Samadai (Dolphin House) in Marsa Alam: the rules and zones

Short answer: Samadai, also called Dolphin House, is a horseshoe-shaped reef south-east of Marsa Alam where spinner dolphins rest in a sheltered lagoon. It is a special protection area with zones and a daily limit on visitors. Your yacht moors outside the dolphin zones, and you snorkel with a guide, in a life jacket.

Planning the trip itself? See Samadai by private yacht.

Why the reef is protected

In 2003, so many boats and swimmers came to Samadai that visits were suspended. In 2004 the Red Sea Governorate declared the reef a special protection area and set up a plan with zones, a daily limit on visitors and rules for approaching the dolphins. Since 2013 the conservation group HEPCA has managed the site. The dolphins come to the lagoon to rest after feeding at night, and the rules give them the quiet they need.

The three zones

Rules for the boat

• Yachts tie up to the mooring buoys in Zone C and wait outside the dolphin zones.
• Only small boats carry swimmers to the edge of Zone B.
• Rangers check that each boat has a permit for the day.

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 dolphins.
• Never chase the dolphins: let them come to you.
• Never touch or feed them, and leave no rubbish in the water.

Breaking the code can bring a fine. Your crew and guide know the rules and will brief you before you swim.

Will we see dolphins?

On many days the pod is in the lagoon. They are wild animals and sometimes go out to sea, so a sighting is never guaranteed. The coral pinnacles near the moorings are good for snorkelling either way.

Is there a fee?

Visitors to Samadai pay an admission fee that goes towards protecting the reef. We have not found an official current figure, so we do not print one. Your quote says whether a fee applies to your trip and whether it is included.

Samadai or Dolphin House in Hurghada?

They are two different reefs. Samadai lies off Marsa Alam. Hurghada’s Dolphin House is Shaab El Erg, far to the north between Hurghada and El Gouna. See Dolphin House in Hurghada: rules and the best conditions.

What to bring

Your passport or a copy, because the port may check guests’ details before the boat leaves. Bring swimwear, a towel and sun protection. Before you pay, your concierge confirms with the operator in writing that there is a life jacket for every guest, in children’s sizes if children are coming. Your quote lists snorkelling gear if it is included.

Questions

• Can children come? Yes, in a life jacket. Children count towards the licensed number of guests.
• Can we dive at Samadai? Diving is only allowed outside the snorkelling zone. Ask in your request, and your concierge checks with the operator.
• What if the weather turns? If the port authority or your captain stops sailing, you choose a new date or a full refund.

A full day out: full-day private charter in Marsa Alam. More about the city: private yacht charters in Marsa Alam.