Sataya Reef is one of the biggest reef of the Red Sea with a length of 45 km. It takes 2 hours sailing by boat starting from Hamata to reach the spot. With depths ranging between 5 and 40 meters, Sataya Reef is suitable as well for beginners as for advanced divers. While diving at this dive site you can enjoy hard and soft coral fields inhabited by a variety of fishes that you can hardly spot anywhere else. The Napoleon wrasse is a common visitor of the dive site, therefore there is a big chance to encounter it during your dive. Along the drop off you might even spot barracudas or sharks.
But Sataya Reef is especially known to be one of the natural habitats of dolphins. You will often encounter them during your dives at this dive site. As dolphins are by nature curious creatures, they will mostly approach groups of divers to have a close look. And if they are in a playful mood, the possibility to have them around you during most part of the dive, becomes reality. Sataya Reef is for sure a dive site you will remember for some time and will come back to dive at.
Transfer
Drinks
Food
Guide
Equipment
Our overnight trip to Sataya Reef (also known as Dolphin House) is starting from the marina of Hamata. The small village is located about 100 km south of Marsa Alam. From its harbor, daily boats and safari trips head towards the stunning reefs of the Southern Red Sea.
In the morning we will pick you up at your hotel at 4:00 AM and drive to Hamata in an air conditioned minibus. The transfer time to Hamata is around 4 hours, depending on the location of your hotel.
As soon as we arrive, you will board the boat and get a short introduction of the trip while having a soft drink in the saloon. After this you can choose your cabin and make yourself comfortable. In the meantime we are already setting sail to Sataya Reef.
After having a relaxing 2 hours sailing trip to our destination, our guide will give you a quick briefing to prepare you for your first dive. From the first day you will be able to dive and snorkel or swimming with dolphins. There is enough time to discover the coral reef of Shaab Sataya from the surface, before having your second dive. The highlight of this dive is definitely the 600 m deep cliff.
Later in the evening while watching the sun setting down you will enjoy a delicious meal prepared by our chief on the boat.
Don’t miss the most impressive view from the high deck – watching the stars and the moon along with light Egyptian music and handmade Bedouin coffee, called gabbana, to complete the atmosphere.
In the early morning of the second day, we will take you to another dive. This will be the best time and chance to spot dolphins and even rays while diving.
When we had our breakfast the boat will move to Abu Galawa for the last dive of the trip. Here, the most beautiful coral reefs await you to be discovered. This dive can also become a special one, as you may have the opportunity to observe sharks. On the other hand there is a 50 year old shipwreck you can explore, where you will find yourself in the middle of thousands of glass fishes at once.
After lunch and a small break, we are heading back to the harbor of Hamata, where the minibus will take you back to your hotel, in time to have dinner.