Dolphin Reef / Shaab Sataya

Shaab Sataya is a curved reef in the southern Red Sea off the Egyptian coast, south of Marsa Alam, forming a horseshoe-shaped lagoon that is well known for resident pods of spinner dolphins. Boats anchor along the outer reef and divers or snorkelers enter the sheltered lagoon area to swim with the dolphins, which use the calm inner waters to rest during the day. The outer reef slopes offer typical Red Sea reef structure with coral walls and drop-offs, generally dived in the 5 to 20 metre range. Because the site's main draw is the wild dolphin encounter, conditions and animal presence vary by visit, and boats usually approach slowly and ask divers to limit engine noise and keep a respectful distance.

Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.

• Spinner DolphinStenella longirostrisReported here · unconfirmed
• Bluespotted Fantail RayTaeniura lymmaReported here · unconfirmed
• Pyjama SlugChromodoris quadricolorReported here · unconfirmed
• Indo-Pacific Bottlenose DolphinTursiops aduncusReported here · unconfirmed
• Rusty ParrotfishScarus ferrugineusReported here · unconfirmed
• Masked PufferArothron diadematusReported here · unconfirmed
• Red Sea AnemonefishAmphiprion bicinctusReported here · unconfirmed
• Indian Bullethead ParrotfishChlorurus sordidusReported here · unconfirmed
• Cauliflower CoralPocillopora verrucosaReported here · unconfirmed