Sha'ab Samadai - better known as Dolphin House - is a horseshoe-shaped reef 9 km off Marsa Alam where a pod of spinner dolphins rests during the day. We pick you up at your hotel, transfer you to the speedboat launch point, and the reef is only a short ride away. Protected, regulated, and ethics first.
Sha'ab Samadai, 9 km offshore Marsa Alam
DurationHalf Day
Dives2
Skill LevelAll Levels
Group SizeMax 12
LocationSha'ab Samadai, 9 km offshore Marsa Alam
Dolphin House . Gallery
8 photos
About this trip
Sha'ab Samadai is a horseshoe-shaped reef rising from deep water around 9 km off Marsa Alam, home to a pod of 60-80 spinner dolphins that use the protected lagoon as a daytime rest area. Your day flows like this: early hotel pickup, transfer to the speedboat launch point, and a friendly briefing where your guide explains the reef, the dolphin rules, and the dive plan. The speedboat reaches Samadai in about 45 minutes. Dive one runs along the outer reef walls, packed with hard corals, anthias, and reef life. Then comes the magic: snorkeling in the designated lagoon zone as wild spinner dolphins glide below and around you. Access is regulated by HEPCA - boats and swimmers stay outside protected zones so the dolphins can truly rest. After a surface break with water and snacks, dive two explores the coral garden or, when conditions allow, the dramatic Long Canyon route. Our guides explain everything as you go and time each entry so your encounters feel calm, close, and unforgettable. You are back at your hotel about 5 hours after pickup.
Trip Highlights
Spinner dolphin pod
60–80 resident dolphins
Outer reef walls
Coral gardens & anthias
Dolphin snorkeling
Ethical, regulated zone
Two scuba dives
Outer reef and Long Canyon when conditions allow
What's Included
Included
Speedboat trip
Hotel pickup & drop-off
Water & snacks
Tank
Weights
Dive guide
Not Included
Full rental equipment
Nitrox
Tips
A Day in Detail
06:30
Hotel pickup
We collect you from your hotel and transfer you to the speedboat launch point.
07:15
Speedboat departure
Briefing on the reef, the dolphin rules, and the plan, then about 45 minutes to Samadai.
08:00
Dive 1 - Outer reef wall
Hard corals, clouds of anthias, and blue water on your shoulder.
09:15
Dolphin snorkeling in lagoon zone
Wild spinner dolphins in the protected lagoon - regulated and respectful.
10:00
Surface break - water & snacks
Catch your breath and swap stories before the second dive.
10:30
Dive 2 - Coral garden or Long Canyon
Route picked on the day for the best conditions.
11:30
Return & hotel drop-off
Back at your hotel about 5 hours after pickup.
Marine Life You May See
Wild animals - sightings are likely, not guaranteed. We never bait, chase, or surround.
Spinner dolphinNapoleon wrasseAnthiasHawksbill turtleReef sharksCanyon reef life
Where you'll dive
Sha'ab Samadai, 9 km offshore Marsa Alam
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Real guest reviews
What guests say
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It was a super calm day with no strong current, making it perfect for setting out off the coast and snorkeling. The guide was initially worried that the dolphins might not appear, since they usually prefer some waves or current, but we were lucky — many family pods appeared and disappeared throughout the snorkeling, creating an unforgettable experience. Unfortunately, there were also flocks of tour groups, including ours, and some young kids tried to chase the pods every time they appeared. That was frustrating because instead of dolphins, you often saw only bubbles from kicking legs. As this is a protected natural area, snorkelers must wear safety jackets, and I ended up with lashes around my upper arm from the jackets rubbing roughly in the water. Anyhow, despite these frustrations and the high cost of USD 94 (Nov 2025) for one snorkeling trip with dolphins and another for the reef — including transportation from and to the resort and lunch, which I felt was overpriced — it was still a great experience.
ON
Ondřej Nasswettr
Jan 2026
Google
I was not lucky to see the dolphins but our amazing snorkelling guide Timo took us in very quiet places and showed us what many people didn’t have a chance to see. Next time I will be there as diver 😁
JL
Jing Liu
Jul 2025
Google
I rated this experience 3 stars because I was fortunate enough to see dolphins, which is often a matter of luck. However, I found that the snorkeling guide did not take us to a good spot; there were fewer fish than I expected. Additionally, I noticed that the yacht we used seemed to be burning polluted fuel in the Red Sea, which is concerning for the environment. They need to be more mindful of the area. As they mentioned, there is a dolphin house, so they should anchor the yacht in specific locations to allow snorkelers to swim in those areas.
PZ
PingYing Zhu
Sep 2025
Google
With my family (2 adults and 2 boys), we had a wonderful time snorkeling at the Dolphin House with CORAYA DIVERS. Ahmed, our instructor and snorkeling guide, led us safely and smoothly through the experience. It was incredible to be immersed in the wild dolphin family (5 adults and 4 adorable calves). Watching them swim freely in the Red Sea, without disturbing them, was truly magical. Thanks to Ahmed’s guidance, it became a meaningful and unforgettable memory for all of us.
MF
Martin Fischer
Sep 2025
Google
Great family day trip aboard Night Dream with Coraya Divers and our guide Ahmed. Two snorkeling 🤿 mini-tours in the House of Dolphins 🐬 both filled with nearly continuous swimming with the friendly and joyful mammals: 5 adults and 4 babies. Coraya Divers took us to the reef early, before the arrival of other boats, so we had the pleasure of starting in calm environment, thank you guys. Ahmed is like a dolphin himself, reading the swimming pattern of the mammals with precision and bringing his small team close to the dolphins for unusual eye-to-eye interaction.
Public Google reviews of Dolphin House (Samadai) as a dive site - they describe the location itself, not a specific trip with us.
Frequently Asked
The pod is resident year-round, but they are wild animals and timing varies. Sighting probability is very high (over 85%) most mornings.
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