Dugong in Abu Dabab? [Archive] - Underwater Photo Chat

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Jonathan Bird

11-06-2007, 05:11 PM

Clay Coleman

11-06-2007, 11:22 PM

Jonathan: I have no idea, but I participated in a dugong film by Yusuf Thakur a while back. My last email for him is vfx@emirates.net.ae Nice guy and could possibly give you some info. -Clay

sorvju-f

11-07-2007, 11:47 AM

Hey Everyone,
Pierre and I want to make a run to the Red Sea to photograph/film the "friendly" dugong at Abu Dabab. Does anyone have any information? Specifically, how good are the chances of finding it in the few days? Thanks

Jonathan

Finally I got permission from my doctor to use my leg and to go underwater and one hour after that i had trip booked to Hurghada, Red Sea, 22nd November for one week.

Abu Dabab is 1 hour drive from Hurghada, so I might be visiting there!

I also sended message to my friend who is working there to up to date the situation with dugong so standby i will revert.

Jukka

Neptune7

11-07-2007, 12:37 PM

Abu Dabab is 1 hour drive from Hurghada, so I might be visiting there!

Jukka

Hi Jukka,
Are you sure Hurghada is only one hour drive? Last April, it took us 3 hours by bus to get from Hurghada to Port Ghalib wich is north of Abu Dabab...

I just checked and there is at least 300 km between Hurghada and Marsa Alam (the town right by the Abu Dabab dive site). You must drive very fast Jukka!;)

Pierre

Neptune7

11-07-2007, 12:47 PM

Here is a reply I got from Orca Abu Dabab dive club.

"Hello Pierre,
HEPCA was already closing the bay for any motorized boats, so they are not allowed any more to stay near the bay, and also not to bring divers from sea-side to Abu Dabab. So this was a big effort to protect the bay and marine life.
(Only our zodiac has the permission to move -slowly- inside the bay).
Since may, its planned to invent a restricted area inside the bay in order to protect the turtles and the dugong. So, the bay will not be closed completely, but has restricted areas.

best regards, Evelyn"
Orca Abu Dabab

Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association (HEPCA)

Jonathan, we should contact them directly from their web site www.hepca.com

Pierre

sorvju-f

11-07-2007, 01:18 PM

Hi Jukka,
Are you sure Hurghada is only one hour drive? Last April, it took us 3 hours by bus to get from Hurghada to Port Ghalib wich is north of Abu Dabab...

I just checked and there is at least 300 km between Hurghada and Marsa Alam (the town right by the Abu Dabab dive site). You must drive very fast Jukka!;)

Pierre

Pierre!

Abu Dabab is from Marsa Alam some kilometers? to direction to Hurghada.

Anyhow you are partly right, but I have the feeling that egyptian hour is
something else than we have:D

Nowadays you can also fly straight to Marsa Alam

Jukka

Did some work work and find a map

http://www.hostelbookers.com/hostels/egypt/marsa-alam/map/

After some very careful calculations I ended to 212 km 350 meters and thats nothing in one hour...ask ferrari and Kimi Räikkönen

Also Jukka

sorvju-f

11-08-2007, 06:55 PM

Today it was there. So the dugong is visiting this area nearly every day and the best time to see it is really early in the morning, when its coming to get "breakfast".

These restrictions of HEPCA was not known ( anyhow my contact person there didnot know ), but he is taking people there by Zodiac from the shore.

Maybe I will take "one hour" drive to this place soon!

Jukka

Jonathan Bird

11-09-2007, 09:06 AM

After some very careful calculations I ended to 212 km 350 meters and thats nothing in one hour...ask ferrari and Kimi Räikkönen

Hamilton and McLaren can do it that fast too....but they CHEAT! ;)

Jonathan Bird

11-09-2007, 09:07 AM

sorvju-f

11-09-2007, 11:05 AM

Jukka are you in the area now? Must go, take pics and report back! It's an UWPhotochat assignment!

Jonathan

Assingment approved, but fullfillment only after 22nd Nov.

I have worked out with David to be able to send also videoclips online there!

Jukka

sorvju-f

11-30-2007, 12:14 PM

http://sorvjuf.1g.fi/kuvat/Egypt+2007/Not+yet+1024.jpg/full

Jonathan Bird

11-30-2007, 01:27 PM

Jukka, you are the man! Tell us all the details! Are you listening Pierre??

sorvju-f

11-30-2007, 02:38 PM

Jukka, you are the man! Tell us all the details! Are you listening Pierre??

So I have to addmit that even Kimi Räikkönen would have had difficulties to manage the way from Hurghada to Abu Dabab in one hour;)

So my local friend arranged us permission, which is a must.

No zodiaks or live boards are allowed to area anymore! We had to make beach approach, but that was no problem...the car took us 50 meters from the beach. You just have to have all the cameras ready...there is sand everywhere...and you all know what happens when its stucked to o-rings!

There are couple of hotels at the beach...and lot of snorklers making particle storms.

There is shallow bay, 2-10 meters, having the sea grass in the bottom.

The first nice thing we spotted there was quitar shark, about 1,5 meters long, but it was too shy to let us enter enough close to make pictures..finally it disappeared.

There were also huge and I really mean huge turtles with remoras on their back.... I calculated 10 of them during the first dive.

So after 70 minutes we were already heading back ( I had only 50 bars left ) when in just 2-3 meters debth we met our friendly dugong:D

Of course all who present in water are heading to have a look and particle storm is ready. Actually I was hoping to have our meeting little bit deeper, which also possible...just got to take what was given:rolleyes:

Second dive..no luck! According our quide it can be spotted there nearly every days...but there are also days not seen!

There have been calculated about 60 dugongs around whole Red Sea area.

In Abu Dabab you can meet always the same individual ( male ) and our quide told us that some way to north there is one female. Anyhow i understood that the BIG TRUTH is that it has not been spotted baby dugongs for many years in whole Red Sea or that has been great secret.

The mating period was said to be february-march when our friendly dugong is heading to north;) and not seen in Abu Dabab...lets hope good luck to our friendly dugong!.

There are flights to Marsa Alam, maybe 30 km from Abu Dabab...there are also hotels in the area...but if I understood right you have to fly there from London...

If you decide to go there I am ready to help you!

Jukka

sorvju-f

11-30-2007, 05:25 PM

http://sorvjuf.1g.fi/kuvat/Egypt+2007/Size+comparison+1024.jpg/full

Jukka

sorvju-f

11-30-2007, 05:53 PM

Front side

http://sorvjuf.1g.fi/kuvat/Egypt+2007/Front+1024.jpg/full

Jukka

sorvju-f

11-30-2007, 05:56 PM

http://sorvjuf.1g.fi/kuvat/Egypt+2007/Back+check+1024.jpg/fullGoing up

Jukka

sorvju-f

11-30-2007, 05:58 PM

Body

http://sorvjuf.1g.fi/kuvat/Egypt+2007/Body+1024.jpg/full

Jukka

sorvju-f

11-30-2007, 06:00 PM

http://sorvjuf.1g.fi/kuvat/Egypt+2007/Surrounded+1024.jpg/full

Jukka

sorvju-f

11-30-2007, 07:53 PM

http://sorvjuf.1g.fi/kuvat/Egypt+2007/Turtle+3+1024.jpg/full

sorvju-f

11-30-2007, 07:55 PM

http://sorvjuf.1g.fi/kuvat/Egypt+2007/Turtle+4+1024.jpg/full

sorvju-f

11-30-2007, 07:56 PM

http://sorvjuf.1g.fi/kuvat/Egypt+2007/Turtle+1+1024.jpg/full

sorvju-f

11-30-2007, 07:57 PM

http://sorvjuf.1g.fi/kuvat/Egypt+2007/Turtle+2+1024.jpg/full

Jonathan Bird

12-01-2007, 09:49 AM

sorvju-f

12-01-2007, 02:04 PM

Great shots Jukka!

I was thinking of maybe heading over in january. Do you think the dugong will be gone north to mate then?? There is always a complication! I swear, I could plan this thing, research it, then fly over there and the thing would be gone!

I forgot to mention that the name of this dugong is Dennis!

January, specially the end of the month the temperature goes down and the wind is getting harder (means a lot for vizibility in that site ). The water temperature can go below 20 celsius.

I also checked words dugong, Abu Dabab and January trough Google and find out that there are less reports that period.

I have been there now for two times, last time april 2005 and had a meeting with Dennis.

I am not pro to comment, but looks like during January you have less change to have a " meeting" with Dennis.
I feel its better to postbone your trip to end march/april, if you decide to go.

Jukka

Jonathan Bird

12-01-2007, 05:06 PM

OK Jukka, Thanks for the info! I will have to postpone. Bummer....I really wanted pictures for a book I am working on but it has to be off to the publisher by February.

Jonathan

sorvju-f

12-20-2007, 06:02 PM

What is really difference between dugong and manatee?

http://sorvjuf.1g.fi/kuvat/Egypt+2007/Dugong+6.jpg/full

http://sorvjuf.1g.fi/kuvat/Egypt+2007/Dugong+face.jpg/full

Jukka

tarczy

12-20-2007, 06:51 PM

Nice shots Jukka!

I especially like the one of the Dugong's eye!

Sharp

12-25-2007, 04:32 PM

Excellent pictures Jukka!:D

What is really difference between dugong and manatee?

Jukka

I only know that shape of the dugongs tail is like dolphin and whale. And manatees have round shape tail.

In my website www.pasilensu.com there is also some pictures of Dennis in photogallery South and St John´s Diving safari Red Sea 2007.

407

408

In my videogallery I have one video of Dennis Green turtles and Dugong dungon, Red Sea 2007.

sorvju-f

12-25-2007, 06:10 PM

Excellent pictures Jukka!:D

I only know that shape of the dugongs tail is like dolphin and whale. And manatees have round shape tail.

In my website www.pasilensu.com there is also some pictures of Dennis in photogallery South and St John´s Diving safari Red Sea 2007.

407

408

In my videogallery I have one video of Dennis Green turtles and Dugong dungon, Red Sea 2007.

Nice pics also Pasi:eek: Thanks for sharing!

From that video its possible to get wider understanding of the site!

Now its not more allowed to Safari boats and zodiacks to enter to site from sea side, only from the beach...Dennis got heart from one propeller.

Jukka

Ken Hawk

10-07-2008, 02:03 PM

It looks like they have being busy making a little one :D

http://www.emperordivers.com/news/2008-10.php#4

Ken

Sharp

10-07-2008, 02:32 PM

It looks like they have being busy making a little one :D

http://www.emperordivers.com/news/2008-10.php#4

Ken

Conratulations, new baby dugong has born!:)

sorvju-f

10-26-2008, 06:15 AM

It looks like they have being busy making a little one :D

http://www.emperordivers.com/news/2008-10.php#4

Ken

I love these news..the future of these beutiful creatures looks little better:D

Jukka