Dolphin House in Hurghada: rules and the best conditions

Short answer: Dolphin House is the name boats use for Shaab El Erg, a reef north of Hurghada towards El Gouna. Dolphins come there to rest, and on a calm day you may see them from the boat or in the water. They are wild animals, so a sighting is never guaranteed.

Planning the trip itself? See Dolphin House by private yacht.

Why the rules matter

Shaab El Erg is a resting area. Dolphins that are chased or crowded cannot rest, and over time they may leave. To protect them, HEPCA wrote a code of conduct for dolphin encounters, and the Red Sea Governorate made it mandatory for boats and swimmers. Breaking it can bring a fine. Your crew follows it, and so do you.

Rules for the boat

• Stay at least 30 metres from the dolphins.
• Approach slowly, no faster than 4 knots, moving parallel to the way they swim.
• Never chase, surround or split a group, and always leave them a way out.
• If another boat is already with a group, wait your turn.
• If dolphins come close, the engine goes into neutral.

Rules for swimmers

• Wear fins, a mask, a snorkel and a life jacket. These are required.
• Slip into the water gently, without jumping or splashing.
• Stay quiet, swim with your fins only, and keep parallel to the group.
• Never touch, chase or feed the dolphins, and never dive down onto them.

The best conditions

Calm seas give the best chance. The wind in Hurghada blows from the north all year and is strongest from late May to early October, so days can change. Keep Dolphin House flexible in your plan: if the sea is rough, your captain may change the order of the stops or choose another reef. If the port authority or your captain stops sailing, you choose a new date or a full refund.

Month by month figures are in the best time for a boat trip in Hurghada.

Which yacht suits it

A speedboat is quicker and suits a small group for Dolphin House or a half day. A motor yacht or a catamaran suits a full day that adds other stops, such as the reefs of the Giftun Islands.

What to bring

Your passport or a copy, swimwear, a towel and sun protection. Your concierge confirms the life jackets, in children’s sizes if needed, with the operator in writing before you pay. Your quote lists snorkelling gear if it is included.

Questions

• Will we swim with dolphins? Only if they are there and the rules allow it on the day. Your captain decides.
• Can children come? Yes, in a life jacket. Children count towards the licensed number of guests.
• Can we go from El Gouna? The reef lies between El Gouna and Hurghada. Ask in your request, and your concierge checks with the operator.

A day with snorkelling stops: snorkelling day in Hurghada. From El Gouna: private yacht charters in El Gouna.