Swim with wild dolphins in Hurghada
From €25 per person, transfer included
Bottlenose and spinner dolphins live off Hurghada all year round, around reefs the crews know well, the best known being Shaab El Erg, nicknamed "Dolphin House". You go looking for them by boat, from about 8am to 4pm, with snorkelling stops along the way. Sightings are frequent, never guaranteed. Hurghada Habibi runs the trip from €25 per person, lunch included.
Can you swim with dolphins in Hurghada?
Yes, in the open sea, when a pod is calm and the crew gives the signal: you slip in gently from the ladder and watch them pass, and the dolphins decide how close they come.
When it happens, it goes fast. A pod passes beneath you in a few seconds, you hear clicks and whistles through the water, a mother and calf come up to breathe side by side. To make the most of it, be ready before the call: mask fitted, fins on, and slide in without jumping, so you don't make a splash. Plenty of sightings are just as good from the deck, too.
Where to see dolphins around Hurghada
The best-known spot is Shaab El Erg, a big horseshoe-shaped reef north of Hurghada where dolphins come to rest in the lagoon, and captains also know other areas offshore that they pick according to the latest sightings.
Why that reef? Its lagoon is calm and sheltered, a good place to rest between feeds. Still, dolphins don't read brochures. One day they're right there, the next they're three miles away. Good crews know it, and set their course on what they saw yesterday and what other boats say over the radio.
How the day goes
- Around 8am: hotel pick-up, out on the yacht.
- Heading for the dolphin areas, open deck, everyone on the lookout.
- When a pod is calm, into the water with mask and snorkel, at a distance.
- Snorkelling stop on a reef.
- Lunch on board, drinks unlimited.
- Back around 4pm.
Dolphin etiquette in the water
The code of conduct from HEPCA, the Red Sea conservation association that responsible crews follow, comes down to four habits.
- Let them come to you: don't swim towards a dolphin, never touch one.
- Don't follow a pod that moves off, swimming or by boat.
- No flash, no shouting, no noisy jumps.
- No food.
These habits keep the dolphins relaxed, and a relaxed dolphin stays longer. It's also a big part of why they still use these reefs.
Best time to see dolphins in Hurghada
Any month, since the local dolphins are around all year; what matters is the sea on the day, because with light wind the ride is smoother and a fin is far easier to spot on flat water.
The north wind often picks up in the afternoon, hence the early starts. If the sea is too choppy on your planned day, moving the trip to later in the week is the smart play. We'll suggest it on WhatsApp.
What to bring
- A windproof layer: on deck in the morning, the breeze cools you fast
- Sun cream, sunglasses, a cap
- Your own mask if you have one, swimmers already on
- A charged phone in a waterproof pouch
- If you get seasick: take your usual remedy the night before, and go light on breakfast
Dolphin trip prices and booking
From €25 per person with Hurghada Habibi, with transfer, yacht, lunch and unlimited drinks, 8am to 4pm; partner price, confirmed on WhatsApp.
Want a second go? The private speedboat also passes through the dolphin areas when the sea allows.