A dugong munches on seagrass.
Looking for a magical marine experience? You can snorkel or dive to see a dugong—or “lady of the sea”—in two key places in the world. This gentle plant eater, said to have inspired mermaid myths, can be spotted from March to early June in the clear waters near Calauit Island in the Philippines. It also can be found swimming with giant sea turtles near Abu Dabbab in Egypt, where seagrass is plentiful. The dugong is related to the manatee and is a distant relative of the elephant.