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Marsa Alam, Fury Shoals & the Deep SouthBeginnerreef

Sha'ab Samadai (Dolphin House)

Also known as Shaab Samadai; Sha'b Samadai; Samadai Reef; Dolphin House; Shaab Samdai; Marsa Samadai

Horseshoe/U-shaped offshore reef ~1.4 km long by 1 km wide enclosing a sheltered lagoon 350 x 400 m at 6-7 m

No detailed dive map yet

A close-up reef map of Sha'ab Samadai (Dolphin House) will appear here when available.

Horseshoe/U-shaped offshore reef ~1.4 km long by 1 km wide enclosing a sheltered lagoon 350 x 400 m at 6-7 m. Outer reef has soft-coral gardens and a maze of pinnacles and small caverns. Egypt's flagship managed dolphin-tourism site. Depth 5–25 m; day boat; Occasional light current current; visibility 30 m. Declared a managed marine protected area in 2003-2004 (Egyptian government decision; implemented 2004).

Highlights

  • Horseshoe/U-shaped offshore reef ~1.4 km long by 1 km wide enclosing a sheltered lagoon 350 x 400 m at 6-7 m
  • Outer reef has soft-coral gardens and a maze of pinnacles and small caverns
  • Egypt's flagship managed dolphin-tourism site
  • the spinners use the lagoon as a daytime resting area

Marine life

  • resident spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) - roughly 200 individuals use the reef daily per IWC
  • marsaalam.com gives an average resident group of ~60 with daily counts ranging 3-210
  • occasional bottlenose dolphins
  • stingrays
  • moray eels
  • lionfish
  • snappers
  • Sohal surgeonfish
  • regal angelfish
  • masked pufferfish
  • butterflyfish

Good to know

Best season
Dolphins year-round (operators quote ~80% sighting chance); water 23 C in January to 29 C in August
Protected status
Declared a managed marine protected area in 2003-2004 (Egyptian government decision; implemented 2004). Formal three-zone scheme marked by buoys: ZONE A = dolphin resting area, absolutely no entry (dolphins only); ZONE B = no-boat zone, guided snorkelling only, lifejackets compulsory; ZONE C (and outside) = boats moor here, free snorkelling and scuba diving permitted. Daily visitor cap: HEPCA states 100 snorkellers + 100 divers per day with visiting hours 10:00-14:00; marsaalam.com states a maximum of 10 boats/day with 175 snorkellers + 100 divers, snorkellers 10:00-14:00 and divers 09:00-15:00. HEPCA's earlier account gives a flat '200 visitors per day'. A dolphin code of conduct applies: no touching, chasing, feeding or whistling; mask/fins/snorkel/lifejacket compulsory for snorkellers; boats approach slowly, never head-on, keep 30 m distance and cut engines; extra care around females with calves; IWC records fines of approximately USD 560 for violations. Managed by HEPCA with Red Sea Protectorates rangers; ~200 spinner dolphins use the reef daily.
Fees
Entrance ticket to the reef. HEPCA: 'entrance fee (approx. $16/visitor/trip)', in force since 2004 and the only Red Sea park fee still collected as of 2011. marsaalam.com gives the ticket as 105 EGP, split 30% HEPCA / 30% National Parks / 40% local council. Coraya Divers' 2021 site sheet quotes a marine-park entrance of EUR 20 plus EUR 24 for the day boat. Figures differ by source and year.

More sites in Marsa Alam, Fury Shoals & the Deep South

Abu Bassala

Sickle-shaped reef with coral columns, gullies and cracks running down to a sandy bottom at 15-20 m

Abu Dabbab I

Coral garden with pinnacles and a cave

Abu Dabbab II

Caves and swim-throughs

Abu Dabbab III

Hard-coral reef with a cave crossing and a coral garden

Helwa Ya Baladi

Dalida