Dive with
Best places to dive with Dugong
Dugong dugon
A sirenian — the only strictly marine herbivorous mammal — that grazes seagrass in shallow coastal waters across the Indo-Pacific. It is listed Vulnerable globally on the IUCN Red List; several subpopulations are assessed separately and more severely, with East Africa Critically Endangered and New Caledonia Endangered as of the 2022 assessments. Dugongs are slow-moving, shy of boats and engine noise, and are rarely encountered by scuba divers anywhere.
Destinations ranked by how reliably dugong is seen. The bars show the likelihood by month — never a guarantee. See the full species page for more.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | rare |
| February | rare |
| March | rare |
| April | rare |
| May | rare |
| June | rare |
| July | rare |
| August | rare |
| September | rare |
| October | rare |
| November | rare |
| December | rare |
Con Dao holds what is likely Vietnam's last dugong population, and a 2023 survey by the Institute of Marine Environment and Resources estimated only about 12 animals remained. Their seagrass has collapsed — from over 329 hectares across 12 locations to two remaining areas, Con Son Bay and Bay Canh, by 2022 — and further deaths were reported in 2025. Divers essentially do not see them. Sightings are opportunistic ranger observations in shallow seagrass, not dive encounters, and the seagrass beds are inside strictly protected zones. Treat this as a conservation fact about Con Dao, not a reason to book a dive.