Bottlenose Dolphin encounter on 8th February 2010
By Sarah Iles, dive guide, Emperor Marsa Alam
Photo by Keith McKay
After two very nice morning dives, I was a little disappointed when the Captain said we had to move as the wind had changed direction. Due to an unusual south wind we headed to Marsa Mubarak South reef.
We jumped in on a site that I knew had amazing corals and there to greet us were lots of big red snapper and spotted sweetlips.
Suddenly I was aware of a diver getting my attention. I turned to look and above us were five big bottlenose dolphins.
They came down to inspect us, swimming very close. They surfaced for air and then came back, playing around us before disappearing off into the blue. Of course we were all elated, but it was time to turn back.
Swimming over a stunning hard coral garden we were still totally enjoying our encounter, when they came back! This time they started mimicking us swimming and coming even closer, right up to us as we made our way to the boat. WOW! An incredible experience, made even better by a guest who was an instructor with over 2500 dives coming to me with tears in his eyes, saying he had never had a better dive.
Just goes to show that when you think that moving dive sites is a bad decision, surprises can happen and make your day.
Go diving in Marsa Alam - a whole lot more information awaits you here.
Dive Tribe and Emperor Divers have teamed up to create 
The first official Palace Housereef dive took place recently. Now guests are just one giant stride away from one of the most amazing reefs in the area. Hawksbill turtles, barracudas and lionfish are seen on a regular basis.
Sailing from Hamata port to destination unknown, we will be exploring some of the reef systems and Habilis further south of St John's where normal safari boats don't venture.
Then just the next day, the Zaher family from Switzerland went out on the speedboat for a one-tank dive in Marsa Mubarak. On their way out of the marina they spotted eight bottlenose dolphins and actually went snorkelling with them. What a fabulous family experience! Wait for it...on their dive in Marsa Mubarak south they found two eagle rays passing them on a sandy spot! Yet another magical Marsa day.
Since hitting the reef on New Year's Eve, the 260m-long, Hong Kong-flagged CSCL Hamburg is not interfering with diving in the area as it's on the outside of the reef. Damage is allegedly limited to the bow area and, fortunately, there are no oil or fuel leaks at present.
photos of the incident.
One and a half hours south of 
not as salty as the sea probably because it is a mix of seawater and fresh underground water from the nearby mountains of the Sinai.
