The sea surrounding Nosy-Be is rich. Its marine fauna and flora are magnificent. The island’s lively underwater landscape is a delight for diving enthusiasts.
Each day, we will choose the two best dive spots from more than 20 available – depending on the season, the experience of the divers and the tide.
Walls and wrecks, enlivened wrecks and gorgonian-covered plateaus, and even a small underwater cave: the choice available makes Nosy Be one of the most sought-after destinations for diving enthusiasts and photographers alike.
Here is a non-exhaustive list of our diving spots.
Depth: 6-22 metres
The 3 diving spots in the Nosy Tanikely nature reserve offer a beautiful variety and profusion of coral. These reefs are inhabited by an extraordinary fauna (leaf fish, antennae, ghost pipe fish, nudibranchs, etc).
It’s not unusual to come across turtles, large groupers, king mackerel, jacks and huge schools of snappers, damselfish and fusiliers. You may also be lucky enough to spot sharks in these waters (white tip, black tip or even leopard). Blue-spotted and blue stingrays also live here.
A life-size aquarium for beginners and experts alike.
Depth: 6-22 metres
The 3 diving spots in the Nosy Tanikely nature reserve offer a beautiful variety and profusion of coral. These reefs are inhabited by an extraordinary fauna (leaf fish, antennae, ghost pipe fish, nudibranchs, etc).
It’s not unusual to come across turtles, large groupers, king mackerel, jacks and huge schools of snappers, damselfish and fusiliers. You may also be lucky enough to spot sharks in these waters (white tip, black tip or even leopard). Blue-spotted and blue stingrays also live here.
A life-size aquarium for beginners and experts alike.
Depth: 6-22 metres
The 3 diving spots in the Nosy Tanikely nature reserve offer a beautiful variety and profusion of coral. These reefs are inhabited by an extraordinary fauna (leaf fish, antennae, ghost pipe fish, nudibranchs, etc).
It’s not unusual to come across turtles, large groupers, king mackerel, jacks and huge schools of snappers, damselfish and fusiliers. You may also be lucky enough to spot sharks in these waters (white tip, black tip or even leopard). Blue-spotted and blue stingrays also live here.
A life-size aquarium for beginners and experts alike.
Depth: 16-22 metres
A sumptuous coral plateau, with a series of beautiful gorgonians and an infinite number of small coral sponges. A reef of a thousand colours, home to ribbon and leopard moray eels, and the very rare and discreet Rhinopias Frondosa (or rhinoceros fish). It is also one of the best places to see whale sharks between October and November.
Depth: 26-28 metres
The wreck of this trawler, deliberately sunk to a sandy bottom, has created a phenomenal concentration of marine life in and around it. Schools of yellow snapper, atherina and fusillerina live side by side, forming a ‘living wall’ that completely camouflages the wreck when it is submerged. Schools of snapper and small groups of jacks come here to hunt. On and in the wreck you will find flying scorpion fish, scorpion fish, stone fish, crocodile fish, moray eels, groupers, nudibranchs and lobsters. On the sand, a short distance from the wreck, there are large shoals of platax.
Depth: 14-28 metres
Two shallows close together have given this dive site its name. The sandy bottom around the rocky upwellings is home to white-tip sharks. A shoal of lutjans and beauclaires have taken up residence between the two humps. A few blue-spotted stingrays prowl the area. Leaf fish are also present at this site.
Depth: 14-28 metres
Two shallows close together have given this dive site its name. The sandy bottom around the rocky upwellings is home to white-tip sharks. A shoal of lutjans and beauclaires have taken up residence between the two humps. A few blue-spotted stingrays prowl the area. Leaf fish are also present at this site.
Depth: 15-24 metres
A shallow area with a plateau of between 15 and 18 metres, this is a very, very fishy site. As its name suggests, it is mainly populated by fusiliers. Schools of beauclaires, surgeons, captains, lutjans and bécunes share the place. Blue and bighead trevally and king mackerel feed on all this life. You can also find macro fish, such as leaf fish, antennae and nudibranchs.
Depth: 14-22 metres
A vast sandy plateau dotted with large coral patates.
Home to heterocongers (or garden eels) and colonies of glass fish, it also boasts the full range of coral fauna, with a beautiful contrast between sand and reef.
The spot is best known for its occasional encounters with large manta rays.
Depth: 13-19 metres
Banc des Gorgones is a site full of macroscopic life. It is important to have a sharp eye to find its wonders.
Banc des Gorgones is located not far from the town of Ambatoloaka. One of the first dive sites discovered where an abundance of gorgonians remain close to the coast.
You can observe gorgonians and have the chance to see ghost pipefish, nudibranchs, seahorses, lobsters and hawksbill turtles.
Depth: 6-20 metres
Situated between Nosy Sakatia and Nosy Be, Olaf is a rocky ascent particularly rich in “small” fish.
Olaf is our favourite site for night dives but also for training dives. A rocky ascent from 20 metres down to 6. Perfect for spotting small fish, it’s not unusual to come across leaf fish, scorpion fish, nudibranchs and crocodile fish. The site is also populated by schools of fusiliers, large lobsters and a school of skippers.