Swim with the Dolphins A Spiritual Retreat live-aboard in Sataya Bay
A spiritual retreat aboard the Nooraya with Kiara Windrider and Jonette Crowley
8 days - Saturday, September 21-28, 2024
Sataya Bay, Egypt
Only 12 Spaces Available
Join our guides for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with Dolphins in Sataya Bay!
Kiara Windrider; author, international teacher and mystic.
Jonette Crowley; author, channel and spiritual teacher….for a week of deep meetings with nature, the dolphins and ourselves on this Spiritual Retreat on the water. We deepen our connections to our world and the cosmos through interactions with the dolphins, the sea, and each other.
The Schedule
Saturday, September 21
Arrive in Marsa Alam
We meet at Marsa Alam airport (RMF) where are bus will take us on the 2 hour trip to Hamata Bay where our boat “Nooraya” is moored.
Sunday, September 22 - Friday, September 27
Cruise to Sataya Reef
We set out to Sataya early in the morning on Sunday, and after a 2 hour cruise arrive at Sataya Reef where we anchor for the whole week! Don’t worry about being seasick: once in Sataya, the boat will not move anymore! Usually, dolphins welcome the arriving boats in Sataya; and after a security briefing with our snorkel and dive guides, we can join our friends in the water.
We spend the next 5 days we delight in interacting with the dolphins and swimming, snorkeling, or diving in the beautiful Egyptian waters. Enjoying life aboard the Nooraya, relaxing, meditating and connecting with nature and each other.
Saturday, 28 September
Departure Day
Depending on flights, we depart our beautiful sanctuary either on Friday afternoon or Saturday morning. We cruise back to Hamata, where our bus will take you to the airport for your flight home!
Sayata Reef
Sayata Reef also known as Dolphin House is a coral reef located in the Red Sea, about 10km off the coast of the southern Egyptian Riviera. The half-month shaped reef forms a crystal clear, sheltered lagoon that is home to several schools of Spinner Dolphins, as well as a beautiful coral reef teeming with exotic fish and stunning corals.
The Cost
Price/ Payment Schedule
The retreat price is $2500, payable in 3 installments
$1000 deposit to reserve your spot. Non-refundable, pay by credit card in our web store.
$1000 second payment is due by Monday, July 1st. Non-refundable, pay by credit card in our web store.
$500 or the equivalent in Euros (approx 460€ today) due on arrival on the boat. Cash Only - It’s Egypt 😉
Price Includes
transfer to and from the airport; 8 days/7 nights on board the beautiful boat, Nooraya; all meals and snacks on the boat; snorkeling and diving guides, spiritual teaching and meditations with Kiara andJonette
Does not include: Air transportation, travel insurance, alcohol, tips for the crew (it’s appreciated to give 50€ as a tip for the crew) and any other expenses not listed above.
The Details
Transportation
Flights to and from Marsa Alam, Egypt are not included. It would be good if we could coordinate our arrival schedules so that we can all be together on the bus to Hamata. Cairo Air offers a flight from Cairo (CAI) to Marsa Alam (RMF) on Saturday, Sept 21, leaving at 11:10am and arriving on the Red Sea at 13:10. The current cost is $92 each way although extra bag fees may apply.
Cabins
The boat has 10 cabins with 2 single beds each. Each cabin has its own bathroom with shower. There are no single cabins, so if you do not have a roommate we will assign you one. The boat is equipped with air conditioning, if necessary. Many guests end up sleeping on the upper decks with a mattress and warm blankets, under the starriest sky ever!!!!
The Boat and Crew
The Nooraya is a 24m (79ft) yacht with 4 separate deck areas - the Shadow Deck a spacious, shaded deck on the 1st floor; the Sun Deck on the top floor, perfect for sunbathing and sleeping under the stars, the Front Deck on the bow of the boat, and the Lower Deck at the rear of the boat with a swim platform and access to the zodiacs. The boat also includes a Lounge to socialize and a Egyption Salon and dining room.
The crew is composed of the Captain, the snorkel guide, the dive guide, 2 seamen driving the zodiacs, the cook and assistant cook, 1 'salon boy' and 1 mechanic. In the evenings we sometimes dance with the crew, who love to share their music with us!!!
Food and Drinks
Delicious dishes are prepared by our excellent cook, Mohammed. Vegetarians will be pleased with the diversity. Snacks are served during the day. Bottled water and hot drinks are available. There is no hard alcohol on board but beer can be purchased for 3€ each. You can bring 1 or 2 bottles of wine. There is smoking only where designated.
Communications and Electricity
Cell phones work on board in Sataya intermittently. There is no reliable internet connection. The boat is equipped with common European wiring in each cabin. There are speakers (suitable for ipods, computers and USB sticks) and a television screen
What's App Group
We will use a What's App Group as our primary source of communication between our group. Please download the App to your mobile phone so we can send you an invitation to join.
Activities
Meditations and Teachings
Kiara and Jonette will guide the group in meditations and discussions when time allows. Feel free not to attend. There is only one obligation on board, feel completely at ease!
The Dolphins
Dolphins are sensitive so we usually do a meditation at dawn and/or at sunset. Our goal is a deep spiritual connection with these beautiful creatures. The dolphins usually come every day in the early morning to play and rest near the reefs and around the boat. Sometimes they stay all day around the boats, it is rare that they don't come at all.
The dolphins are happy to swim with people, having done so for many years now. In fact, many of them have been born into the habit. They are curious and joyful creatures and like to approach swimmers, peer into our face masks and swim alongside them. They will allow you to cruise along with them, swimming slowly so that you can keep up. They may leap and play and chase each other, giving you a wonderful show you will remember for a lifetime and often inviting you to take part in their game. We are blessed to be able to interact with them in their natural environment, however it’s important not to touch them and to respect their choice to take their leave of us. They WILL come back when they want to swim with us!!!
Snorkeling and Swimming
When dolphins aren’t available, we can swim along the beautiful coral reefs of Sataya Bay. The Red Sea has some of the best snorkeling and diving in the world! We admire hundreds of fish, corals and sea shelves of all colors and shapes. Our snorkel guide will be with us. There are arm floats and life jackets if you want, and the water is very salty, making it easy to float!. Bring your own snorkel gear, and perhaps a shorty wetsuit and water booties.
Scuba Diving
For divers, there is a dive master on board to take you to the beautiful sites in Sataya Bay. BCD and regulators are available. The cost is 40€ per dive for PADI certified, and 50€ if you’re not certified. This is paid in cash on the boat. Bring your cert card. You can also get your PADI certification on board!
Fitness and Health
You must be in good health able to enjoy being on the boat and in the water. Please let us and the captain know if you have any health condition requires special or life-saving treatments and/or medications.
Water Activity Waiver
At the start of our stay, the dive master will give you all the necessary safety instructions for snorkeling and diving in the Red Sea. Following this presentation you will be asked to sign a Statement of Understanding and Liability Waiver.
Here is a short video taken by Kiara on a previous visit to Sataya Bay
Important Details
Passports/ travel documents
You must have a valid passport or identity card travel document that is valid for 6 months after the planned date of return. In most cases a Tourist Visa is required to travel to Egypt. You can apply for an e-visa through the official government site https://visa2egypt.gov.eg/eVisa/Home or at the airport. The cost is $25 for a single entry visa.
Cancellations/Refunds
All payments to Center to Creative Consciousness are non-refundable. We strongly urge you to purchase trip insurance,so you are covered in some cases if you must cancel due to health or other covered events. You will receive a link to our digital Liability Waiver which must be completed prior to the trip.
In addition, the tour operator, Nooraya LLP is not responsible for delays occurring before departure or during the excursion or cruise if these are caused by technical problems, strikes, bad weather, Covid or any other cause which is not under our control. Delays due to weather or traffic could alter the tour itinerary. These alterations are not subject to reimbursement.
Political Situation
Our boat organizers are paying attention to the political situation and will not allow passengers to be in harm’s way. The majority of our time will be spent anchored at Sataya. The secluded reef is assessable only by boat and it is far from the Sinai Peninsula and Yemen. However, with any travel we recommend that you protect yourself with travel insurance.
Jonette can be reached at Jonette@JonetteCrowley.com. What’s App: +1 303 808-0029
Kiara’s books can be found at: https://www.amazon.com/Books-Kiara-Windrider/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AKiara+Windrider