The honest answer is that you may or may not see dolphins on the day. The Dolphin House trip goes to a reef area where wild spinner dolphins are often seen, and in practice many days include a sighting. But the dolphins decide, and no operator can promise them. If you book, book it for the whole day on the reef, with dolphins as the possible extra.
We run it this way on purpose. Wild dolphins that are chased, fed or touched change their behaviour and are harmed, and a trip that promises contact has to break those rules. Ours does not, and the guide will stop anyone who tries.
How the day runs
You are picked up from your hotel at 08:00 and taken to the marina. The boat sails at about 09:00 and takes around 90 minutes to reach the Dolphin House reef area. From about 10:30 the crew and guests watch for dolphins from the deck. If they come close, and the crew judges the sea calm, the guide takes snorkellers into the water.
A second stop on a coral reef follows at about 12:00, lunch on board at 13:15, and a third stop or free swim at 14:15, depending on the sea. The boat returns to the marina at about 16:00, and you are driven back to your hotel.
The rules in the water
- Do not chase, swim after or try to touch a dolphin.
- Do not feed the dolphins or throw anything into the water.
- Stay with the guide, and keep your fins low and your movements slow.
- Leave if the dolphins move away, because they are resting or feeding and need the space.
The realistic odds
We cannot give you a percentage, because it would be invented. What we can say is that sightings are common, that calm mornings help, and that even a good day can be short: a pod may pass the boat for a few minutes and move on. Treat any in-water encounter as a bonus, and enjoy the reef, which is the part we can promise.
What a good encounter looks like
A good encounter is usually quiet. The boat stops, the engine goes off and the dolphins surface near the boat, often in a group. Snorkellers slip into the water with the guide and float on the surface, instead of swimming towards the animals. The dolphins may pass below you, circle or leave, and you will see them for a few minutes at most. It can be very affecting, but it is brief.
What to bring
- Swimwear, a towel and a dry change of clothes.
- Reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.
- Seasickness tablets if you need them.
- A waterproof camera of your own, since the crew do not provide photography.
Snorkelling equipment, lunch with soft drinks and water, and the marine park fees are included in the price of the trip. Gratuities and towels are not. If you wear glasses, consider contact lenses or a prescription mask of your own, because a standard mask sits badly over frames.
Is it right for your party?
The trip suits confident swimmers, teenagers and adults who like being on the water all day. It is less comfortable for anyone who gets seasick, because the sail is long. Younger children may prefer a calmer day such as the Paradise Island beach day or the semi-submarine.
The crew, not the guests, decide whether anyone enters the water. They look at the sea state, the number of boats nearby and the behaviour of the dolphins. On a day when the sea is rough or the dolphins are resting, you stay on the boat and watch from the deck, which is often a good view. That is a safety rule, and it applies to everyone.
Respect also applies on deck. Keep your voice low, keep your hands out of the water and never throw food. The crew will ask you to move away if the animals seem unsettled. If you want to see them without swimming, ask the guide which side of the boat gives the best view.
Seasickness and sea conditions
The sail is long, and a swell makes it harder. Take a tablet before you board, sit in the middle of the boat, and keep your eyes on the horizon. If the port authority stops sailings for weather, we move your trip to another day or refund it. Book early in your holiday so there is room for that.
On this shared trip, children under 2 travel free, ages 2 to 11 pay half the adult price and from 12 the adult price applies. Check the trip page for the current price and the next available dates, and book early if you are travelling in a school holiday week.
Plan with us
Swimming with wild dolphins in Hurghada: how it works
How the Hurghada Dolphin House trip works: wild dolphins, the no-chasing rules, the realistic odds, seasickness and what the 8-hour day includes.