Dugong

[RuthH]

Very privileged - first diving holiday last week (Marsa Alam, Red Sea) and we went to Marsa Abu Dabab to have a look at the sea grass meadow in the hope of finding turtles and the elusive dugong. Our guide Osama lived up to his reputation by finding the dugong and we spent about 10-15 minutes with it. Incredible animal, really mind blowing. It was hoovering up the sea grass and then surfacing for air and coming down for more food. It didn't seem to be bothered by us. I could have reached out and touched it at one point (never would of course). There are, I'm told, only about 50 in the Red Sea and 400 in the world. A friend took some photos and even some video. Couldn't stop grinning when we surfaced, and the other dive guides were very envious.

[Dr Stevil]

Totally and utterly jealous! you lucky bugger!

[Mr T.]

I know how you feel, I was privileged enough to dive with Mantatees in the brackish waters of the Indian and Banana Rivers in Florida (Cocoa Beach area, near Patrick Air Force Base) back in '95.

Some of the propeller wounds on their backs were severe, but these wonderous creatures just seemed to go about their business like a squad of forgiving drunks.

[RuthH]

The dugong had a few scars on its back - can't have been much fun.

Photo here: http://www.zerovisibility.co.uk/cgi-...l,m=1094910285

[John Gulliver]

Several of my friends saw the same dugong on a trip on the Excel last summer. I didn't, unfortunately. Let's hope he or she soon finds a mate and produces some little dugongs,but it's going to take some searching.
I've also snorkelled with the manatees in northern Florida (Crystal River) and agree with every word Bren says. Fortunately, they don't seem to be nearly as likely to become extent as the Pacific and Indian Ocean dugongs.
Of course, man has already suceeded in wiping out one species of seacow, the Stella seacow (I think that's the right name) in western Canada and northwest USA. If I remember correctly, it became extinct only about 40 years after the first Europeans sailors arrived there.

[SCUBA Chick]

How fantastic Ruth and on your first trip too!!!

You are very lucky to have seen such a wonderful creature....

Scubachick

[Odin]

You lucky so and so!
I tried last Wednesday to dive with one... unsuccessfully!
But did see the biggest Turtle in the world!
Paul

[Fiona]

Originally Posted by John Gulliver

Let's hope he or she soon finds a mate and produces some little dugongs,but it's going to take some searching.

John, isn't this the area the Italians have bought to build another hotel.

[RuthH]

There's a huge amount of construction going on around the whole area. I'm told it currently looks like Sharm 15 years ago.

[Moray]

The marsa alam airport only opened up about 4 years ago.

I was in Dahab in 1980, there was NOTHING THERE....just a few palm-thatched huts and a bedouin who would take you out in a rowboat...

Look at it now. None of us will ever see it again as it was.

moray