Samadai Reef (Dolphin House)

Why do dolphins come to Samadai?

Spinner dolphins feed at night in deep water offshore and come into the shelter of Samadai's lagoon by day to rest, socialise and stay safe from predators. Resting dolphins swim slowly in tight groups and switch off half of their brain at a time, which is why they are vulnerable to disturbance.

The reef is a horseshoe of coral enclosing a calm, sandy lagoon with clear water. Spinner dolphins are named for the leaps and spins they perform at the surface, most often in the late afternoon as they prepare to head out to feed. Pod sizes at Samadai vary from a handful to many dozens, and some days they are absent. Our guide to swimming with dolphins in Egypt covers the ethics in more depth.

How the zones and limits work

Since the mid-2000s Samadai has been managed by the Red Sea protectorates with zones: a core area reserved for the dolphins, a zone where snorkellers can enter with guides, and an outer zone for diving. Boats moor on fixed buoys away from the dolphins, and the number of visitors per day has been capped.

The exact limits, opening hours and park fee have changed over the years, and the reef has been closed temporarily at times. At the time of writing, check with your operator what the current rules are and whether the fee is included. If an operator offers to take you into the core dolphin area, or promises guaranteed dolphins, book someone else.

Rules for snorkelling with the dolphins

You watch the dolphins from the surface: no touching, chasing, feeding, or diving down among them, and no scuba near the pod. If the dolphins choose to come close, enjoy it; if they move away, let them go.

• Enter the water quietly from the boat's ladder rather than jumping in.
• Swim calmly side by side with your group, not in a line towards the pod.
• Keep your hands by your sides and stay at least several metres from the animals.
• Follow your guide's instructions; they are responsible for keeping to the zones.
• Wear a buoyancy vest if you are not a strong swimmer; the lagoon is open water.

Our reef-safe travel guide explains the wider principles.

Sataya: the alternative further south

Sataya Reef, or Sha'ab Sataya, is a much larger horseshoe reef in the Fury Shoals, far to the south of Samadai, and it is the other main place on the coast to see resting spinner dolphins. Boats reach it from Hamata, around 110 km south of Marsa Alam town, in roughly 1–1.5 hours.

Because the lagoon is large, pods have more space to move, and Sataya is often visited as a full day with coral snorkelling elsewhere in the Fury Shoals. Rules here have historically been less formalised than at Samadai, which puts more of the responsibility on your operator; choose one that keeps its distance and its numbers small. Hamata is also the gateway to the islands of Wadi el-Gemal National Park.

Getting there and the best time to go

Samadai is a boat trip of about 45–60 minutes from harbours around Marsa Alam, and most visits are a half or full day that includes another snorkel on a coral reef. From hotels around Port Ghalib and Abu Dabbab, add the road transfer to the harbour.

Mornings are usually calmer, and the dolphins are often resting in the lagoon then. Even without dolphins the day is worthwhile: the outer reef has coral pinnacles, caves and good hard coral, and many trips pair the dolphin watching with a dive or snorkel on the outer reef in the zone set aside for it. The trip runs all year, but wind can cancel or shorten it, so plan it early in your stay with a spare day in reserve. From about December to March the water is around 22–23°C, so take a wetsuit.

Is a dolphin trip ethical?

Watching wild dolphins in a regulated area with a responsible operator is the most ethical way to see them, and far preferable to captive dolphin shows or swim-with programmes in pools. The zoning at Samadai was introduced because uncontrolled boats and swimmers were driving the dolphins away.

The best thing you can do is choose a small operator, follow the rules even when others don't, and accept a day without dolphins as part of a wild encounter. We avoid captive dolphin attractions and only book wild encounters like these. For more marine encounters, read Red Sea marine life.