Freediving & Yoga Retreat in Sataya, Egypt

This freediving and yoga retreat takes place aboard a liveaboard yacht at Sataya Reef, near Gerga in Sohag, Egypt, on the Red Sea. Over eight days and seven nights, guests swim with wild spinner dolphins twice a day, take beginner freediving workshops and practise daily yoga, breathwork and meditation. It is led by yoga teacher and breathwork facilitator Maja Mika together with the AIDA-certified freediving instructors Immy and Joe of Flowstate Freediving. It suits complete beginners in both yoga and freediving, including people travelling alone.

What to Expect

Sataya is home to one of the world's largest resident pods of spinner dolphins, and for the week the boat is moored inside the reef. Days begin with sunrise yoga on the top deck. Two dolphin swim sessions run each day, and the dolphins are wild, so encounters happen on their terms. Before the first swim, you learn how to read dolphin behaviour and approach them ethically.

Between swims, small-group freediving sessions give you feedback from the instructors. The workshops cover breathing for breath holds, safety, rescue basics and buddy practice, equalisation, efficient duck-diving, and staying calm in and under the water. This is a foundation in freediving, not a formal qualification, so there is nothing to pass and no pressure to go deep.

Evenings are for meditation, with a cacao ceremony during the week and a guided breathwork session on deck. The sky here is free of light pollution, and there is time to rest, read, journal or sit with the group.

The first day is for arrival and transfers, the middle days follow the rhythm above, and the last day is departure.

About Maja Mika

Maja Mika is a yoga teacher, breathwork facilitator, author and retreat creator. Her path began in 2014, when she was a film production student feeling anxious and exhausted, and a gym class left her relaxed for the first time. Yoga carried her through hard years, and she says the ocean found her too. She has since gathered practices from around the world into small-group retreats built on safety, presence and connection. Sataya has become a second home to her, and she discovered freediving in 2025. She leads the morning yoga, meditations and breathwork, and she arranges guests' transfers herself.

About Immy and Joe of Flowstate Freediving

Immy and Joe are certified AIDA freediving instructors who guide the in-water and dry-theory sessions. They teach freediving as a way to explore the ocean, with less focus on depth and numbers and more on the flow state of being at one with the water.

The Setting

You live aboard a modern yacht with 12 air-conditioned twin cabins, each with an ensuite bathroom and a window. Twin cabins are shared with another solo guest, and Maja matches people herself. Private cabins are available on both decks for an additional fee, subject to availability. The upper deck has shaded areas and room to sunbathe.

Three buffet meals a day are served, with snacks, soft drinks and fresh juices. Vegan, vegetarian, fish and meat options are available. The group is up to 24 people.

Guests fly into Hurghada or Marsa Alam, and transfers from both are included. On the first day the boat transfer leaves Hurghada at around 8am, with pickup from Marsa Alam at around 12pm. Many guests arrive the day before to rest. For the flight home, book no earlier than 2pm from Marsa Alam or 6pm from Hurghada. An extra night before flying is recommended.

Before You Go

No experience is needed. If you can swim and are curious, that is enough. The yoga is gentle and adapted to each person, and the retreat is taught in English.

Included are seven nights aboard, all meals, both daily dolphin swims, the dolphin behaviour introduction, the marine park entrance fee, yoga, meditations, the cacao ceremony, breathwork, freediving workshops and sessions, snorkelling guides and airport transfers.

Not included are flights and visas, travel insurance and personal expenses, the crew gratuity, gear hire and optional scuba diving.