Ocean Atlas · Europe and Mediterranean
Lebanon
A Mediterranean coast of wrecks, freediving, sea turtle beaches and old harbours. Shared as a story only, with no trips.
On pause, travel not recommended. A government travel advisory says not to travel here, so we do not offer trips. Sources: Lebanon travel advice, Swiss FDFA and Embassy, checked 24 Sep 2026; Lebanon travel advisory, Level 4 Do not travel, US State Department, 21 Aug 2026; Lebanon travel advice, UK FCDO, latest update 10 Aug 2026, rechecked 5 Oct 2026.
Why: EU and US citizens may be advised against all travel to Lebanon, so please check your own government's website. We offer no trips, no deposits and no referrals. What we know: turtles, whales and monk seals are protected by national decision, and diving is regulated by law. Lebanon has no confirmed Green Fins member, and coastal water quality varies by site, so we would check each place before anything ever changed. We only share the story.
We share this country as a story and do not offer trips. This is not a judgement of the people or the ocean here. It only means that today we could not find a visit that meets our animal-welfare and safety standards. Places change, so we look again every year.
⚠️ Official travel advice is a separate question, and it differs by passport. EU citizens or US citizens may be advised against travelling there, so please check your own government’s website before you plan.
Why Lebanon
Lebanon has about 220 km of Mediterranean coast, a real scuba and freediving community, wreck dives, submerged ruins at Tyre and beaches where loggerhead and green turtles come ashore. It is not a tropical reef, and wildlife is never promised: smalltooth sand tiger sharks are sometimes reported at one deep dive site in July and August, but sightings are unreliable. Water quality changes from place to place, and the sea turtle, whale and monk seal are protected by law. EU and US citizens may be advised against all travel to Lebanon, so please check your own government's website. This page is story only and Ocean Calling does not go.
Conservation-led. Ocean Calling guests never chase, touch or bait animals.
When to go
Sep-Oct. Timing changes by place and by animal, so check each place below.
Official travel advice or our ethics check means we do not send guests here.
Can we travel here ethically?
On pause, travel not recommended
We follow government travel advice. We will look again when it changes.
This is not a judgement of the people or the ocean here. It only means that today we could not find a visit that meets our animal-welfare and safety standards. Places change, so we look again every year. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
⚠️ Official travel advice is a separate question, and it differs by passport. EU citizens or US citizens may be advised against travelling there, so please check your own government’s website before you plan.
Where in Lebanon
We share these places as stories and research notes. We do not offer or sell trips here.
Batroun and the north coast
On pause, travel not recommendedA coast of wrecks, rocky dive sites and old harbour towns, and the place we would look at first if travel ever reopens.
When: Sep-Oct. Warm, settled water from September to October is the best window on paper. Sea temperature is about 28 C in September and 26 C in October, which is an estimate. Visibility is roughly 6 to 25 m depending on the site.
Tyre Coast Nature Reserve
On pause, travel not recommendedA protected coast with sea turtle habitat and underwater ruins, in the south where travel is most strongly advised against.
Also seen: Loggerhead and green turtles (story only, never guaranteed)
When: May-Aug. Loggerhead and green turtles use this coast, but we have not confirmed the nesting window. Al-Mansouri beach near Tyre lies in the South Governorate, where all travel is advised against. Nesting and hatchlings are never promised.
Palm Islands Nature Reserve
On pause, travel not recommendedA protected island reserve near Tripoli where snorkelling and diving are regulated and may need a permit.
When: Sep-Oct. We have not studied the seasons here. Visits need the right permits and a licensed guide.
Animals recorded in Lebanon
Tap an animal to learn how it lives, where it travels and how to meet it respectfully.
Loggerhead turtleCaretta carettaSeen in 89 countries in the AtlasVulnerable
Green turtleChelonia mydasSeen in 103 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern
Mediterranean monk sealMonachus monachusSeen in 9 countries in the AtlasVulnerable
Smalltooth sand tiger sharkOdontaspis feroxSeen in 3 countries in the AtlasEndangered
Moon jellyfishAurelia aurita and other Aurelia speciesSeen in 33 countries in the AtlasNot Evaluated
Long-snouted seahorseHippocampus guttulatusSeen in 21 countries in the AtlasNear Threatened
Dusky grouperEpinephelus marginatusSeen in 40 countries in the AtlasVulnerable
Atlantic bluefin tunaThunnus thynnusSeen in 39 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern
Nomad jellyfishRhopilema nomadicaSeen in 6 countries in the AtlasNot Evaluated
Great cormorantPhalacrocorax carboSeen in 90 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernWhy 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.
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United KingdomBased in Lebanon?
We are always happy to hear from exceptional local operators, accommodation, conservation organisations and destination experts in Lebanon. If your work fits responsible, small-group ocean travel, we would love to learn more.
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