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El Mina Reef – Dugong, Turtles & Stonefish Encounter in El Quseir

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Scuba diver swims among a swirling school of fish in the ocean's depths, captured in a mesmerizing black and white scene.

November 5, 2025

El Mina Reef in El Quseir delivered one of the most spectacular Red Sea dives of the trip: a dugong swimming freely in open blue water, multiple Green Sea Turtles, and a perfectly camouflaged stonefish. Combined with a dynamic morning dive at House Reef North featuring an Eagle Ray, lionfish, and a massive mackerel school, this day showcased the very best of Red Sea marine life.

🌊 Morning Dive – House Reef North

The day started at House Reef North with excellent visibility and calm conditions. A majestic Eagle Ray glided across the sand, while several lionfish hovered among the coral blocks.

⭐ Mackerel Baitball

A huge school of mackerel swept in from the blue, moving in tight formations and shimmering waves — a breathtaking scene of coordinated pelagic behaviour.

🐢 Afternoon Dive – 

El Mina Reef

The highlight of the day was the afternoon dive at El Mina Reef, a site famous for turtles and vibrant seagrass meadows. But this dive exceeded all expectations.

Hand-drawn map of El Mina dive site with coral formations, depth markers, and text details on diving conditions.
El Mina dive site – copyright Extradivers El Quesir

🐢 Turtle Encounters

We saw several Green Sea Turtles, calmly grazing or slowly ascending to breathe. Each encounter felt peaceful and natural, typical of El Mina’s rich seagrass ecosystem.

🐄 Rare Sight: Dugong in Open Blue Water

The moment of the day — and arguably the entire trip — was spotting a Dugong swimming freely in open blue water. Seeing a dugong away from the seagrass, cruising mid-water, is extraordinarily rare and felt truly magical.

🪨 Stonefish Finale

Near the end of the dive, a perfectly blended stonefish rested on the sandy bottom. Its camouflage was exceptional, making it a rewarding find for experienced spotters.

✅ Summary

November 5th highlighted exactly why El Quseir is a top diving destination:

  • Dugong encounter in blue water
  • Multiple turtles
  • Stonefish camouflage
  • Pelagic mackerel action
  • Eagle Ray & lionfish
    A day filled with spectacular and diverse marine wildlife.

📸 Photo Gallery – Impressions from the Day

  • Black and white image of a lionfish with striking striped and spotted fins resting on a sandy ocean floor.
  • Monochrome image of a stingray swimming near coral reef underwater.
  • Black and white underwater scene with coral formations and a school of small fish swimming above.
  • Black and white underwater scene with fish swimming around coral reefs.
  • Black and white close-up of an intricately patterned marine mollusk on a textured coral reef background.
  • Black and white photo of a school of long, slender fish swimming over coral in the ocean.
  • Black and white image of a spotted eel on a sandy ocean floor next to coral formations.
  • School of fish swimming underwater with sunbeams streaming through the surface, bubbles rising amidst them.
  • Spotted fish camouflaged among intricate coral reefs underwater in black and white.
  • Scuba diver photographing a large school of fish underwater, black and white photography.
  • Scuba diver swims among a swirling school of fish in the ocean's depths, captured in a mesmerizing black and white scene.
  • Scuba diver with mask and gear underwater, surrounded by bubbles in a monochrome setting.
  • Scuba diver with pink goggles underwater near beachside resort, surrounded by striped fish and sunlit ocean views.
  • Scuba diver photographing a dugong surrounded by fish underwater.
  • Sea turtle swimming gracefully in clear blue ocean water with small fish nearby.
  • Lionfish with striped fins glides over coral reef in clear blue ocean water, surrounded by smaller fish.
  • Diver photographing a large sea turtle grazing on underwater grass with other divers in the blue ocean background.
  • Camouflaged scorpionfish blends with coral reef, showcasing textured skin and vivid marine life.
  • Camouflaged stonefish hidden among coral and seaweed on the ocean floor.
  • Hand-drawn map of El Mina dive site with coral formations, depth markers, and text details on diving conditions.

✅ Useful Links

Marine life reference:

Eagle Ray – https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=212290

Lionfish (Pterois miles) – https://www.fishbase.se/summary/50037

Mackerel – https://www.fishbase.se/summary/136

Green Sea Turtle – https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/4615/11037468

Dugong – https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/6909/109301100

Stonefish – https://www.fishbase.se/summary/1485

Region info:

Red Sea Region – https://www.egypt.travel/en/regions/red-sea

FishBase – https://www.fishbase.se

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