Sataya reef, the best place in the world to snorkel with dolphins

Dolphins lovers, let me introduce to you Sataya reef, in Egypt, the best place in the world to snorkel with dolphins!

Have you ever seen dolphins in the wild? Even better, have you ever been snorkeling with them that you thought you were having a dream? 

I have seen hundreds of spinner dolphins every day for years when I lived in the Maldives. They played with our boat, jumped out of the water and… obviously spinned in front of the bow but everytime we jumped in to snorkel with them, they swam away.

When we went diving in the South of Egypt, we experienced something like never before. We had the chance to swim with spinner dolphins. They stayed so close to us for such a long time. It was magical! So if you’re looking for the best wild dolphin house, then Sataya reef is the place.

 

 

How to get to Sataya reef?

 

Hamata port is the harbor from which boats to Sataya reef depart. You can book a daily trip that takes 2 hours to get to there that includes meals and snorkeling gear but you can also book a 2 to 5 nights trip on a liveaboard and enjoy the dolphins even more!

Another great option to make your dream come true is to stay at one of the three Red Sea Diving Safari villages located in the Marsa Alam area. All of the dive resorts organise snorkeling day trips to Sataya reef. You can go from Marsa Shagra, Marsa Nakari and Wadi Lahami.

Wadi Lahami is the nearest village out of the three and is about 10 km from Sataya reef.

It will take 40 minutes to reach the lagoon by RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) before having a blast.

 

What does Sataya reef look like?

 

The site is a shallow reef in the shape of a trident with the opened area toward the West. This huge shallow lagoon is about 7 to 10 meters deep, has a sandy bottom and some spread coral blocks. Pods of spinner dolphins often rest there.

However, the outside reef is steep and goes very deep, some areas up to 80 meters and more.

There is a designated area where all the liveaboard moor outside of the lagoon in the South part of Sataya reef.

 

What equipment do you need?

 

The water temperature at the surface of Sataya reef doesn’t vary much throughout the year. The lowest temperature is about 27°C in the winter months and rises up to 31°C in the summer months.

What is recommended to snorkel in addition to your swimming suit is a rash guard to avoid getting sun burns. If you are sensitive to the cold, a 3 mm shorty wetsuit will definitely be enough to keep you warm.

You will need your mask, fins and snorkel. And don’t forget your waterproof camera or a waterproof housing for a “normal” camera to capture unbelievable moments swimming with the beautiful dolphins!

Also, think about bringing coral reef safe sunscreen to add more skin protection.

 

Best time to go to Sataya reef?

 

The lagoon of Sataya reef is protected from waves and currents by a surrounding shallow reef, making conditions for snorkeling particularly great at any time. The pristine water offers an endless visibility. However, snorkeling around midday is not recommended because of the heavy heat, especially during the summer months.

Can you dive at Sataya reef?

 

Yes, you can!

The outside reef is suitable for deep dives with a lot of stunning walls and coral gardens on the top reef. It offers great diving for advanced divers. The walls are really nice and big fish like whale sharks and manta rays can be seen passing by if you are lucky.

However, keep in mind that the lagoon is very shallow so more suitable for Discover Scuba Diving and training dives as it has a sandy bottom. It is also a perfect place for beginners who need to improve their buoyancy without crashing on corals. 

To get the best experience with the dolphins, we recommend snorkeling as it is more appropriate than scuba diving.

 

If you want to combine dives and snorkeling on the same trip, Red Sea Diving Safari makes it possible for you!

There are various options. For example, you can go diving to the huge Abu Galawa reef, a reef nearby, where you can see a yacht and a tugboat wreck, then during your surface interval you can go snorkeling at Sataya reef and later do your second dive at a different part of Abu Galawa reef or on the outside reef of Sataya.

 

Sataya reef vs Shaab Samadai (Dolphin house), what is different at Sataya reef?

 

The behaviour of dolphins is extraordinary. One of the great things about Sataya is that it is possible to have amazing and close interactions with the dolphins.

Unlike Shaab Samadai, one of the most popular dolphin houses in Egypt, at Sataya reef is possible to free dive with the dolphins. You should however take care to choose a responsible operator who doesn’t chase the dolphins. And please always remember that it is not advisable to free dive into the middle of the pod. The dolphins will come close if they want to and if they are relaxed, and trust us, this happens very often!

 

Check prices and availability at Red Sea Diving Safari

 

About the author

Nicolas Cesaroni has adopted scuba diving as his way of life since his first dive in 2010 in South-East Asia. A few months later he was a scuba Instructor, and a new life began. He decided to live his passion on a daily basis and explore as many tropical destinations as possible. He’s been diving and teaching scuba ever since in the best destinations in the world from Indonesia to Mexico by way of Thailand, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Seychelles, Egypt, Tanzania, South Africa, Greece, Germany, France, The Bahamas, Belize, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Panama.

He has become an avid underwater photographer over the years and his favourite critters are the tiny ones. You can find his stunning shots on his Instagram account @ocean.nico. In 2019, he took time out and co-founded the Dive into Life blog. The following year, having missed being underwater every day and living on remote islands, he was back in teaching status in the Maldives, where he is currently working.

When he is not underwater or editing pictures, Nico is a mixologist and he loves cooking.