Ocean Atlas · Red Sea and Arabia
Eritrea
A remote Red Sea coast with the Dahlak Marine National Park, a big protected area of islands, reefs and turtle beaches.
Story only, for now. We love learning about this place and its ocean, so we share its story here and do not sell trips yet. Checked by Ocean Calling on 6 Oct 2026. Sources: Foreign travel advice Eritrea, UK FCDO; Dahlak Marine National Park, National Parks of the World; Dehalak Archipelago and offshore islands IBA, BirdLife DataZone.
Why: Dahlak Marine National Park, set up in 2002, covers more than 2,000 square kilometres of the Dahlak islands in the Red Sea, the largest marine park in the region. Green and hawksbill turtles nest on its beaches, and dolphins and dugongs are often reported in the waters. We follow this story from the shore and keep our usual promise: we give wildlife space and never touch, chase or swim with it.
Why Eritrea
Eritrea protects more than 2,000 square km of sea and islands in the Dahlak Marine National Park, set up in 2002. Reports describe reefs, nesting turtles, seabirds, dolphins and dugongs, but these come from tourism and general sources only. Visitors need a permit to leave Asmara and we could not check the rules for wildlife or diving. This is story only for now and Ocean Calling does not go.
Conservation-led. Ocean Calling guests never chase, touch or bait animals.
When to go
Oct-Apr. Timing changes by place and by animal, so check each place below.
We share this place as a story so you can learn. There is no Ocean Calling trip.
Can we travel here ethically?
Story only
We tell the story. We do not sell a trip here.
Checked 6 Oct 2026. Places change, so we look again every year.
Where in Eritrea
We share these places as stories and research notes. We do not offer or sell trips here.
Dahlak Archipelago and Dahlak Marine National Park
Story onlyA large group of islands off Massawa with reefs, seabird colonies and turtle nesting beaches.
Also seen: Dugongs (reported, from the boat), Dolphins (reported)
When: Oct-Apr. Operators quote October to April as the best months, with March to May as the peak. This is tourism marketing, not a study.
Animals recorded in Eritrea
Tap an animal to learn how it lives, where it travels and how to meet it respectfully.
DugongDugong dugonSeen in 32 countries in the AtlasVulnerable
Green turtleChelonia mydasSeen in 103 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern
Hawksbill turtleEretmochelys imbricataSeen in 88 countries in the AtlasCritically Endangered
Olive ridley turtleLepidochelys olivaceaSeen in 40 countries in the AtlasVulnerable
Loggerhead turtleCaretta carettaSeen in 89 countries in the AtlasVulnerable
Leatherback turtleDermochelys coriaceaSeen in 76 countries in the AtlasVulnerable
White-eyed gullIchthyaetus leucophthalmusSeen in 10 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern
Common dolphinDelphinus delphisSeen in 53 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern
Chinese white dolphinSousa chinensisSeen in 17 countries in the AtlasVulnerable
Brown boobySula leucogasterSeen in 104 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernMilk sharkRhizoprionodon acutusSeen in 33 countries in the AtlasVulnerableWhy this is a story, not a trip
Read our ethics check above. If you would like to talk about it, Rocío is happy to explain.
Bahrain
Djibouti
Egypt
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Jordan
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Oman
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YemenBased in Eritrea?
We are always happy to hear from exceptional local operators, accommodation, conservation organisations and destination experts in Eritrea. If your work fits responsible, small-group ocean travel, we would love to learn more.
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