Diving in Madagascar

9 February 2018
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.

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 - Antennairius
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.

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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, 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.

Recommend a dive site.

"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 Madagascar
Diving in Madagascar with blackspotted sweetlips (Plectorhinchus gaterinus) Photo credit: Madaplouf

Nosy Be

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

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Diving in Madagascar

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