Marsa Alam, Red Sea, Egypt

Samadai Reef

Samadai Reef, also known as Dolphin House, is a horseshoe-shaped reef off Marsa Alam famous as the resting lagoon of a resident pod of around 70 spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris). The dolphins enter the lagoon to rest and socialise during the day after night-time foraging, and the local government strictly limits boat numbers and access (the lagoon is divided into three zones: A no entry, B snorkel only, C dive). Outside the lagoon the reef is a coral garden with patches of hard coral down to 25 metres, with anthias clouds, anemones, butterflyfish, parrotfish and lionfish. Currents are usually mild. Beyond the dolphin encounter (which is by snorkel only, no scuba in zone B), divers explore the surrounding reef walls and find Napoleon wrasses, masked pufferfish, eagle rays and the occasional reef shark. Visibility 25 metres. The site is inside the Wadi El Gemal protected area.