Dugongs look a little like large, smooth grey or brown blobs - adults can grow up to three metres long and weigh around 400 kilograms. Their tail is shaped like a whale's rather than a fish's tail, and their front flippers help them steer. They have a rounded, bristly snout that they use to root through the seabed pulling up seagrass.
Seagrass meadows are their whole world. Dugongs graze slowly and peacefully, munching through large amounts of seagrass every day. A healthy dugong can live for 70 years - roughly as long as a human. They breathe air, so every few minutes they rise to the surface for a breath before drifting back down.
Oman's warm, clear coastal waters are perfect for dugongs because they support large seagrass beds. The waters of the Gulf of Masirah, off Oman's east coast, are especially important. Fishermen in the area have traditionally respected the dugong, and Oman's government has put protections in place to keep their habitat safe.
Scientists studying dugongs in Oman sometimes watch them from boats, and very rarely a swimmer gets to see one quietly grazing below. Because they are shy and slow-moving, spotting one feels like a very lucky encounter.