Tanikely Marine Reserve

Are you an under the sea adventurer? Do you have an inner mermaid/men waiting to swim with the marine wildlife? Snorkelling in Madagascar can be your next calling this year. Spending your day underwater is the most relaxing and revitalising activity, plus you can experience the magical wonders off the coast of the Indian Ocean being entranced by the mysterious wonders of the sea.

Welcome to the world of snorkelling in Madagascar

Madagascar Island Safaris  offers tailor-made underwater experiences to create that perfect island dream come true.

Just a 45-minute boat ride from Nosy Be, you will arrive at spectacular dive and snorkelling sites in the Indian Ocean. The well-known Tanikely Marine Reserve is just off the small Nosy Tanikely Island, which is ideal for all types of snorkelling or diving experiences and caters for beginners as well as advanced divers. The ocean bed will spoil you with over 400 types of corals with plenty of variations of fish and macro species.

Nosy Tanikely, south of Nosy Be, is the best site to get your ‘scuba on’ with an average depth of 12 metres and has a maximum depth of 18 metres. The water visibility is between 10 to 30 metres deep all year long and the temperature ranges from 25 to 30 degrees Celsius or 77 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit.

When is the best time to go snorkelling in Madagascar?

In the month of December, it is considered to be summer and very hot, while during June and July it becomes ‘cooler’ which makes it the perfect time for snorkelling. After you get your snorkelling gear on and psyched-up for the plunge into the clear water, you will be welcomed by the colourful corals, starfish, anemones and small fishes setting the perfect ocean scene for pictures. The sea turtles are easily spotted and if you are really slow you may even spot a Seahorse having breakfast. At the barrier reef, a school of the Two-spot Snapper and other species of Snappers will be dancing around dazzling you with their talents but watch out for those Scorpionfish and Sweetlips. If you dare to swim with the majestic sea-beasts, come to the island during late August until early December when the whale migration season of Humpback whales and whale sharks are almost seen on a daily basis.

Ocean rules

These rules are more guidelines to protect the Madagascar environment and yourself.

• Be kind to the environment and its inhabitants.
• Never go snorkelling alone, bring a friend.
• Do not go snorkelling near currents.
• Never harm or remove any marine life.
• Beware of your fins and where you stand.
• Breathe slowly and be gentle while gliding through the water.

If all this information does not motivate you to book your holiday now, watch the video to the end and be mesmerised by the giants of the ocean.