Diving in Madagascar
27 February 2019
Madagascar, the world's fourth largest island, hosts one of the world's longest continuous coral reefs1. The country is famous for her 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 whale and dolphin, 5 types of turtle, 56 types of shark, 300 hard corals and 1300 species of bony fish 2.
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Madagascar is in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Mozambique. The cyclone season normally runs from January to March at which time most of the dive centres are closed. The best time to go is between May and December, when the visibility can be 30 m or more. High season is in July and August, which are also the coolest months. Average open water sea temperature ranges from 28 oC in January to March, to 23 oC in July and August.3 In the north, though, the water temperature never gets lower than 26 oC in Winter and the average temperature is 28-29 oC for the rest of the months.
Frog Fish, Antennarius sp, in Madagascar, Photo credit: Madaplouf
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. Take care when travelling. 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.
Manta Ray photographed in Madagascar, Photo credit: Madaplouf
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 give birth there during this time. Whale sharks are frequent in October and November at Nosy Be.
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Madagascar Dive Sites
Around Nosy Be the diving generally takes place in the morning as the wind becomes stronger in the afternoon. Tanikely is a marine park with exceptional marine life.
"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
Diving in Madagascar with blackspotted sweetlips (Plectorhinchus gaterinus) Photo credit: Madaplouf
Reviews:
(1)
"We did more than 10 different dive sites around Nosy Be. Great variety or coral reefs, interesting marine life and HUGE schools of fish. All dives except Tanikely are pretty deep (20+m) so sufficient surface time is a must. One day had very strong current and 2 dives of the day were more of "hold to something and see what you can". "
Mari Seppä, 22 September 2014
Reviews:
(1)
"Nice shallow (max 18m) dive with enough interesting marine life to be interesting to more advanced divers as well. Turtles, leopard shark, big frogfish, angelfish."
Mari Seppä, 22 September 2014
Reviews:
(1)
"Coral in amazing condition, especially the HUGE fans, turtle, massive lobsters, too many species of fish to list."
Lee Donoher, 8 May 2012
Reviews:
(2)
"The wreck is pretty deep (20-28m), but the amount of life around it is amazing. I have not seen that many scorpionfish in one location ever before. Enough to see for 2 consecutive dives if interested."
Mari Seppä, 22 September 2014
"Awesome wreck dive. Second dive at gorgones has amazing fan coral and bio diversity"
Lee Donoher, 8 May 2012
Reviews:
(1)
"Excellant for macro and hard corals"
Jacques, Sakatia Lodge, 21 April 2016
Reviews:
(1)
"Big wall with sea fans, cave and pinnacle."
Jeanmart Nicolas, Menabe plongée, 22 April 2016
Reviews:
(1)
"Drop off with very high density of school and great diversity."
Jeanmart Nicolas, Menabe plongée, 22 April 2016
Reviews:
(1)
"Drop off with.sea fans cave,grey sharks,white tipes sharks,king fishes, barracudas."
Jeanmart Nicolas, Menabe plongée, 22 April 2016
Madagascar Diving Centres and Liveaboards
Recommend a dive operator or list your diving company on this page.
The Oceanes Dream catamaran caters for just 8 guests in 4 double cabins. Each cabin has its own en-suite bathroom and double bed, offering a little luxury whilst exploring the best dive sites of Madagascar.
Why choose this liveaboard? Oceanes Dream safaris depart from Nosy Be and explore the pristine islands of the Radama Archipelago and the Mitsio Archipelago. Divers regularly encounter schools of barracuda, jacks, whitetip reef sharks and hammerhead sharks at Radama. The Mitsio Archipelago is idea for spotting large schools of fish, plus manta rays and whale sharks. You can explore stunning beaches in between dives and keep your eyes open for humpback whales and dolphins passing by.
Speak and teach in French, English, Italian, French, Spanish and German. Run by Michele and Jennifer. Organise day trips, introductory dives, and training courses PADI from Open Water Diver to Divemaster and CMAS from 1* to 3*. 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@gmail.com
Diving with whale sharks in Madagascar, Photo credit: Madaplouf
Centre International de Plongée
Ambatoloaka
Nosy Be
Madagascar
Tel: +261 (0) 32 49 46 251
E-mail: tropical.diving@moov.mg
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
Oceane's Dream
BP 173 Ambatoloaka
207 Nosy Be
Madagascar
Tel: 00 261 32 07 127 82
E-mail: resa@oceanesdream.com
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
The only dive center in Madagascar to offer Fluo night diving. Also a macro specialist.
Mangily Scuba
Mangily Ifaty
Madagascar
Tel: 034 64 781 76
E-mail: mangilyscuba@gmail.com
www.ifatyscuba.com
We have drift dives, wall dives, patch reefs! Also we have a population of humpback whales that migrate Mozambique channel.
Anne Furr, Mangily Scuba
ATIMOO plongée
Mangily Ifaty
BP 214
Toliari 601
Madagascar
Tel: +261 32 04 529 17
E-mail: club@atimoo.com
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
BP 595 201
Diego Suarez
Madagascar
Tel:00 261 20 82 210 20
E-mail: aquaroc@aquaroc.com
Liveaboard and safari diving.
Menabe Plongee
Ambatoloaka
Nosy be. Bp 409 Hellville
Madagascar
Tel: 00261 (0)326024416
E-mail: menabeplongee@yahoo.fr
Il Balenotterde
Port de Barachois Ambodifotatra
St Marie
Madagascar
Tel: 00 261 20 57 400 48
Diving Mahery Be
Andapanangoy
St Marie
Madagascar
Tel: 00 261 20 57 401 48
Maningory
Andapanangoy
Ile aux Nattes
St Marie
Madagascar
Tel: 00 261 20 57 402 20
Alizee Dive in
C/o Hotel Safari
Vezo Anakao Tulear
Madagascar
Tel: 00 261 20 94 413 81
Deep Sea Club
BP 159
Ifaty Tulear
Madagascar
Tel: (+261) 32 04 848 81
contact@nautilusmada.mg
Bamboo Club
BP 47
Tulear
Madagascar
Tel: 00261 94 427 17
info@fifidiving.com
|
Club Nautique | Club Nautique C/o Hotel Lakana Vezo Lakana Vezo Ifaty Tulear Madagascar Tel: 00 261 20 94 339 00 |
Semicircle angelfish (Pomacanthus semicirculatus) in Madagascar, Photo credit: Madaplouf
Accommodation
"Aviavy Hotel was at the beach where the daily dives leave. Rooms are comfortable with A/C, reasonable prices and very good food if too tired to wonder elsewhere."
Mari Seppä, Finland, 22 September 2014
Further Information
- Madagascar
- by Hilary Bradt; Bradt Travel Guides, Paperback, 448 pages, 2014.
From the Nosy Be archipelago to the coastal town of Fort Dauphin via the capital Antananarivo, Bradt's Madagascar covers all the national parks and protected areas.
- A Diver's Guide to Reef Life
- by Andrea Ferrari and Antonella Ferrari; Nautilus, Paperback, 128 pages.
Includes 1200 concise descriptions accompanied by detailed photographs. Covers Indo-Pacific, Red Sea and the Caribbean.
- Madagascar Sheet Map
- Good quality map of Madagascar.
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References and sources
1. WWF
2. Wildlife Conservation Society
3. Surf-forecast.com
