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Dolphin House (Shaab Samadai)
Dolphin House, also known as Shaab Samadai, is one of the most famous and unique dive sites in Marsa Alam. This protected horseshoe-shaped reef is renowned for its resident spinner dolphins, crystal-clear water, and beautiful coral formations.
Located just offshore from Marsa Alam, Shaab Samadai offers unforgettable diving and snorkeling experiences for beginners and experienced divers alike, combining calm lagoon areas with vibrant outer reef walls full of marine life.
Key Features
📍 Location: Offshore from Marsa Alam
🚤 Access Type: Daily boat trip
🌊 Depth Range: 5 to 30+ meters
🐬 Famous For: Spinner dolphins & protected reef lagoon
🪸 Reef Type: Horseshoe-shaped reef with lagoon and outer walls
🧭 Dive Level: Beginner to Advanced
📸 Ideal For: Dolphin encounters, snorkeling, underwater photography
🕒 Best Time to Dive: Year-round
Feature Details
📍 Location: 11 km north of Marsa Alam
🤿 Access Type: Shore entry
🌊 Depth Range: 2 to 18 meters
🪸 Famous For: Turtles, seagrass meadows, reef walls
🧭 Dive Level: Beginner to Intermediate
📸 Ideal For: Training, snorkeling, macro photography
🕒 Best Time to Dive: Year-round
Dolphin House (Shaab Samadai)
Dolphin House, also known as Shaab Samadai, is one of the most famous and unique dive sites in Marsa Alam. This protected horseshoe-shaped reef is renowned for its resident spinner dolphins, crystal-clear water, and beautiful coral formations.
Located just offshore from Marsa Alam, Shaab Samadai offers unforgettable diving and snorkeling experiences for beginners and experienced divers alike, combining calm lagoon areas with vibrant outer reef walls full of marine life.
Key Features
📍 Location: Offshore from Marsa Alam
🚤 Access Type: Daily boat trip
🌊 Depth Range: 5 to 30+ meters
🐬 Famous For: Spinner dolphins & protected reef lagoon
🪸 Reef Type: Horseshoe-shaped reef with lagoon and outer walls
🧭 Dive Level: Beginner to Advanced
📸 Ideal For: Dolphin encounters, snorkeling, underwater photography
🕒 Best Time to Dive: Year-round
Features & Topography
Shaab Samadai is a crescent-shaped coral reef forming a calm inner lagoon protected from waves and currents. This natural structure creates perfect conditions for dolphin encounters, snorkeling, and relaxed diving.
The shallow lagoon area features sandy bottoms and coral patches, while the outer reef walls descend into deeper blue water with colorful coral gardens, caves, swim-throughs, and coral pinnacles.
Separate snorkeling and diving zones help protect marine life and ensure safe and responsible exploration of the reef.
Its combination of calm inner areas and dramatic outer walls makes Dolphin House suitable for both beginners and experienced divers.
Marine Life
Dolphin House is world-famous for its resident spinner dolphins, often seen resting, socializing, or swimming gracefully through the lagoon.
Common marine life includes:
🐬 Spinner dolphins in the protected lagoon
🐢 Green turtles and hawksbill turtles
🐠 Parrotfish, butterflyfish, wrasses, and groupers
🦁 Lionfish, moray eels, octopus, and blue-spotted stingrays
🪸 Healthy hard and soft coral formations full of reef life
The diversity of marine life and the possibility of natural dolphin encounters make every trip to Shaab Samadai a truly unforgettable experience.
Diving Conditions
📅 Best Time to Dive
Shaab Samadai offers excellent diving and snorkeling conditions throughout the entire year.
🌊 Water Conditions
Temperature: 22°C (winter) to 30°C (summer)
Visibility: 20 to 30 meters
Currents: Usually mild and beginner-friendly
Best Practices
Observe dolphins respectfully without touching or chasing them
Use reef-safe sunscreen and avoid contact with corals
Always dive with certified guides familiar with protected marine zones
Carry a Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) during dives
Maintain good buoyancy to help preserve the reef ecosystem
Diving Conditions
📅 Best Time to Dive
Shaab Samadai offers excellent diving and snorkeling conditions throughout the entire year.
🌊 Water Conditions
Temperature: 22°C (winter) to 30°C (summer)
Visibility: 20 to 30 meters
Currents: Usually mild and beginner-friendly
Best Practices
Observe dolphins respectfully without touching or chasing them
Use reef-safe sunscreen and avoid contact with corals
Always dive with certified guides familiar with protected marine zones
Carry a Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) during dives
Maintain good buoyancy to help preserve the reef ecosystem
Samadai Reef vs. Sataya Reef
The name “Dolphin House” is often used for two different dolphin reefs in southern Egypt: Shaab Samadai and Sataya Reef.
Shaab Samadai is located closer to Marsa Alam and is famous for its protected lagoon, calm conditions, and controlled visitor access, making it ideal for families, snorkelers, and beginner divers.
Sataya Reef, located further south near Hamata, is known for larger dolphin pods and more remote conditions, usually requiring a longer boat journey.
Both sites offer incredible dolphin encounters, but Shaab Samadai remains one of the most accessible and beginner-friendly dolphin dive sites in the Red Sea.
All dives with Dive & Discover include a detailed safety and environmental briefing to ensure maximum enjoyment and safety with minimal impact on the marine ecosystem.
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