Level: Resort nearby
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Last updated on June 20, 2024
The Sataya Resort is one of the many coastal resorts in the Marsa Alam region. Its well-preserved coral reef, home to many fish and a few sea turtles, allows for great snorkeling sessions. Advanced snorkelers can even snorkel from the resort’s jetty to Nabaa Bay, visited by dugongs.
The Sataya Resort (not to be confused with Sataya Reef, an offshore reef known for its resident pod of dolphins) is a beachfront hotel in the Marsa Alam region.
The Sataya Resort lies 2 miles/3.2 kilometers south of Abu Dabbab Bay (a famous snorkeling spot), and just 0.6 mile/1 kilometer south of Marsa El Nabaa snorkeling location, known for its dugong sightings.
Sataya Resort’s house reef is mainly accessible to the resort’s guests. It’s not clear whether non-guests can access the hotel, but you can call the Sataya Resort to ask if they would allow you to use their pontoon. Advanced snorkelers can enter the water at Nabaa Bay and snorkel all the way to the Sataya Resort (only when there is no current).
Water entrance is from the steps at the end of the resort jetty. It is not permitted to enter the water from the beach, to avoid damaging the reef. When the sea is rough, the pontoon may be closed by the resort.
Halfway between the beach and the pontoon, a stair leads down to a shallow sandy lagoon, where you can see a few fish.
You can snorkel on both sides of the pontoon, the drop-off being a little steeper to the south.
If there’s a current, don’t drift too far from the jetty. Always head back towards the pontoon to get out of the water, unless you want to snorkel to Nabaa Bay (conditions permitting) and then walk back along the beach (1000 meters by following the reef drop-off).
The Sataya Resort house reef topography consists of an almost vertical wall, declining 26 feet/8 meters to sandy beds. It is not allowed to snorkel the reef flat because of the very low depth.
On the Sataya Resort’s house reef, the corals are in very good condition overall and are quite varied and colorful. A few giant clams add nice touches of color to the reef.
There are so many fish to be seen on the reef that it’s difficult to list them all. usual and abundant local fish include damselfish, large schools of surgeonfish (especially Shoal and Sailfin surgeonfish), lots of triggerfish of different species, parrotfish, butterflyfish, and the Regal angelfish. There are also schools of snapper hidden beneath the coral.
Take a look under the pontoon, where lionfish, trumpetfish and juveniles of many species can be seen. Sea turtles frequently visit the reef – not only green turtles but also hawksbill turtles, much less common in the Red Sea. You may also be lucky enough to come across shoals of Indian mackerel, their mouths wide open to capture plankton.
The Sataya Resort has 5 cafés and restaurants in its premises.
These spots are accessible to anyone with basic snorkeling skills, and feeling comfortable in the water and with his snorkeling gear. You will enter the water from the shore (beach, pontoon, ladder, rocks) or from a boat. The water height in the sea entrance area is reasonable, but you will not necessarily be within your depth. Moderate currents can occur in the area, even when the sea conditions are good. The distance to swim to reach the most interesting snorkeling areas of the spot does not exceed 200 meters. This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.
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Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.
