Karin S.
GermanyAdvanced Open Water
May 5, 2026
Spinner dolphins with anthias clouds in the background. Unforgettable.
53 people found this helpful
Marsa Alam South · Boat Dive
Sha'ab Samadai - Dolphin House
A horseshoe-shaped reef 9 km offshore where a resident pod of ~60–80 spinner dolphins rests during the day. Access is regulated by HEPCA under a three-zone system — Zone A is closed (dolphin sanctuary), Zone B is restricted snorkeling with a permit, and Zone C is the outer reef where divers explore three classic dive sites: the South-West Pinnacles, the South-East Pinnacles, and the Caves.
Depth
5-30m
Level
Beginner
Access
Boat Dive
Visibility
20-35m
Current
Mild current
About this site
A horseshoe-shaped reef 9 km offshore where a resident pod of ~60–80 spinner dolphins rests during the day. Access is regulated by HEPCA under a three-zone system — Zone A is closed (dolphin sanctuary), Zone B is restricted snorkeling with a permit, and Zone C is the outer reef where divers explore three classic dive sites: the South-West Pinnacles, the South-East Pinnacles, and the Caves. Permits cap daily visitors and boat numbers.
Highlights
- Resident spinner dolphin pod, year-round
- Three outer dive sites: SW pinnacles, SE pinnacles, the Caves
- HEPCA permit + zoned access — never crowded inside the lagoon
- Caves swim-through at 12–20 m with glassfish
Marine life
Spinner dolphinHawksbill turtleNapoleon wrasseGlassfishAnthiasBluestripe snapper
Location
24.9898°N, 35.0278°E · ~9 km south of Marsa Alam
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Real reviews . Real divers
What divers say about Dolphin House (Samadai)
4.7/5. 19 curated reviews
Google
Linnea B.
FinlandDivemaster
Apr 1, 2026
A pod of 30 dolphins passed under us. They were curious but never crowded by us.
16 people found this helpful
Marco P.
ItalyOpen Water Diver
Mar 21, 2026
Pure magic. Dolphins approached our group of 6 and stayed for 10 minutes.
30 people found this helpful
Page 1 of 7 . 19 total reviews
Reviews are sourced from publicly available Google Maps and TripAdvisor entries for Dolphin House (Samadai). We have not edited the substance, only formatted for readability. Click "View all on Google Maps" to read every review and post your own.
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Iconic2 dives
Dolphin House
Spinner dolphins in a protected horseshoe reef just offshore.
Sha'ab Samadai, 9 km offshore Marsa Alam
9hMax 12All levels
Daily boat tripHotel pickup & drop-offLunch on board