Scuba Nosy Be

Located in Nosy Be, Madagascar, Scuba Nosy Be has been operating for two decades, building a deep understanding of the local marine environment. The centre serves as a hub for both recreational divers and professional candidates, offering training across multiple major agencies including SSI, PADI, and CMAS.

The operation is designed around small-group exploration, utilising a fleet of four boats to reach various sites throughout the bay and the Radama archipelago. This allows for diverse daily itineraries, whether you are looking for shallow reef flats or deeper offshore walls.

The centre functions as a professional instructor training facility, holding affiliations with SSI, PADI, CMAS, FFESSM, IANTD, and SDI. This high level of accreditation means the team is equipped to handle everything from basic certifications to advanced instructor training (IDC).

A team of three instructors manages the daily operations, maintaining a strict ratio of a maximum of four divers per guide. This ensures that instruction and dive supervision remain focused and safe for every diver in the group.

Communication is straightforward for international divers, as the team is proficient in English, French, Italian, and Polish. For those staying longer, the centre offers free accommodation in single rooms or dormitories, subject to availability, when booking two dives per day online.

The training programme is extensive, catering to all levels of experience. You can begin with basic certifications and progress through to advanced levels, including specialized training such as the PADI Advanced Recreational Trimix course and Tec Sidemount.

For those pursuing a professional career, the centre is an Instructor Training Centre (IDC) offering various instructor-level paths. Technical divers can also access training in hypoxic Trimix and crossover courses through their SSI, PADI, and CMAS affiliations.

The centre operates four small boats, which provide the flexibility to visit different destinations each day. These vessels allow the team to navigate between the local reefs of Nosy Be and the more remote sites in the Radama area.

Technical diving support is available on the water, with Nitrox and Trimix gases accessible for those on deeper or extended profiles. The fleet is used for everything from standard day trips to specialised 'croisières-bivouacs' (liveaboard-style excursions) to areas such as Mitsio, Nosy Saba, and Nosy Lava.

The centre maintains a high standard of kit, with BCDs, regulators, and wetsuits replaced every two years to ensure reliability. Full equipment hire is available on-site, including sizes suitable for children.

For gas blending and air quality, the compressors are replaced every four years. Nitrox is available for use in both 12-litre and 15-litre cylinders. Safety is supported by the proximity of a hyperbaric chamber, located less than three kilometres from the centre.

The marine life in the region is defined by its diversity, from large pelagics to intricate reef residents. You can expect to encounter various sharks, including whitetip reef sharks, blacktip reef sharks, grey reef sharks, and leopard sharks. During specific windows, you may also see hammerhead sharks in December, January, and early March, or whale sharks between mid-September and mid-December.

Large species are frequently seen on the deeper walls and offshore banks. Manta rays (Mobula alfredi) and mobula rays are present, particularly between August and December, while humpback whales can be observed from the boat between August and October. You may also encounter various rays, such as eagle rays, leopard eagle rays, and blue-spotted stingrays.

The reefs are heavily populated by schooling fish, including jacks (Carangidae), barracudas (Sphyraena barracuda), tuna (Thunnus), and fusiliers (Caesio). Humphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon) and various snapper species are also common sights among the coral structures.

For those interested in macro life, the area holds many treasures. Look for nudibranchs (Chromodoris willani), seahorses (Hippocampus kuda), and various species of scorpionfish (Scorpaenidae), including leaf scorpionfish. Other notable residents include frogfish (Antennarius), stonefish (Synanceia), and crocodilefish.

The best time to dive in the region is between April and November. During the months of January to March, the area is in its rainy season and carries a risk of cyclones, which may affect diving schedules.

Sea temperatures typically range between 26 and 29 degrees Celsius. The availability of certain large species is seasonal, such as humpback whales from August to October and whale sharks from mid-September to mid-December.