Scuba Diving in Nosy Be

CREDIT: SpotMyDive

Start planning your next dive trip! Today you will learn about diving in Nosy Be.

REVIEW SCUBA DIVING IN NOSY BE

Madagascar: does this name evoke in you a distant and mysterious land? We invite you to immerse yourself in the heart of this huge island-country located off the south-east coast of Africa and more particularly on the volcanic island of Nosy-be, bordered by the Indian Ocean. Nosy-be, which only name carries colors and perfumes, plunges us directly into the exoticism of Madagascar. The island is famous for its lush environment, dream beaches and the charm of its people. It offers very beautiful explorations to tourists from all over the world. You can discover fascinating places where nature dominates. This is the case of the nature reserve of Lokobe, paradise for many species of lemurs, primate endemic to big eyes golden color. In addition to the richness of its species and its landforms, Nosy-be is also an ideal destination for the practice of aquatic activities. It is a real marine sanctuary, prized by divers for its spots of RARISSIME beauty in translucent waters where abundant wildlife and colourful flora abound among wrecks, caves and arches.

WHERE TO GO DIVING IN NOSY BE?

Nosy Tanikely Marine Reserve

A true natural aquarium with its diverse coral reef located in the middle of the Nosy-Be Bay, Nosy Tanikely Marine Reserve, untouched by fishing, attracts novice and experimented divers with the multicolored nuances of its waters and its quantity of marine species. These assets make it a landmark destination, also interesting for snorkeling. The dive is shallow and easy. You will be able to see beautiful corals there in which evolve barracudas and rays eagle. Lovers of small species will be thrilled by the multitude of nudibranchs, ghost fish or leaf fish.

Ark of Sakatia

The Nosy Sakatia Arch offers an experience rich in discoveries for any diver wishing to venture there. On this spot, no industrial pollution comes to deteriorate the underwater life of waters troubled by plankton but which remain clear enough for macro photography. This dive site is mainly composed of rocks that sometimes form small caves where schools of trevallies flock among sublime soft and hard corals.

Mitsio Archipelago

The Mitsio Archipelago, made up of 4 islands with multiple diving possibilities as they are almost all accessible by diving cruise, offers an idyllic setting for any diver worthy of the name. Its isolation gives it unparalleled authenticity and preservation. Lagoons with turquoise waters and majestic beaches of fine sand surround this archipelago of charm and tranquility. The surrounding sites are full of fish and corals that are healthy. You can even meet sharks, barracudas and other big pelagics. A shipwreck lies at the bottom of these waters. This is the Mitso trawler that is home to grouper, parrot fish and scorpionfish.

WHEN IS IT BETTER TO GO FOR DIVING TRIPS TO NOSY BE?

A diving trip is possible all year round in Nosy-be. It can also be a time of essential relaxation. The best diving season is probably from mid-March to mid-December. At the beginning of January, it is the season of bad weather with cyclonic risks. Between September and November, whale sharks are often visible in these waters. If you want to observe Manta rays, we recommend starting from April to mid-July or mid-September to November.

DIVING CONDITIONS

The water temperature in Nosy Be is very pleasant and not very variable. You will swim in water at 28 ° C all year round. Dives are generally between 15 and 30 meters deep.

The visibility is good but can decrease strongly in case of tides of plankton. The advantage for the divers is the arrival of large pelagic related to this abundance of plankton.

The currents are generally variable. They can be weak or strong depending on the location of the diving sites.

Difficulty and level: It also varies according to the diving sites. For beginner divers, the Nosy Tanikely marine reserve is perfect. It is shallow and sheltered from currents. For experienced divers, the dive site at La Grotte des îles de Nattes in Sainte-Marie is the most appropriate. The currents are powerful and attract many species such as sharks or jacks.

WHAT WILL YOU SEE WHILE DIVING IN NOSY BE?

Nosy Be is considered to be one of the most beautiful diving destinations in the Indian Ocean, where "big" and "small" rub shoulders in abundance. Diving cruises can take you to the heart of priceless natural sites where a variety of fauna and flora coexist in a setting of caves, drop-offs or even shipwrecks dating from the post-war period. Nosy-be is also a tourist hotspot location with the wild and lush nature fortunately protected and preserved where proliferate many corals and marine species. It is the favorite playground for jacks, barracudas, sharks and Manta rays. One word can describe this destination: MAGIC!

Info provided by SpotMyDive

WHY DO DIVERS JOIN DAN?

DAN members have a passion for the water, a quest for knowledge and love of community. They love being part of something bigger. You can join nearly 500,000 divers worldwide and experience valuable benefits to make you a safer, smarter diver.

Divers Alert Network (DAN) is the world’s most recognised and respected dive safety organisation comprised of dive professionals and medical experts dedicated to supporting divers. Through research, medical services, educational programs and global response initiatives

For over 20-years, DAN has created an extensive network capable of providing divers around the world with vital services. Everyday divers rely upon DAN for dive safety information and health guidance. They know that in event of emergency, we’ll be there for them - no matter where adventure takes them.

For over 20-years DAN has been helping divers and we will continue to cultivate a culture of dive safety! Join DAN today and be part of the largest dive safety community.

THREE REASONS WHY PEOPLE JOIN DAN?

CALL & ASSIST

Most divers realise that diving is an adventure sport that may result in injuries as such they want the peace of mind that, in case of a diving emergency, there is a 24-hour hotline to call with membership benefits for the medical services they will need.

COST SAVING

DAN membership is not expensive by most standards. Diving medical advice is offered free of charge and is available 24/7/365. Membership benefits are secondary to any primary medical insurance and include diving medical and travel related cover that are also extremely affordable and very competitive. DAN members also have access to discounts on safety and educational materials.

CULTURE OF CARE

Many divers like being part of an organisation that is so obviously committed towards their safety. Apart from being available as a diving emergency and diving-medical-information line, DAN is always actively campaigning for safety, initiating and supporting safety initiatives, and finding practical ways to make diving safer and more enjoyable.

DAN is a very personal organisation. Callers quickly learn that DAN is not an “institution”; it is a living and vibrant organisation. In many ways, DAN members feel that they are becoming part of a “family” who look out for one another “divers helping divers” as we always like to say.

So, many divers just seem to like the idea of being part of something worthwhile and they are willing to give up some of their discretionary income to be a part of it.

That being said, it is also common knowledge that DAN offers top-rated services and has an exceptional network of experienced diving medical professionals. One call to the DAN hotline and divers find themselves talking to a professional diving doctor who “speaks their language”. This is truly something special. With access to so many likeminded people, DAN is able to arrange evacuation by land, sea or sky if required and help injured divers gain access to specialised medical treatment facilities such as recompression chambers.

In a nutshell! DAN members help support a 24-hour hotline. This hotline offers access to specialists trained in diving medicine and is freely available to members with a diving-related query. The DAN hotline can be called 24/7/365 by a member worldwide in the event of a dive emergency. DAN membership subscription contributes towards the 24-hour emergency and information line. The emergency and diving-medical-information line is freely available to DAN members. So members can call for medical advice on any topic to do with diving or ask to be referred to a health professional knowledgeable in diving medicine.

SO WHY JOIN DAN?

When you support DAN, you support the organisation’s ongoing efforts to reduce dive injuries and improve first response and medical treatment. One hundred percent of DAN’s profits are reinvested in research, medical services and programs that make diving safer for all divers. As a diver, you need DAN and DAN needs you.

DAN offers comprehensive plans that provide protection and peace-of-mind in the event of a dive accident for far less than the cost of an unplanned event.

DAN’s dive accident cover plans are recognised worldwide providing secondary coverage of up to R800,000 and paying 100% of eligible expenses.

DAN DIVE COVER VS. MEDICAL INSURANCE

It is true that some medical insurance include cover for diving injuries. However, divers who have tried to go this route soon discover that it is not easy to work with a medical insurance when trying to organise an emergency evacuation for a diving injury. That is simply not the time to discover that your medical insurance is not able to assist you in getting the most appropriate treatment or advice. Their convenient 0800 toll-free number doesn’t work in Zanzibar and even in South Africa, working your way through a multi-prompt menu from a cell phone is not what you need in a crisis. Also, getting documented authorisations takes time and nearly all private emergency service providers now insist on a written Guarantee of Payment (GOP) before responding. That is not surprising given that most aeromedical evacuations in Africa come in at R200 000 or more and even evacuations by ambulance approach R20 000 plus when advanced life support services are involved. Evacuations are costly. Recompression, on the other hand, is not that expensive in Africa. In the rest of the World, it may set you back about R100 000, but in South Africa the cost is usually under R20 000 unless multiple treatments are needed. However, if evacuation and hospitalisation are called for, the costs can be very high.

As a DAN member, all these concerns disappear. One number and you have all the help and cover you need for a diving emergency. The travel and medical benefits are an added bonus, but don’t tear up your medical insurance card just yet. So, should a diver have a medical insurance or be a DAN member? A diver should have both!

WHAT DO YOU RECEIVE WHEN YOU JOIN DAN?

• Medical Dive Accident - Up to R800,000
• Cover Evacuation - Real Expenses
• Assistance International Non-Diving - Up to R800,000
• Cover Personal Liability - Up to R2,000,000
• Depth Limit - 40 meters
• Cover for freedivers & spearfishermen