Diving in Madagascar
Tweet8 April 2013
Madagascar, the world's fourth largest island, hosts one of the world's largest continuous coral reefs1. The country is famous for its unique land animals, but her seas are also full of life not found anywhere else. And she doesn't just have endemic species: around the Madagascar coast are found at least 34 types of cetaceans, 5 types of marine turtles, 56 types of shark, 300 hard corals and 1300 species of bony fish 2.
Madagascar is in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Mozambique (south-east Africa). The cyclone season normally runs from January to March. The best time to go is between May and December.
Visas are required for entry to Madagascar. 30-day tourist visas may be obtained at the airport on arrival. If obtaining a visa at the airport, you should ensure that an entry stamp is recorded in your passport.
There has been political unrest in Madagascar since 2009, when there was a coup. The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office provides up-to-date travel advice. It's recommended to take out comprehensive travel and diving insurance before going to Madagascar.
Some good diving in Madagascar is around Noisy Be, but for the best dives take a liveaboard to the Mitsio (north of Noisy Be) or Radames (west of Noisy Be) archipelagoes. The east coast of Madagascar - eg Saint Marie - is on migratory routes for humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) between July and September. Indeed, they are said to breed there during this time.
Madagascar Dive Sites • Madagascar Diving Centres • Books to Take • Your Comments
Madagascar Dive Sites
"Second only to Mozambique. We dived at end of rainy season (end April) so it'll be even better from May onward "
Lee Donoher, 2012
| Nosy Tanikeli - South Reef | < 20 m |
Rating:
(1)
"Great under 20 m site. "
Lee Donoher, 8 May 2012
| Nosy Tanikeli - North East Reef |
Rating:
(1)
"Coral in amazing condition, especially the HUGE fans, turtle, massive lobsters, too many species of fish to list. "
Lee Donoher, 8 May 2012
| Nosy Be - Mitsio Wreck |
Rating:
(1)
"Awesome wreck dive. Second dive at gorgones has amazing fan coral and bio diversity "
Lee Donoher, 8 May 2012
Madagascar Diving Centres
Recommend a dive operator or list your diving company on this page.
| Coral Diving Club - Madagascar |
The First British Owned Dive Centre In Nosy Be, Madagascar with the first and only British instructor on the island. Offering 'Try Dives', PADI Dive Courses, Snorkel Trips, Dive Trips and Catamaran Dive Safaris.
Rating:
(3)
Coral Diving Club - Madagascar
Hotel Avi-Avy
Madirokely Beach
Nosy Be
Madagascar
Tel: +261 (0) 32 521 60 67
info@CoralGardenDiving.com
http://www.CoralGardenDiving.com/
"We found Coral Diving to be an excellent dive centre with good facilities and a high standard of dive equipment. I dived two days and found Richard to be fun, friendly and very knowledgeable. He was also very accommodating as my wife does not dive - she joined us on the boat and was dropped at Nosy Tanikely to do some snorkeling. The prices are competitive in comparison to other dive centres. Overall we had a great experience and would definitely recommend this dive club for both experienced and novice/beginner divers. Excellent value for money. "
Jen Glenn, UK, 19 November 2012
"Richard is the only English instructor on the island, he also speaks a variety of different languages!!! He was so helpful and gave us a lot of tips about the island itself. 100% would dive with him again!!! Perfect for my budget. Can sometimes be very secluded which is perfect for a unique experience. "
Charlie, Wales, 28 September 2012
"Coral diving Club is an excellent diving outift! My partner and I had a series of fantatic dives with them in Apr 2012. You'll not meet a more friendly instructor than Richie. Equipment is top notch, safety and professionalism second to none as is knowledge of the dive sites. Damn good on prices to boot! Would definitely dive with them again. Value for money: 10/10."
Lee Donoher, 8 May 2012
| Tropical Diving |
Tropical Diving
Centre International de Plongée
Ambatoloaka
Nosy Be
Madagascar
Tel: +261 (0) 32 49 46 251
E-mail: tropical.diving@moov.mg
| Blue Dive - Bleu Oceane |
Blue Dive - Bleu Oceane
Madirokely Plage
BP 250 Hell Ville
Nosy Be
207 Madagascar
Tel: + 261 32 07 20720
Mobile: 07 05880
E-mail: bluedive@blueline.mg
| Manta Dive Club |
Manta Dive Club
Madiro Hotel
Madirokely Plage
Hell Ville
Nosy Be
Madagascar
Tel: 00 261 20 32 07 207 10
E-mail: info@mantadiveclub.it
| Forever Dive |
Forever Dive
Madirokely
Hell Ville
Nosy Be
Madagascar
Tel: 00 261 20 32 07 125 65
E-mail: forever.dive@simicro.mg
| Oceane's Dream |
Oceane's Dream
BP 173 Ambatoloaka
Nosy Be
207 Madagascar
Tel: 00 261 20 86 614 26
E-mail: oceaned@moov.mg
| Sakatia Lodge |
Sakatia Lodge
Private Bag 272
Nosy Be
207 Madagascar
Tel: +27 87 351 8360
Fax: +27 11 252 5477
E-mail: sakatialodge@sakatia.co.za
| Madaplouf |
Speak and teach in French, English, Spanish, German and Italian. CMAS and PADI. Run by Alain and Olivier. Maximum of 6 divers. Organise day trips, first dives, and training courses CMAS/FFESSM 1* to 3* and PADI Open Water to Dive Masterdive. Also organize cruises to the Mitsio and Radama Archipelagoes on catamarans. Open througout the year.
Madaplouf
Bemoko Beach
Nosy Be
Madagascar
Tel: +261 (0)33 14 248 33 or +261 (0)33 02 096 13
E-mail: madaplouf@moov.mg
| Akio Plongée |
Akio Plongée
Ambatoloaka
Nosy Be
Madagascar
Tel : (00261) 32 02 814 55
| Laguna Blu / Manta Diving Center |
Laguna Blu/ Manta diving Center
C/0 Hotel Laguna Blu Resort
Ampasilava-Andavadoaka
Madagascar
Tel: 00 816 21 01 20 75
E-mail: lagunabluresort@lagunabluresort.com
| Aquaroc Madagascar |
Aquaroc Madagascar
BP 595 201
Diego Suarez
Madagascar
Tel:00 261 20 82 210 20
E-mail: aquaroc@aquaroc.com
| Menabe Plongee |
Menabe Plongee
Belo sur Mer
Morondava
Madagascar
Tel: 00 261 20 95 524 51
E-mail: menabeplongee@yahoo.fr
| Il Balenotterde |
Il Balenotterde
Port de Barachois Ambodifotatra
St Mariev
Madagascar
Tel: 00 261 20 57 400 48
| Diving Mahery Be |
Diving Mahery Be
Andapanangoy
St Marie
Madagascar
Tel: 00 261 20 57 401 48
| Maningory |
Maningory
Andapanangoy
Ile aux Nattes
St Marie
Madagascar
Tel: 00 261 20 57 402 20
| Alizee Dive in |
Alizee Dive in
C/o Hotel Safari
Vezo Anakao Tulear
Madagascar
Tel: 00 261 20 94 413 81
| Deep Sea Club |
Deep Sea Club
BP 158
Tulear
Madagascar
Tel: 00 262 20 94 426 20
nautilus@wanadoo.mg
| Fifi Diving |
Bamboo Club BP
47 Tulear
Madagascar
Tel: 00261 94 427 17
bamboo.club@wanadoo.mg
| Club Nautique |
|
Club Nautiqu | Club Nautiqu C/o Hotel Lakana Vezo Lakana Vezo Ifaty Tulear Madagascar Tel: 00 261 20 94 339 00 gino@wanadoo.mg |
| ATIMOO plongée |
ATIMOO plongée
Mangily Ifaty
BP 214
Toliari 601
Madagascar
Tel: +261 32 04 529 17
E-mail: club@atimoo.com
| Mangily Scuba |
Mangily Scuba
Mangily Ifaty
Madagascar
Tel: 034 64 781 76
E-mail: mangilyscuba@gmail.com
Further Information
- Madagascar
- by Hilary Bradt; Bradt Travel Guides, Paperback, 448 pages.
More details and 36% off at Amazon.co.uk
Also available from Amazon.com
- A Diver's Guide to Reef Life
- by by Andrea Ferrari and Antonella Ferrari; Nautilus, Paperback, 128 pages.
Available from UK
and USA
- Muddling Through in Madagascar
- by Dervla Murphy; Flamingo, Paperback, 288 pages.
Available from UK
- Madagascar Travels
- by Christina Dodwell ; Long Riders' Guild Press US, Paperback, 232 pages.
Available from UK
Your Comments
Please send us your comments on Madagascar. Do you want to recommend a diving centre or dive site? Let us know. Have a question - try our Diving Board. If you own a dive centre get yourself added.
SCUBA News (ISSN 1476-8011)
If you want to be notified of updates to the site, along with diving news and discussion, please subscribe to our newsletter.
We also welcome your views and experiences - send us your trip reports.
2. Wildlife Conservation Society
Back to top
