Where to dive in Madagascar?
A true sanctuary for marine wildlife, Madagascar is a paradise for scuba diving enthusiasts. Famous for its many coral gardens, diverse fish species, and opportunities to observe larger marine creatures like dolphins, sharks, and whales, the world’s fifth-largest island is a dream come true for lovers of underwater exploration. Here’s a guide to the best diving spots in Madagascar:
- Nosy Be -------
Located in northwest Madagascar, Nosy Be is renowned for its idyllic beaches, crystal-clear waters, and small, paradise-like islets. Beyond its stunning landscapes, the “Perfume Island” is considered the best diving destination in Madagascar—and even in the Indian Ocean! Nosy Be offers diverse dive sites, including coral reefs, rocky terrains, drop-offs, caves, and arches.
The marine fauna here ranges from small reef fish to large ocean species such as jacks, tunas, scorpionfish, groupers, nudibranchs, turtles (green and hawksbill), dolphins, sharks (reef sharks, leopard sharks, whale sharks), manta rays, and even humpback whales. Over 400 species of coral can also be observed here.
Some must-visit dive spots in Nosy Be include Shark Point, Manta Point, Sakatia Arch, Gorgonian Bank, Camel Bank, Louis Bank, Rosaria Bank, and Ankora.
- Nosy Tanikely Marine Park -------------------------
Just a 15-minute boat ride from Nosy Be, Nosy Tanikely is one of Madagascar’s top diving spots. This marine park, designated as a national park, is a protected area where fishing is prohibited. Its well-preserved coral reefs are home to an impressive array of fish and coral species, earning it the nickname “natural aquarium.”
Diving here reveals fascinating marine life, including ghost pipefish, leaf fish, clownfish, blue-spotted stingrays, butterflyfish, snappers, crocodile fish, lobsters, barracudas, bonitos, moray eels, green turtles, sailfish, dolphins, leopard sharks, white-tip sharks, whale sharks, manta rays, humpback whales, and more.
Dives are conducted around the island, with spots in the North, South, and East, catering to all skill levels—from beginners to experienced divers.
- Nosy Iranja -----------
Located south of Nosy Be, about 1.5 hours by boat, Nosy Iranja is another dream destination for divers visiting Madagascar. Nicknamed “the Turtle Island” for its large population of green turtles, Nosy Iranja offers dive sites focused on steep drop-offs covered with giant gorgonians, some reaching depths of over 70 meters.
In addition to turtles, you can spot humphead parrotfish, fusilier schools, mobula rays, snapper schools, Napoleon wrasses, Spanish mackerels, groupers, triggerfish, surgeonfish, moray eels, rays (eagle rays, stingrays), various sharks (gray, leopard, and Obesus), and even humpback whales (from June to October).
Top dive sites around Nosy Iranja include Roche Gaby, Atnam, Pain de Sucre, Tagada, and Les Arches.
- The Radames Archipelago -----------------------
South of Nosy Be, the Radames Archipelago is a must-visit for divers. This group of four coral islands—Nosy Kalakajoro, Nosy Ovy, Nosy Antany Mora, and Nosy Valhia—is perfect for a diving cruise. Like Nosy Iranja, its underwater landscapes are defined by dramatic drop-offs in the Mozambique Channel.
The main dive sites include the Nursery, known for stunning coral gardens and abundant reef fish, and Greg Wall, a drop-off covered in corals and teeming with marine life, which leads to a cave entrance at 33 meters deep. Don’t miss Cyclone Bank, with its numerous canyons, arches, caves, and the vertical wall of Kalakajoro drop-off.
- The Mitsio Archipelago ----------------------
Heading north of Nosy Be, the Mitsio Archipelago offers another stunning diving destination. This group of five islands—Grande Mitsio, Nosy Lava, Nosy Ankarea, the Four Brothers, and Nosy Tsara Banjina—is as breathtaking above water as it is below.
Diving here unveils an array of hard and soft corals (acropora tables, sponges, alcyonarians, ascidians) and a multitude of coral fish species, including barracuda schools, jacks, batfish, angelfish, sweetlips, snappers, anthias, fusiliers, groupers, and dogtooth snappers. Larger marine species include mobula rays, stingrays, turtles, coral sharks, white-tip sharks, whale sharks (seasonal), leopard sharks, dolphins, and pilot whales.
Top dive sites in the Mitsio Archipelago include Les Tétons, the Four Brothers Bank (with its famous volcanic wall), Castor Bank, Dive Bank, the Great Organs, and Antsoha.
Embark on a journey to discover the incredible marine life of Madagascar with our **Diving and Sailing Circuit in the Mitsio Archipelago**.
Florine Dergelet