye

Abu Dabbab - Corallo di fuoco

Fire coral again… I love them

Abu Dabbab

Seascape

Abu Dabbab

Seascape

Abu Dabbab - Pseusoanthias squamipinnis

Pseudoanthias squamipinnis

Abu Dabbab - Paracirrithes forsteri

Beautiful Paracirrithes forsteri, isn’t it?

Abu Dabbab - Turbinaria mesenterina

Turbinaria mesenterina

Abu Dabbab - Turbinaria mesenterina

Turbinaria mesenterina, HUGE!

Abu Dabbab - Pygoplites diacanthus

Pygoplites diacanthus

Abu Dabbab - Pesce balestra - Pseudobalistes fuscus

Triggerfish – Pseudobalistes fuscus

Abu Dabbab - Trigone razza Taeniura lymma

Stingray, Taeniura lymma

Abu Dabbab - Pesce palla - arothron diadematus

Balloonfish – arothron diadematus

Abu Dabbab - Pesce leone - Pterois volitans

LionFish – Pterois volitans

Abu Dabbab - Pesce leone - Pterois volitans

LionFish – Pterois volitans

Abu Dabbab

Abu Dabbab

Abu Dabbab

A great seascape with some fishes on blue!

Abu Dabbab - Turbinaria mesenterina

Wonderful Turbinaria mesenterina

Abu Dabbab - Labride splendente - Cheilinus lunulatus

Wrasse – Cheilinus lunulatus

Abu Dabbab - Trigone, Taeniura lymma

Stingray, Taeniura lymma

Abu Dabbab - Trigone, Xenia

Xenia…

Abu Dabbab - Pesce leone - Pterois volitans

Lionfish, Pterois volitans

Abu Dabbab - Pesce leone - Pterois volitans

Lionfish, Pterois volitans

Abu Dabbab - Pseudoanthias squamipinnis

Pseudoanthias squamippinis on great seascape

Abu Dabbab - Lumaz

Lumaz & Bazooka

Turbinaria

Turbinaria

Abu Dabbab - Pesce coccodrillo - Papilloculiceps longiceps

One of the many crocodilefish. Papilloculiceps longiceps.

Abu Dabbab - Tridacna maxima

WOW! Tridacna maxima

Abu Dabbab - Tridacna maxima

Tridacna maxima

Abu Dabbab - Pesce pappagallo, Scarus ferrugineus

Beautiful male of Scarus ferrugineus

Abu Dabbab - Pseudoanthias squamipinnis

Many Pseudoanthias squamipinnis on great seascape

Abu Dabbab

Cephalopholis argus, waiting for a meal…

Abu Dabbab

Giant moray, Gymnothorax javanicus, hiding

Abu Dabbab

Pseudoanthias squamipinnis, male front, two female behind

Abu Dabbab

Zebrasoma Desjardinii

Abu Dabbab

Two sergeantfish, Abudefduf saxatilis

Abu Dabbab

Abu Dabbab

Zebrasoma searching for food left from some stupid men… as you know, the meal they eat, egg or bread, can lead them to die.

Abu Dabbab

In the middle Pygoplites diacanthus

Abu Dabbab

Corals and corals…

Abu Dabbab

Pseudoanthias squamipinnis again over acropora’s bed

Abu Dabbab

Paracirrithes forsteri

Abu Dabbab

What seascape!!!

Abu Dabbab

I want to be there… NOW!!!

Abu Dabbab

Arabian triggerfish, Rhinecanthus assasi

Abu Dabbab

Two wonderful Chaetodon semilarvatus

Abu Dabbab

Two wonderful Chaetodon semilarvatus

Technical data of second dive:

Maximum depth: 9,1 meters
Mimimum temperature: 29°C
Dive time: 48 minutes
Diving: SeaWorld
Divemaster: Bazooka

The second dive was intended to sightings of turtles and the dugong … we have not seen the second but many beautiful turtles …

The dive was shallow and very very easy … and the encounter with the turtle was very very exciting.

Abu Dabbab - murena fiocco di neve, Echidna nebulosa

Snowflake moray, Echidna nebulosa

Abu Dabbab - medusa

Abu Dabbab - passera leopardo, Bothus pantherinus

Bothus pantherinus, hiding on sand

Abu Dabbab - tartaruga verde gigante - Chelonia mydas

Finally we met the wonderful giant green turtles.

Abu Dabbab - tartaruga verde gigante - Chelonia mydas

The turtle is eating

Abu Dabbab - tartaruga verde gigante - Chelonia mydas

Abu Dabbab - tartaruga verde gigante - Chelonia mydas

Abu Dabbab - tartaruga verde gigante - Chelonia mydas

Abu Dabbab - tartaruga verde gigante - Chelonia mydas

Abu Dabbab - tartaruga verde gigante - Chelonia mydas

Abu Dabbab - tartaruga verde gigante - Chelonia mydas

Abu Dabbab - tartaruga verde gigante - Chelonia mydas

Abu Dabbab - tartaruga verde gigante - Chelonia mydas

Abu Dabbab - tartaruga verde gigante - Chelonia mydas

Abu Dabbab - tartaruga verde gigante - Chelonia mydas

Abu Dabbab - tartaruga verde gigante - Chelonia mydas

Abu Dabbab - tartaruga verde gigante - Chelonia mydas

Abu Dabbab - tartaruga verde gigante - Chelonia mydas

Abu Dabbab - tartaruga verde gigante - Chelonia mydas

Abu Dabbab - tartaruga verde gigante - Chelonia mydas

I think there is no need to use ither words… extremely wonderful!

So we reach the third dive, that truly we did three days afterm

Technical data of third dive:

Maximum depth: 25,2 meters
Minimum temperature: 28°C
Dive time: 50 minutes
Diving: SeaWorld
Divemaster: Bazooka

Dive profile

Profilo immersione Abu Dabbab

And now let me show you the wonderful pictures

Abu Dabbab - Chaetodon semilarvatus

Butterflyfish Chaetodon semilarvatus

Abu Dabbab - Pesce coccodrillo - Papilloculiceps longiceps

Beautiful crocodilefish, Papilloculiceps longiceps, not so small 😉

Abu Dabbab, Pesce coccodrillo, Papilloculiceps longiceps

Nearer

Abu Dabbab - acropore

Acropora

Abu Dabbab - acropore e Zebrasoma desjardinii

Wonderful acropora with Zebrasoma desjardinii

Abu Dabbab

Cuttlefish

Abu Dabbab

Giant Moray, Gymnothorax javanicus

Abu Dabbab

The same moray has left his home… wonderful…

Abu Dabbab

Fish and fish… many Pseudoanthias squamipinnis

Abu Dabbab

Great lionfish Pterois Volitans… What a pity the suspension

Abu Dabbab

Pygoplites diacanthus at very bottom (25 meters…)… you can see the different color because the absence of red

Abu Dabbab

Balloonfish Arothron stellatus

Abu Dabbab

Crocodilefish, Papilloculiceps longiceps

Abu Dabbab

Two stingrays together, Taeniura lynna

Abu Dabbab

Abu Dabbab

Abu Dabbab

Abu Dabbab

Abu Dabbab

Fat lionfish, Pterois volitans

Abu Dabbab

Crocodilefish, Papilloculiceps longiceps

Abu Dabbab

Porites

Abu Dabbab

Abu Dabbab

Triggerfish Balistapus ondulatus

Abu Dabbab

What a beautiful stingray, Taeniura Lymma

Abu Dabbab

Wonderful Pygoplites diacanthus, we are near the surface and so there a slighlty loss of red…

Abu Dabbab

Epinephelus polyphekadion

Abu Dabbab

Simo inside fishes…

Abu Dabbab

Lionfish waiting, Pterois volitans

Abu Dabbab

Many Porites…

Abu Dabbab

Dascyllus aruanus over pink Pocillopora…

Abu Dabbab

Zebrasoma Desjardinii over Porites

Abu Dabbab

Softie, but I don’t know which…

Abu Dabbab

Pink Stylophora, a simple dream of mine…

Abu Dabbab

Abu Dabbab

Small fishes inside this Acropora

Abu Dabbab

Small butterflyfish, wonderful… maybe Chaetodon mellannotus

Abu Dabbab

Finally we see a beautiful Acanthurus sohal

Abu Dabbab

One of my preferred fish, butterflyfish Chaetodon semilarvatus

Abu Dabbab

Here we are an octopus… but we did not see more than this… what a pity

Abu Dabbab

another Acanthurus sohal

Abu Dabbab

Tridacna

And we have finished the pictures… I hope you enjoy them… Any comments???

Other post linked from the same trip::

– Introduzione: Marsa Alam – Holiday Beach Resort 2009
Marsa Asalaya
– Abu Dabbab
– Marsa Shoona
– House Reef
– Marsa Murein

If you want more informations about fishes of red sea you can buy the Red Sea Guide written by Helmut Debelius… from Amazon

Red Sea Reef Guide

written by

Helmut Debelius

ed. Primaris – Hollywood Import & Export Inc.

Price: 61,32 $ amazon.com

Aquarium Systems - Solutions proven by scientists for MORE THAN 50 YEARS

2 COMMENTS

Rispondi

Questo sito usa Akismet per ridurre lo spam. Scopri come i tuoi dati vengono elaborati.