There’s something truly special about the dugong. With so many incredible creatures in the world’s waters, it’s telling just how much affection divers hold for this gentle marine mammal.
It is a particular highlight for the many who join us for day diving in the southern Red Sea – with Abu Dabab near Marsa Alam a familiar spotting ground where ‘Dennis’ the dugong is a long-standing, firm favourite for those lucky enough to encounter him.
Often nicknamed the “sea cow” for its slow-moving, herbivorous nature, the dugong is closely related to the manatee. However, unlike manatees – who can live in both fresh and saltwater – dugongs are strictly marine animals. They thrive in warm coastal waters from the Red Sea to Australia, inhabiting the shallow seagrass meadows of the Indian Ocean and parts of the Pacific. These seagrass beds are the foundation of their diet and way of life.
Using their bristled, downturned snouts to uproot and graze on the plants, their eating helps maintain the health of these vital ecosystems, but this also makes them highly dependent on the availability of healthy beds – ecosystems that are increasingly under threat from coastal development, pollution, and destructive fishing practices.
Despite their long lifespans, often reaching 50–70 years, dugongs are classified as “Vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Certain populations face even greater risks. Their slow reproductive rate – females give birth to a single calf after a 13–15 month gestation, with calves nursed for up to 18 months – makes populations particularly sensitive to external pressures like habitat loss, entanglement in fishing nets, boat strikes, and illegal hunting.
That’s why marking events like World Dugong Day – celebrated every year on May 28th – is so important. It’s a time to highlight the risks these magnificent creatures face and to reinforce the importance of global conservation efforts.
With their calm nature and distinctive appearance, dugongs have inspired myths and legends for centuries, even being linked to mermaid sightings.
Today, they’re recognised as vital indicators of marine ecosystem health, and efforts to protect them are a crucial part of marine conservation around the world.
If you would like to know more about where and when you can see dugong, contact our team on [email protected] and they will happily give you some ideas of the perfect trip to go on.