Sataya or Abu Dabbab? Dolphins by Boat or Turtles from the Beach

If you snorkel only once or twice in Marsa Alam, the choice usually comes down to two trips: the boat to Sataya Reef, where a pod of wild spinner dolphins rests by day, or a morning at Abu Dabbab Bay, where green sea turtles graze on the seagrass close to the beach. Both are wonderful, but they are very different days. This guide compares them side by side so you can pick the one that suits your group, or plan to do both.

The short answer

• Choose Sataya if you want a full day at sea, healthy coral and the chance to share the water with wild dolphins, and you don’t mind an early start and a long boat ride.
• Choose Abu Dabbab if you want an easy half day, a gentle walk-in from the sand and the best chance on the coast to snorkel with turtles, especially with young children or first-time snorkelers.
• Do both if you have a week: start with Abu Dabbab to get comfortable in the water, then book Sataya on a calm day.

Wildlife is never guaranteed on either trip. Dolphins and turtles are wild animals, and good guides make sure they stay that way.

Sataya and Abu Dabbab side by side

• Where: Sataya is a huge horseshoe reef in the far south, reached by boat from Hamata harbour. Abu Dabbab is a sandy bay about 30 minutes north of Marsa Alam town.
• How you get in: at Sataya you snorkel from the boat; at Abu Dabbab you walk into the water from the beach.
• How long: Sataya is a full day of about 10 to 11 hours with the transfers. Abu Dabbab is a half day of about 4 to 5 hours.
• Start time: pickups for Sataya are normally between 5:30 and 6:30 in the morning. Abu Dabbab pickups are usually around 8:30.
• Getting there: about 2 hours by road to Hamata, then roughly an hour and a half to two hours by boat, for Sataya; a transfer of about 30 to 40 minutes for Abu Dabbab.
• Minimum age: 4 for Sataya, 3 for Abu Dabbab.
• Food: lunch is served on board at Sataya, with soft drinks and coffee or tea. Lunch isn’t included at Abu Dabbab, but there is a beach café.
• Gear: snorkeling equipment is included on both trips.

Choose Sataya if you dream of dolphins

Sataya Reef, often called Dolphin House, is a sheltered horseshoe of coral in the southern Red Sea. Its calm inner lagoon is a daytime resting ground for a large pod of wild spinner dolphins, which is why so many people come here hoping to see them. Sightings are frequent, but they are never guaranteed.

On our Sataya dolphin reef snorkeling trip you drive south to Hamata, board the boat and cruise out to the reef for two snorkel stops over the coral gardens, with a fresh lunch on board in between. The guides follow strict rules: no chasing and no feeding, small groups, limited time in the water, and the dolphins decide whether to come closer. Resting dolphins need quiet, so floating calmly at the surface is both kinder and more rewarding than swimming after them. Our older guide to snorkeling with dolphins at Sataya explains the encounter in more detail.

One thing to know: Sataya is not the same reef as Samadai, the other reef called “Dolphin House”, which lies much closer to Marsa Alam. We don’t sell a fixed Samadai trip yet, but you can ask us about a Samadai Reef trip on request.

Choose Abu Dabbab for an easy turtle morning

Abu Dabbab Bay is a crescent of soft sand and calm, shallow water with seagrass meadows where green sea turtles feed all year. Turtles often graze in water no deeper than an adult’s waist or chest, so you rarely need to swim far. Look out for guitarfish and rays too, and very occasionally a dugong.

The Abu Dabbab snorkeling trip picks you up in the morning, when the light is best for spotting turtles. After a briefing and fitting your gear, you snorkel with your guide over the seagrass and the reef edges, then have free time on the beach before the transfer back, usually in time for lunch. Keep about 2 to 3 metres from any turtle, never touch or chase one, and let it come up to breathe. Our guide to swimming with turtles in Abu Dabbab explains how to spot them and behave around them.

Families, non-swimmers and seasickness

For young children, Abu Dabbab is the easier choice. There is no boat and no deep water, children from age three are welcome with a parent and a life jacket, and the whole trip is over by early afternoon. Sataya welcomes children from age four: the little ones stay in the shallow lagoon with a life jacket and a parent, and the crew keeps a close eye on everyone, but it is a long day with a very early start.

Non-swimmers can enjoy both trips with a life jacket or a pool noodle, which are available on both. If you get seasick, Abu Dabbab avoids the problem entirely. For Sataya, the sea is usually calmest in the morning; take a motion-sickness tablet an hour before boarding and stay on deck in the fresh air. Our guide to Marsa Alam with kids has more ideas for every age.

Can you do both?

Yes, and many guests do. A good plan is Abu Dabbab early in your stay to build confidence in the water, then Sataya on a calm day later in the week. Boat trips depend on the sea, so leave a spare day in case a sailing is moved; if we cancel for weather or safety, you get a full refund or a free new date.

If you would rather spend your southern sea day on islands and sandbars than looking for dolphins, the Hamata Islands boat trip goes to the same region. Our complete guide to snorkeling in Marsa Alam compares every spot on the coast.

What to bring

• Swimwear, reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and a light long-sleeved top.
• A towel for Sataya, where towels aren’t provided.
• Water shoes for the sand and seagrass at Abu Dabbab.
• A waterproof camera or a phone pouch.
• In winter, a wetsuit for Sataya: the water is around 22°C, and wetsuits can be rented.

For everything else, see our Marsa Alam packing list.