Ocean Atlas · Europe and Mediterranean
Palestine
A story only. The Mediterranean off Gaza is home to sea turtles and dolphins, and it is also a coast where people are living through a humanitarian crisis.
On pause, travel not recommended. A government travel advisory says not to travel here, so we do not offer trips. Sources: UK FCDO, Palestine travel advice; An Inventory of Some Relatively Large Marine Mammals, Reptiles, and Fishes of the Mediterranean Coast of the Gaza Strip, Open Journal of Ecology 2023; UN OCHA occupied Palestinian territory, Gaza fisheries.
Why: Story only, we do not go. The UK FCDO advises against all travel to Gaza and to parts of the West Bank, and there are no independent exit routes or consular support inside Gaza. We offer no trips, no in-water encounters and no referrals. We share the marine story with care and will review only if official advice changes.
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.
Also see: Israel
Why Palestine
This is a story only. We do not go and we do not offer trips here, because the UK FCDO advises against all travel to Gaza and to parts of the West Bank, and consular help is not available inside Gaza. We include Palestine because the sea matters wherever it is. Researchers have recorded loggerhead, green and leatherback turtles and several dolphin and whale species along the roughly 40 km Gaza coast, and reports describe heavy pressure on that coast from sewage, restricted sea access and the conflict. The Dead Sea shore of the West Bank is shrinking and forming sinkholes. We share what is documented, plainly and with care, and we say where we are not sure.
Conservation-led. Ocean Calling guests never chase, touch or bait animals.
When to go
Timing changes a lot from place to place. See 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 Palestine
We share these places as stories and research notes. We do not offer or sell trips here.
Gaza coast
On pause, travel not recommendedAbout 42 km of Mediterranean shore. A 2003 to 2022 inventory of sightings, catches and strandings recorded at least 26 large marine animals here, including three turtle species and dolphins. Story only, we do not go.
Animals recorded in Palestine
Tap an animal to learn how it lives, where it travels and how to meet it respectfully.
Green turtleChelonia mydasSeen in 103 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern
Loggerhead turtleCaretta carettaSeen in 89 countries in the AtlasVulnerable
Common bottlenose dolphinTursiops truncatusSeen in 89 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern
Leatherback turtleDermochelys coriaceaSeen in 76 countries in the AtlasVulnerable
Great cormorantPhalacrocorax carboSeen in 90 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern
Pygmy cormorantMicrocarbo pygmaeusSeen in 26 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 Palestine?
We are always happy to hear from exceptional local operators, accommodation, conservation organisations and destination experts in Palestine. If your work fits responsible, small-group ocean travel, we would love to learn more.
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