On Egypt's deep-south Red Sea coast, Abu Dabbab's horseshoe bay is famous for two residents: enormous green turtles grazing the seagrass metres from shore, and the occasional dugong — the sea cow that reputedly started the mermaid myth. Coral reefs frame both arms of the bay, visibility is routinely superb, and the water stays warm enough to swim all year. Fly to Marsa Alam, thirty minutes away, and get in early — the turtles breakfast before the crowds do.
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