Scuba Season
Underwater reef at Nosy Be
Stable

Nosy Be

Madagascar · Mozambique Channel

Nosy Be off Madagascar's northwest coast is the country's main diving hub — whale sharks September–December (juveniles, snorkel friendly), reef dives on surrounding islands, and Mozambique-channel biodiversity.

How this reef is doing

How we measure this

Reef state

Stable

Patchy reef condition across the area. Whale sharks Oct–Dec drive the season.

Coral cover

27%
LowHealthy
Moderate

Fish life

Not surveyed

Heat

SafeBleaching

No unusual heat right now.

Safe now

Fishing

QuietBusy

Some fishing is allowed here, in marked zones.

Limited

Sources · MERMAID and partner coral surveys · NOAA Coral Reef Watch · Global Fishing Watch and reef gravity

What you will see

22 species across the dive sites here

Dive sites

What divers say

Whale sharks every day for a week, plus humpbacks on the boat ride. Madagascar punches above its weight.
Trip report

Good to know

Cyclones

January–March cyclone risk; many ops close.

Gear & getting wet

  • Basic kit

    • Mask and fins
    • BCD and regulator
    • 5mm full wetsuit · cooler water
    • Dive computer
  • For specific sites

    • Dive light · Nosy Tanikely