Dolphin House rules: how the HEPCA zones protect the spinner dolphins
Why Samadai has a no-entry zone, a snorkeling zone and a diving zone, and why that is good news for you.
In the early 2000s the Samadai pod started leaving the lagoon. Too many boats, too many swimmers chasing them, no rules. In 2004 the reef became a managed protected area with HEPCA and the National Parks, and the pod came back. The zones are the reason you see dolphins today.
The three zones
- Zone A: the inner lagoon. No entry for anyone. The dolphins rest here.
- Zone B: the edge of the lagoon. Guided snorkeling groups only, life jackets available, slow entry from the zodiac.
- Zone C: the outer reef. Diving and boat moorings on fixed buoys.
The other limits
Max 10 boats a day, a snorkeling window from 10:00 to 14:00, a diving window from 09:00 to 15:00, boats no faster than 2 knots near the reef and engines off when moored. A ticket of about 105 EGP per person funds mooring maintenance, the park and the Marsa Alam council; on our trips it is included in the price.
Why it helps you
Resting dolphins that are not chased stay longer, come closer and bring their calves. The best encounters happen when 20 people float still and the pod decides to pass through them. The rules make that happen every day.
