Madagascar is a paradise, which can not be fully described, you need to see it with your own eyes. The island attracts naturalists with fantastic landscapes, a unique world of animals, a huge number of reserves , waterfalls and extinct volcanoes . But among the lovers of scuba diving Madagascar is famous for its first-class diving, an extraordinary variety of inhabitants of the underwater world, the pristine beauty of reefs and simply delightful dive sites.
Season for diving
For underwater dives and excursions, it is better to choose the time from May to October, when the air temperature during the day ranges from + 25 ° C to + 35 ° C. In the evenings, short rains are possible, but the water does not cool below + 26 ° C. Visibility during the dive during this period is from 15 to 40 m. Also a good time for diving in Madagascar, despite the high humidity, is a period of time from November to January. And the water temperature and visibility are the same as in the summer-autumn period.
Rainy weather with gusty winds lasts from January to March. The sea is agitated and visibility is deteriorating. But it is at this time that divers can see humpback whales, whale sharks and mantles, which attract the seasonal abundance of plankton.
Most popular dive sites
Diving in Madagascar, famous for its abundance of marine fauna, is available for tourists all year round. Recently, not only experienced divers, but also newcomers, are coming here more and more often. Consider the best places for diving:
- Nosy Be is the largest island on the northwest coast of Madagascar with a fantastically diverse underwater world. In the Gorgonians Bank area at a depth of 20 m there are giant gorgonians, crocodile fish and octopuses. Amateurs in the underwater labyrinths of tunnels can go to reef 5m Bank. Meeting with reef sharks, flocks of barracudas and royal fish will be presented to you by the Grand Bank. The Rosario Bank dive site is famous for its unique coral gardens, which have become a favorite place for sea turtles and eels.
- Archipelago Mizio - territory number 1 for divers of any level of preparedness. The depth of the dives varies from 3 to 25 m. Here you can see a lot of soft and hard corals, various coral fish, sea eels, tuna, and whale sharks. Going to the Castor Showl reef, at a depth of 8 to 40 m, you will have the opportunity to experience the unique underwater terrain, which is rich in numerous rocks and tunnels, as well as exclusive black coral "trees". And if you're lucky - you can meet a leopard shark.
- The island of Nosi-Irania is a tasty morsel for any diver, thanks to the exceptional visibility that reaches 40 m. The reefs around Nosi-Irania are attractive from all sides: this is an unusual relief, and a variety of marine inhabitants. In the waters of this island you can find tuna, sea turtles, whale and reef sharks, mantis, napoleons and other equally exotic representatives of the local fauna. A flock of thrills will be added by a flock of barricades and royal fish.
- Nusi-Tanikeli is a small island, attracting fans of underwater diving from all over the world. Great visibility at a depth of 30 m is a real find both for specialists in diving and for those who first get acquainted with the basics of diving. Under the coastal waters are hidden just a few densely populated reefs. Already in the first stage of the dive, at a depth of 2 m, numerous clusters of bright reef fish meet you. Due to the diversity of exotic inhabitants, this dive site is very interesting for underwater shooting.