Swim with humpback whales in Moʻorea, September 2027 · from CHF 4,500See the trip →
Ocean Calling

Ocean Atlas · Europe and Mediterranean

Europe and Mediterranean

Morocco

A quiet Mediterranean coast at Al Hoceima with a marine park and reef diving. The dolphin bay at Dakhla is a story only.

Common bottlenose dolphin
Common bottlenose dolphin, found in the waters of the wider region · Photo: NOAA on Unsplash
Exploring

Ethics pass, with care. We found a way to visit this country that meets our animal-welfare standard, as long as we work with the right local operator. Checked by Ocean Calling on 30 Sep 2026. Sources: Preserving the ecosystem of Al Hoceima National Park marine protected area, UNESCO; Dakhla Bay Important Marine Mammal Area, Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force; Morocco safety and security, UK FCDO, checked 24 Sep 2026.

ScubaSnorkellingTurtlesDolphinsCoral reefs

Why Morocco

Morocco is not one underwater place. Al Hoceima on the Mediterranean coast is our only research lane: a national park with a protected sea area, coves, reefs and caves, more than 100 fish species recorded, and dolphins and turtles that may pass by. It is not ready yet, because we still need the park's written rules, a check of local operators and a clear plan for dive emergencies. Dakhla Bay holds a small, isolated group of Atlantic humpback dolphins that is Critically Endangered, so we do not go in the water with dolphins there and share it as a story only. Dakhla lies in Western Sahara, whose status is still part of a UN process, so we keep our wording neutral. Morocco also has warm food and culture between ocean days.

Conservation-led. Ocean Calling guests never chase, touch or bait animals.

W. SaharaCanadaSudanChadRussiaGuyanaFranceSenegalMaliMauritaniaBeninNigerNigeriaCameroonTogoGhanaCôte d'IvoireGuineaGuinea-BissauLiberiaSierra LeoneBurkina FasoCentral African Rep.IsraelLebanonPalestineGambiaTunisiaAlgeriaJordanIraqSyriaUkrainePolandAustriaHungaryMoldovaRomaniaGermanyBulgariaGreeceTurkeyAlbaniaCroatiaSwitzerlandLuxembourgBelgiumNetherlandsPortugalSpainItalyUnited KingdomGeorgiaSloveniaSlovakiaCzechiaEritreaSaudi ArabiaN. CyprusCyprusMoroccoEgyptLibyaEthiopiaBosnia and Herz.MacedoniaSerbiaMontenegroKosovoS. SudanAl Hoceima National Park, MoroccoDakhla Bay, Morocco

When to go

Jun, Sep. Timing changes by place and by animal, so check each place below.

We have researched this place and keep learning about it. There is no trip here yet.

Our ethics check

Can we travel here ethically?

Ethics pass, with care

Good with the right operator. Here is how we choose.

Only Al Hoceima is in our research, and it is not ready: we still need the park's written rules, an operator check and a clear dive emergency plan, since the only recompression chamber we could confirm is in Rabat. Dolphins are watched from the boat at most, never swum with. In Dakhla Bay the Atlantic humpback dolphins are few, isolated and Critically Endangered, so an in-water dolphin trip there is a firm no and we share it as a story only. Morocco banned catching marine mammals and turtles in its waters for 25 years, but that is a fishing rule, not a code for visitors.

Checked 30 Sep 2026. Places change, so we look again every year.

Sources for this check
Places we are exploring

Where in Morocco

Short notes from our research. Wildlife is never guaranteed.

Al Hoceima National Park

Exploring

A protected Mediterranean coast of sheltered coves, reefs and caves below the Rif mountains. Research only for now.

🤿 In the water: Reef fish (more than 100 species recorded in the park), Seagrass meadows and coralligenous reef

⛵ From the boat or shore, never in the water: Common bottlenose dolphins (a chance only, from the boat), Loggerhead turtles (a chance only)

When: Jun, Sep. June and September look best, with warm water and fewer summer crowds. Sea temperature is about 20 C in June and 22 C in September. Sightings of dolphins and turtles are never certain.

Dakhla Bay

On pause, story only

A wide lagoon with a small, isolated group of Critically Endangered Atlantic humpback dolphins. Story only, we do not go in the water here.

Animals

Animals recorded in Morocco

Tap an animal to learn how it lives, where it travels and how to meet it respectfully.

Land animals
Common bottlenose dolphin swimming over a seagrass bedCommon bottlenose dolphinTursiops truncatusSeen in 89 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernPod of common dolphins surfacing in calm blue seaCommon dolphinDelphinus delphisSeen in 53 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernStriped dolphin leaping, dark flank stripe clearly visibleStriped dolphinStenella coeruleoalbaSeen in 43 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernMediterranean monk seal head above blue water, whiskers visibleMediterranean monk sealMonachus monachusSeen in 9 countries in the AtlasVulnerableLoggerhead turtle at the surface feeding on Portuguese man o' warLoggerhead turtleCaretta carettaSeen in 89 countries in the AtlasVulnerableLeatherback hatchling crossing the sand toward the seaLeatherback turtleDermochelys coriaceaSeen in 76 countries in the AtlasVulnerableGreen turtle resting on the reef, shell and head pattern in sharp detailGreen turtleChelonia mydasSeen in 103 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernFin whale surfacing, showing its white right lower jawFin whaleBalaenoptera physalusSeen in 37 countries in the AtlasVulnerableSperm whale mother raising her fluke beside her calf off DominicaSperm whalePhyseter macrocephalusSeen in 114 countries in the AtlasVulnerableSei whale's tall dorsal fin breaking a calm sea surfaceSei whaleBalaenoptera borealisSeen in 24 countries in the AtlasEndangeredTwo long-finned pilot whales surfacing side by sideLong-finned pilot whaleGlobicephala melasSeen in 24 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernHarbour porpoise rolling at the surface off Berry Head, DevonHarbour porpoisePhocoena phocoenaSeen in 20 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernBlue shark swimming in open blue water off the Azores with a diver in the backgroundBlue sharkPrionace glaucaSeen in 50 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedTwo Atlantic humpback dolphin dorsal fins at the surface of calm water in Guinea-BissauAtlantic humpback dolphinSousa teusziiSeen in 13 countries in the AtlasCritically EndangeredOrcas surfacing close together in calm Arctic Norwegian watersOrca (killer whale)Orcinus orcaSeen in 55 countries in the AtlasData DeficientBump-head sunfish swimming in blue water off Nusa PenidaOcean sunfish (mola)Mola molaSeen in 29 countries in the AtlasVulnerableHeavily spotted adult Atlantic spotted dolphin with young, AzoresAtlantic spotted dolphinStenella frontalisSeen in 22 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernCommon octopus crawling over a rocky seabed in FranceCommon octopusOctopus vulgarisSeen in 32 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernAtlantic puffin spreading its wings on a cliff in IcelandAtlantic puffinFratercula arcticaSeen in 21 countries in the AtlasVulnerableAmerican flamingo wading in shallow water with its head lowered toward the surface, Yucatán, MexicoAmerican flamingoPhoenicopterus ruberSeen in 47 countries in the AtlasLives on landLeast ConcernGreat cormorant perched on a branch, with white head plumes and a glossy blue-black backGreat cormorantPhalacrocorax carboSeen in 90 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernHuge flock of sooty shearwaters flying low over the sea beside a rocky coastSooty shearwaterArdenna griseaSeen in 53 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedWilson's storm-petrel resting on calm water with its wings raised above its backWilson's storm-petrelOceanites oceanicusSeen in 41 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernClose view of a northern gannet face, with pale blue eyes and a golden headNorthern gannetMorus bassanusSeen in 38 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernScopoli's shearwater skimming just above calm blue waterScopoli's shearwaterCalonectris diomedeaSeen in 37 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernLeach's storm-petrel in flight over water, wings spread, with a pale patch at the base of the tailLeach's storm-petrelHydrobates leucorhousSeen in 35 countries in the AtlasVulnerableManx shearwater banking just above the sea, white underparts and dark upperparts visibleManx shearwaterPuffinus puffinusSeen in 34 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernGreat shearwater flying low over calm water, its reflection belowGreat shearwaterArdenna gravisSeen in 32 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernEuropean shag sitting on its nest of dry grass, dark green-tinged plumage and yellow gapeEuropean shagGulosus aristotelisSeen in 31 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernClose view of a small-spotted catshark head, with dark spots, resting on the seabedSmall-spotted catshark (lesser spotted dogfish)Scyliorhinus caniculaSeen in 25 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernYelkouan shearwater lifting off the sea surface with wings raisedYelkouan shearwaterPuffinus yelkouanSeen in 19 countries in the AtlasVulnerable
Dreaming of Morocco?

Tell Rocío what you would love to see

There is no trip here yet. If enough people ask, it helps us decide where to go next.

Message on WhatsAppEmail RocíoGet new dates first

Also in Europe and Mediterranean
AlbaniaAlgeriaBelgiumBulgariaCroatiaCyprusDenmarkEstoniaFaroe IslandsFinlandFranceGeorgiaGermanyGibraltarGreeceGreenlandIcelandIrelandItalyLatviaLebanonLibyaLithuaniaMaltaMonacoMontenegroNetherlandsNorwayPalestinePolandPortugalRomaniaRussiaSloveniaSpainSwedenSyriaTunisiaTürkiyeUkraineUnited Kingdom

← Back to the Ocean Atlas

For partners

Based in Morocco?

We are always happy to hear from exceptional local operators, accommodation, conservation organisations and destination experts in Morocco. If your work fits responsible, small-group ocean travel, we would love to learn more.

Partner with Ocean Calling
You might like

Swim with humpback whales in Moʻorea, September 2027

from CHF 4,500

See the trip →