Dolphin House Marsa Alam: Samadai and Sataya Dolphin Reefs

Samadai is a horseshoe-shaped reef out at sea, roughly an hour by boat from the Marsa Alam coast. Spinner dolphins often rest in its sheltered lagoon. It is a protected area: part of the lagoon is closed to people so the dolphins can rest, snorkelers swim in a set area wearing a float vest, and the number of visitors each day is limited.

We don’t sell a fixed Samadai trip yet. Read more about it, and ask us for a price, on our Samadai Reef trip page.

Sataya is a large horseshoe reef in the Hamata region, far from the busier northern sites. Our Sataya dolphin snorkeling trip is a full day (10–11 hrs incl. transfer): pickup is around 6:00 AM, then a transfer south to Hamata harbour (about 2 hours from Marsa Alam), and a boat ride to the reef.

On board you have two snorkel stops and lunch on the boat, and with luck the dolphins come close. Children aged 4 and over can join, with life jackets for younger swimmers. Our guide to snorkeling with dolphins at Sataya explains how the day works.

If you want a shorter day close to Marsa Alam, ask us about Samadai. If you don’t mind an early start and a long day for a remote reef, book Sataya. On both, the dolphins are wild: they are often seen, but nobody can promise them, and the coral is worth the trip either way.

The dolphins keep returning to these reefs because their rest is protected. We never chase or feed them, follow the reef rules, and let the animals decide whether to approach. It’s better for the dolphins — and it makes for a calmer, more magical encounter.