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The deep south

Sataya Dolphin Reef Snorkelling Trip from Marsa Alam

A long boat day to the far southern reefs where spinner dolphins gather.

  • The Red Sea
  • Full day · about 9–10 hours
  • Shared
A pod of spinner dolphins seen from below in the blue water of the Red Sea.
All 4 stops

At a glance

Length
Full day · about 9–10 hours
Group
Shared boat; private boats on request
Pickup
Early morning pickup
Pace
Moderate
Getting around
Hotel transfer and boat
Guides speak
English, French, German, Italian, Spanish

How the day divides

On the road
Hotel transfer to the harbour, then a long boat run south
At the sites
Most of the day at sea

4 stops

How the day runs

Far south of the resorts, Sataya's reef shelters spinner dolphins on the open sea. The visit is about restraint as much as luck: quiet water, rules that limit the boats, and letting the dolphins decide.

  1. Early morning

    Harbour

    Early transfer from your hotel and boarding.

    The harbour at Port Ghalib near Marsa Alam; departure marina to confirm.

    Port Ghalib harbour reference; your actual departure marina is confirmed separately.

    Photo: Marc Ryckaert (MJJR) · CC BY 3.0. Resized for display.

  2. Morning

    Sataya reef

    Quiet entries to watch the dolphins if they are there, and snorkelling on the reef.

    A pod of spinner dolphins seen from below in the blue water of the Red Sea.

    Photo: Alexander Vasenin · CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized for display.

  3. Midday

    Lunch on board

    Then a second reef stop.

    A restaurant serving of fish sayadiya with rice; illustrative meal, not a promised onboard menu.

    Illustrative fish and rice dish; the onboard menu is confirmed separately.

    Photo: young shanahan · CC BY 2.0. Resized for display.

  4. Afternoon

    Return

    The run back north to the harbour and your hotel.

    Boats along the coast at Marsa Alam.

    Marsa Alam coastal setting; return marina and transport are confirmed separately.

    Photo: Roland Unger · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized for display.

Day and time labels describe the planned sequence, not confirmed departures. Your written quote confirms pickup, flights, sailing and return times for your date.

Why go

Who loves this tour

This boat day goes south from Marsa Alam to Sataya, a large offshore reef in the Fury Shoals where spinner dolphins are often seen. It is a longer trip than Hurghada's Dolphin House and a quieter one.

The dolphin reefs of the deep south are managed with limits on visits and rules for swimmers: fins, mask, snorkel and life jacket, quiet entries, no chasing and no touching. We book only operators who keep to them. The day includes snorkelling on the reef and lunch on board.

Park and reef fees, equipment and pickup times are confirmed in your quote.

Our tip

Confident snorkellers enjoy it most. Take seasickness tablets if you need them; the run can be choppy.

The highlights

  • Sataya, the southern dolphin reef
  • Spinner dolphins in the wild, on their terms
  • Snorkelling on the reef
  • Lunch on board

The details

What is included

Included

  • Hotel transfers
  • Boat trip
  • Snorkelling equipment and life jackets
  • Lunch on board

Not included

  • Tips
  • Personal expenses

Places you visit

  • Sataya reef
  • Fury Shoals

Before you go

Good to know

Meeting point
Your hotel in Marsa Alam
Best time to go
Calm days, all year
Entrance tickets
Park and reef fees confirmed in your quote
Optional extras
Wetsuit hire
Your price
Set in your written quote for your party, dates and pickup, with the payment and cancellation terms.

Details checked

Questions

Before you ask

Is Sataya better than Dolphin House?

It is further, quieter and wilder. If you are staying in Marsa Alam it is the natural choice; from Hurghada, Dolphin House is closer.

Will we see dolphins?

Often, but never certainly: they are wild animals and come and go.

Add to the day

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Pairs well with

Same places, or the same kind of day, to build around this tour in one quote.
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Deluxe Trips Egypt

Ask for this tour, for your dates.

Send your dates and party size here. We reply with a written quote: the price for your party, what is included and the terms. Nothing is booked until you accept it.

Starting priceUSD 71

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TourSataya Dolphin Reef Snorkelling Trip from Marsa Alam

Adults and children.

Nothing is booked until you accept a written quote.

Starting priceUSD 71
Request a quote
Photography credits (16)

Alexander Vasenin, CC BY-SA 3.0; Marc Ryckaert (MJJR), CC BY 3.0; young shanahan, CC BY 2.0; Roland Unger, CC BY-SA 4.0; Igorgalli, CC BY-SA 4.0; Wikicomman, CC BY-SA 4.0; cattan2011, CC BY 2.0; Lars Plougmann, CC BY-SA 2.0; Marc Ryckaert, CC BY 3.0; Norhan Elmaghrabi, CC BY-SA 4.0; Egy2030, CC BY-SA 4.0; Sara Nabih, CC BY-SA 4.0; Fadyhesham0, CC BY-SA 3.0; Mohamed kamal 1984, CC BY-SA 4.0; Marc Ryckaert (MJJR), CC BY 3.0; Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and cropped for display.