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Ocean Calling

Ocean Atlas · Red Sea and Arabia

Red Sea and Arabia

Sudan

Remote Red Sea reefs known for sharks, seasonal hammerheads, a historic wreck and reef mantas seen most often in autumn.

Wooden fishing boats in the calm harbour of Suakin, Sudan
Suakin, Red Sea coast · Photo: Jillian Amatt - Artistic Voyages on Unsplash
On pause, travel not recommended

On pause, travel not recommended. A government travel advisory says not to travel here, so we do not offer trips. Sources: Sanganeb Marine National Park and Dungonab Bay, Mukkawar Island Marine National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Centre; Sudan travel advice, UK FCDO, updated 11 May 2026; Sudan travel advisory, US State Department, Level 4 Do Not Travel, 15 May 2026.

Why: Governments advise against all travel to Sudan because of the war, so our ethics check for trips is paused. What we know: Sanganeb and Dungonab Bay are a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2016, protecting reefs, manta rays, turtles and a globally important dugong population.

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.

ScubaSnorkellingMantasSharksDugongs

Why Sudan

Sudan's Red Sea reefs are some of the least visited in the region, known for reef sharks, seasonal hammerheads, the Umbria wreck and reef mantas in Dungonab Bay, seen most often in autumn, which also shelters dugongs. Governments currently advise against all travel to Sudan, so Ocean Calling is only researching it for now and does not offer trips there.

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

Dem. Rep. CongoSomaliaKenyaSudanChadFranceMaliBeninNigerNigeriaCameroonTogoGhanaBurkina FasoCentral African Rep.IsraelLebanonPalestineTunisiaAlgeriaJordanUnited Arab EmiratesQatarKuwaitIraqOmanIndiaPakistanAfghanistanTajikistanTurkmenistanIranSyriaGreeceTurkeySpainChinaItalyEritreaYemenSaudi ArabiaN. CyprusCyprusEgyptLibyaEthiopiaDjiboutiSomalilandUgandaS. SudanPort Sudan reefs and Sanganeb, SudanDungonab Bay, Sudan

When to go

Oct-May. 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.

Our ethics check

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 26 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.

Sources for this check
The story

Where in Sudan

We share these places as stories and research notes. We do not offer or sell trips here.

Port Sudan reefs and Sanganeb

On pause, travel not recommended

Offshore Red Sea reefs known for reef sharks, silvertips and seasonal hammerheads, plus the Umbria wreck.

What lives here: Hammerheads (seasonal), Grey reef sharks, Silvertip sharks, Whitetip reef sharks, Umbria wreck

When: Oct-May. Diving has run from October to May. Hammerheads are most often seen from February to April. Dives are deep with current.

Dungonab Bay

On pause, travel not recommended

A quiet protected bay where reef mantas are seen, most often in autumn, and shy dugongs live in the seagrass.

What lives here: Reef mantas (seasonal, never certain), Reef fish

Also seen: Dugongs (shy, from the boat)

When: Aug-Nov. Reef mantas are seen most often from August to November. One acoustic study of tagged mantas (2012 to 2014) found the peak around October, when detection was highest at 75%. No more than 17 tagged mantas were picked up on any one day.

Animals

Animals recorded in Sudan

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

Land animals
Scalloped hammerhead shark cruising in deep blue Red Sea waterScalloped hammerheadSphyrna lewiniSeen in 57 countries in the AtlasCritically EndangeredWall of grey reef sharks cruising in blue waterGrey reef sharkCarcharhinus amblyrhynchosSeen in 33 countries in the AtlasEndangeredSilvertip shark swimming in open blue waterSilvertip sharkCarcharhinus albimarginatusSeen in 28 countries in the AtlasVulnerableWhitetip reef sharks resting stacked in a reef creviceWhitetip reef sharkTriaenodon obesusSeen in 43 countries in the AtlasVulnerableReef manta ray gliding over a sandy lagoonReef manta rayMobula alfrediSeen in 20 countries in the AtlasVulnerableDugong grazing on seagrass over a sandy seabedDugongDugong dugonSeen in 32 countries in the AtlasVulnerableTitan triggerfish swimming over a reef slope in blue waterTitan triggerfishBalistoides viridescensSeen in 40 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernSilky shark swimming near the surface in blue waterSilky sharkCarcharhinus falciformisSeen in 48 countries in the AtlasVulnerableTiger shark with clear stripes swimming over a reefTiger sharkGaleocerdo cuvierSeen in 47 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedHuge spotted whale shark gliding through open blue waterWhale sharkRhincodon typusSeen in 54 countries in the AtlasEndangeredSchool of bumphead parrotfish swimming over coralBumphead parrotfishBolbometopon muricatumSeen in 16 countries in the AtlasVulnerableGreen turtle resting on the reef, shell and head pattern in sharp detailGreen turtleChelonia mydasSeen in 103 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernHawksbill turtle swimming, pointed beak in profileHawksbill turtleEretmochelys imbricataSeen in 88 countries in the AtlasCritically EndangeredTwo spinner dolphins swimming over sand in clear waterSpinner dolphinStenella longirostrisSeen in 66 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernHumphead wrasse swimming over a coral reef in Raja AmpatHumphead wrasse (Napoleon wrasse)Cheilinus undulatusSeen in 34 countries in the AtlasEndangeredBlue-spotted ribbontail ray resting on sand, seen from aboveBlue-spotted ribbontail rayTaeniura lymmaSeen in 22 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernScarred Risso's dolphin spyhopping out of the waterRisso's dolphinGrampus griseusSeen in 56 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernPod of bottlenose dolphins swimming over a Red Sea coral reefIndo-Pacific bottlenose dolphinTursiops aduncusSeen in 29 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedPantropical spotted dolphin gliding at the calm ocean surfacePantropical spotted dolphinStenella attenuataSeen in 56 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernHippopotamuses resting in a lagoon on Orango island with only their backs above the water and trees along the shoreCommon hippopotamusHippopotamus amphibiusSeen in 17 countries in the AtlasLives on landVulnerableWhite-eyed gull perched on a corrugated roof against a blue sky, with a dark hood and red billWhite-eyed gullIchthyaetus leucophthalmusSeen in 10 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernGreat cormorant perched on a branch, with white head plumes and a glossy blue-black backGreat cormorantPhalacrocorax carboSeen in 90 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernReed cormorant perched on a low stump among tall reedsReed cormorant (long-tailed cormorant)Microcarbo africanusSeen in 27 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern
Curious?

Why 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.

Ask RocíoBack to the Ocean Atlas

Also in Red Sea and Arabia
BahrainDjiboutiEgyptEritreaIranIraqIsraelJordanKuwaitOmanPakistanQatarSaudi ArabiaUnited Arab EmiratesYemen

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Based in Sudan?

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

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