Sha'ab Samadai (Dolphin House)

Crescent-shaped reef about 11 km southeast of Marsa Alam whose horseshoe arms enclose a shallow turquoise lagoon. A resident pod of 60-90 spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) returns to the lagoon each day to rest and nurse after feeding in open water overnight, making this one of the few reliable places on earth to share the water with wild dolphins. The site is a HEPCA-managed reserve split into three zones: an inner dolphin sanctuary closed to people, a snorkeling belt, and an outer diving zone of coral pinnacles, drop offs and swim throughs with a canyon on the western edge. Hard- and soft coral gardens, reef fish, turtles and occasional reef sharks fill the outer slopes. Lagoon conditions are easy; the outer reef drops past 30 m.