The coral reefs off northwestern Madagascar are in great condition, with some excellent hard and soft corals and fish life ranging from the small and colurful to whale sharks. This area is also simply stunning, with the Mitsio Islands formed out of volcanic basalt, fringed with white sand beaches and shallow turquoise waters. Coastlines closer to Nosy Be and the mainland have scattered tropical forest where lemurs and chameleons roam.
To reach the best dive sites, a liveaboard is ideal; and in our case a 14.5 metres motor catamaran skippered by an expert, with all meals and scuba provided for onboard. She has 4 cabins, of which two are doubles and the others are single with a very low single occupancy supplement.
The two main diving areas we can take you to are the Mitsio Archipelago, north from Nosy Be; and the Radames Archipelago to the south. Unlike most liveaboards, the places we take you and how long for can be tailored. If dates are not already scheduled, then we can organise a liveaboard trip for you starting with a minimum of 2 divers. Private charters are also possible.
Mitsio Archipelago
Mitsio has the easier diving conditions - often with very clear water, dive sites suitable for intermediate divers and some lovely coral reefs. Of pelagic species, manta rays and reef sharks are not uncommon. Humpback whales are often seen between July and October. Whale sharks might also be seen in October, although the areas we visit on our Whale Shark - Islands, Lemurs & are more assured for these. Amongst the many dive sites at Mitsio:
The 4 Brothers dive sites provides vertical walks with very colourful reefs and fish life from the sea surface to 30 metres. Look out for cleaner shrimps and ribbon moray eels; and schools of glassfish. Barracuda. Mobula rays and white-tip reef sharks may also be spotted.
Les Tétons is a very colourful site, with two rocky peaks emerging from the seabed. Dives are between 5 - 20 metres, with arches and caves where glassfish and sweetlips can amass.
Little Beaver Bank is about 500 metres across, with dives from 9 metres and beyond. Cracks and cavities provide a base for giant gorgonians. Pelagics such as trevally and tuna may appear, as well as whiote-tip, grey reef and leopard sharks.
Vertical walls are very colorful and rich in fixed fauna and flora, cleanning shrimps, ribbons moray, ... There are also flaws filled with glasfish and pelagic passages, barracudas, mobula rays, sharks white tips
Radames Archipelago
Radames Archipelago is another area of beautiful islands - much less visited than Mitsio, to the south of Nosy Be. To reach there you will pass the absolute stunner of an island, Nosy Iranja. Whilst beautiful in itself, it doesn't have the coral reef attractions of Radames.
Diving conditions at Radames are more variable and with deeper sites than Mitsio; only suitable for experienced divers. Here are some of the feature dive sites:
Tombant Ouest Kalakajoro is a typical dive site of Radames, featuring a vertical wall with high densities of coral fish, some groupers, snappers and unicorn fish amongst them. The dive begins at 14 metres and descends beyond your range to 50 metres.
The Nursery has excellent for Acropora hard coral gardens, with the potential for a high density of fish and both shite-tip and grey reef sharks.
Banc de Cyclone is full of rugged canyons, caves and arches, with lots of sea fans. It starts at 20 metres and descends beyond our limit orf 30 metres.
Greg Wall is an excellent dive, with a cave just beyond our depth limit of 30 metres. The majestic peak is at 15 metres, covered in sea fans. Jacks and dogtooth tuna are sometimes a feature here.
4 days / 3 night Mitsio Archipelago diving inclusive of 10 dives.
Price person in a double cabin. Add £55 for single cabin.
Full dive kit rental £90 for the duration.
Trips start and end Nosy Be
Prices include
Dives as specified with weights & air cylinders
Accommodation onboard
All meals
Soft drinks
Not included
Dive kit rental
Flights & travel to / from the boat
Insurance
Tips
Whale Shark Research – Islands, Marine Life & Lemurs
Madagascar
FROMOctober 2024 & 2025
£2,090
US$2,550
with Aqua-Firma Photographer Ralph Pannell
& Madagascar's leading Whale Shark Researcher Stella DiamantView detailsEnquire / Book
