Samadai Reef

Samadai, often called Dolphin House, is a horseshoe of reef enclosing a shallow sandy lagoon that a resident group of spinner dolphins uses through the day to rest after night feeding. Uncontrolled visits in the early 2000s disturbed the animals badly, and the response was a zoning system that is now a reference case in Red Sea management: the inner lagoon is closed entirely, a middle zone allows swimming and snorkelling, and the outer reef is open for diving, with daily visitor numbers and boat numbers capped and permits required. The result is that the dolphins have stayed. The reef itself has good coral gardens and pinnacles on the outer edge, so it works as a dive even when the dolphins are not visible from the permitted zone.

What you actually see

• Resident spinner dolphins - a resting group in the protected lagoon.
• A zoned management system - closed core, snorkelling ring, outer dive area.
• Coral gardens on the outer reef - pinnacles and hard coral heads.
• The horseshoe lagoon - shallow sand enclosed by reef.

When to go

October to May. Mornings, since the dolphins rest in the lagoon through the day and the boats are capped. A day trip. Permits are limited and must be arranged through licensed operators in advance.

Honest expectations

Dolphin sightings are not guaranteed and swimming with them is not the arrangement; the closed zone exists precisely so they are not pursued. Permit caps mean trips book out. Some operators still push the boundaries of the zoning, so choose carefully. The crossing can be rough.

Nearby

Marsa Alam is the mainland base; Sataya Reef lies further south.