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Hotels, dive operators, gear, and how to get here are on the Brothers Islands location page.
Overview
Largest reef of the Fury Shoals complex, a 4.7 km horseshoe lying 15 km off Hamata in the deep south of the Egyptian Red Sea. The northern lagoon shelters a resident pod of roughly 100 to 200 spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) that return each morning to rest, court and nurse calves after feeding offshore overnight. Snorkelers share the calm lagoon with the pod under marine reserve rules, while scuba dives explore the outer crescent: hard coral plateaus at 5 to 12 m roll over into walls and dropoffs to 40 m, broken by swimthroughs, pinnacles and gardens of Dendronephthya soft coral. Fusiliers, jacks, Spanish dancers, hawksbill turtles and whitetip reef sharks patrol the outer wall. Currents stay mild inside the horseshoe and stiffen on the southern tip.
Briefing note
Sataya lies inside Egypt's Red Sea marine reserve network and operators are expected to follow the same dolphin code as at Samadai: keep distance, do not chase, touch or feed the pod, no flash photography, and stay out of the inner resting zone. Best dolphin contact is early morning before snorkel boats arrive. The outer reef is exposed to northerly swell in winter and currents can stiffen on the south plateau. Liveaboard or daytrip boat only, no shore access.
What you'll see
8 species curated- year-roundSpinner dolphin
- year-roundHawksbill turtle
- year-roundWhitetip reef shark
- year-roundSpanish dancer
- year-roundNapoleon wrasse
- year-roundBluespotted ribbontail ray
- year-roundRed soft coral
- rareOceanic whitetip sharkPeak: Oct · Nov
Conditions
| Month | Water | Visibility | Current |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 22–24 °C | 20–30 m | mild |
| Feb | 21–23 °C | 20–30 m | mild |
| Mar | 22–24 °C | 25–30 m | mild |
| Apr | 23–25 °C | 25–30 m | mild |
| May | 25–27 °C | 25–30 m | mild |
| Jun | 27–29 °C | 20–30 m | mild |
| Jul | 28–30 °C | 20–30 m | mild |
| Aug | 28–30 °C | 20–30 m | mild |
| Sep | 28–29 °C | 25–30 m | mild |
| Oct | 26–28 °C | 25–30 m | mild |
| Nov | 24–26 °C | 20–30 m | mild |
| Dec | 23–25 °C | 20–30 m | mild |
Season calendar
Peak season highlighted · current month outlined
Gear for this site
Beyond the basic kit- Snorkel set — Dolphin encounters happen in the shallow lagoon without scuba, so bring mask, fins and snorkel for time in the water with the pod
- SMB — Outer reef dives often finish as drifts on the southern plateau, and boat traffic in the lagoon is heavy
Next step
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Hotels, liveaboards, dive operators, gear recommendations, and travel logistics for the whole region.
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