Hurghada & El Gouna · Egypt · Reef · Lagoon

Shaab El Erg

A resident pod of 100-plus spinner dolphins rests here each morning

A wide horseshoe of reef between Hurghada and El Gouna, better known as Dolphin House for the pod of more than 100 wild spinner dolphins resident here year-round. The sandy lagoon inside the horseshoe averages 8 to 10 metres and takes beginners and snorkellers; the outer reef drops to 28 metres. Mild current, visibility around 20 metres.

Also known as Dolphin House, Sha'ab El Erg.

Where it is and how deep

Depths on a shared scale to 40 m (130 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

27.4196° N, 33.8609° EPublished position for this site.

The dive

A wide horseshoe of reef with a shallow sandy lagoon inside its arms. The lagoon averages 8 to 10 metres and is where most of the diving and all of the snorkelling happens, while the outer reef drops to a maximum of 28 metres. Current is mild and visibility runs around 20 metres, which is why the site takes beginners and snorkellers as easily as it takes day-trippers off the dolphin boats.

The draw is the dolphins. A pod of more than 100 wild spinner dolphins is resident here year-round, and they use the sheltered lagoon to rest and socialise through the morning, roughly 07:00 to 11:00, before heading out to deeper water to hunt in the afternoon. Boats that arrive inside that window have the best chance of finding them. The etiquette is fixed: no chasing, no touching, engines off.

On the reef itself, lyretail anthias cover the coral heads, giant morays sit back in the crevices, and green turtles work the shallow tops. Because the profile stays inside 10 metres for most of the dive there is no pressure to rush the circuit, and the shallow sand inside the horseshoe gives an easy place to wait and watch if the pod comes through while you are still in the water.

Marine life and season

Dolphins
Sea turtles

Month-by-month season rating for Shaab El Erg
Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Fair	Fair	Good	Good	Good	Prime	Prime	Prime	Good	Good	Good	Fair

Season follows Hurghada & El Gouna: Diving runs all year; the seas settle from March to November and are calmest in summer, while February brings the coolest water.

Know before you go

Dolphin etiquette is not optional: no chasing, no touching, engines off. The pod is wild and resident, and the encounter happens on its terms, not the boat's.

Photos from Shaab El Erg

Alexander Vasenin · CC BY-SA 3.0
Alexander Vasenin · CC BY-SA 3.0

Dive videos

Shaab El Erg · idive idivecz on YouTube

Dolphins at Dolphin House - El Gouna, Egypt · Alex Hellier on YouTube

Questions divers ask

When are the dolphins at Shaab El Erg?+

The pod is resident year-round and is most active in the lagoon between about 07:00 and 11:00, when the dolphins rest and socialise before heading to deeper water to hunt in the afternoon. Early boats have the best odds.

Can beginners dive Dolphin House?+

Yes. The lagoon inside the horseshoe averages 8 to 10 metres with mild current and visibility around 20 metres, which suits new divers and snorkellers alike. The outer reef going to 28 metres is the part that needs more experience.