Madagascar Liveaboards

1 product

  • Gros Plan Gros Plan

    Gros Plan

    Gros Plan

    Liveaboard.com
    £165.00 GBP
    £165.00 GBP

Note: The above “Price Per Day” was correct at the time of producing this article, as was the exchange rate used to convert the GBP cost to US Dollars and Euros. For an up-to-date cost for your chosen liveaboard, please visit the booking page.

Madagascar Liveaboard Discounted Deals

Liveaboard Diving in Madagascar, Remote Reefs, Whale Sharks and Manta Encounters

Wild Indian Ocean adventures for every level of diver, quiet sites, clear water, big animals

Why choose Madagascar for a liveaboard

  • Frontier feel, no crowds. Pristine reefs and calm bays with very few other boats around.
  • Megafauna moments. Whale sharks, mantas, humpbacks, plus a wide range of reef and pelagic sharks.
  • Endemic life and colour. Healthy hard coral, cleaning stations, volcanic rockscapes and superb visibility.
  • Laid back rhythm. Catamaran style trips, relaxed sailing between anchorages, time to swim, snorkel and unwind.
  • Bonus wildlife. Many itineraries include short island visits for lemurs, chameleons and giant baobabs.

Where you will dive

  • Nosy Be, often written Nosy B dive site. The most developed dive hub. Known for frequent whale shark encounters, Manta and Shark Points, small wrecks, dolphins and seasonal humpbacks with calves.
  • Radames Archipelago. Quiet coral reefs and clear lagoons. Regular manta cleaning stops, turtles on calm beaches and long stretches of untouched hard coral.
  • Mitsio Archipelago. Volcanic walls, tunnels and pinnacles. Blue water feel with sharks, manta rays and big schools of pelagic fish. Great visibility and structure for photographers.

A typical liveaboard week

  • One week per archipelago. Most trips visit Nosy Be and either Radames or Mitsio. Expect two or three dives a day, conditions allowing.
  • Relaxed days. Sail to a sheltered bay, dive, eat, rest and repeat. Many boats offer a short land tour or beach stop during the week.
  • Two week option. Do the archipelagos back to back for a deeper look at both regions.

New to liveaboards

  • Simple routine. Briefing, buddy checks, dive. Then meals, naps and sunsets on deck. Up to three or four dives on some days.
  • Less faff. Your kit stays set up. The crew help with fills and logistics so you focus on the water.
  • Matched to your level. Guides choose sites for the day’s conditions and your comfort.

Who this suits

  • Beginners and newly certified divers. Calm bays, warm water and easy entries build confidence fast.
  • Intermediate and experienced divers. Offshore banks, volcanic drop offs and shark cleaning stations keep things exciting.
  • Photographers. Whale sharks, manta rays, humpbacks in season, plus dramatic rock shapes and bright coral.

Conditions and best time to go

  • Main season. May to December is most popular. July and August are cooler and are the high season.
  • Water temperature. Around 26 to 29 °C in the north, cooler end in spring.
  • Whale sharks. Best from October to November around Nosy Be.
  • Humpback whales. July to October, mothers and calves migrate and often breach near the archipelagos.

Getting there and departures

  • Fly to Antananarivo. Routes from Paris, London, Dublin, Frankfurt, Istanbul and several African hubs.
  • Liveaboard departures. Most boats depart from Nosy Be. There are direct flights to Nosy Be from Paris and Nairobi, plus services from the mainland.
  • On the ground. Private taxis and car hire work best for transfers.

Practical tips

  • Language and currency. Malagasy and French are widely spoken. The currency is the Ariary. Some high value items may be priced in euros.
  • Power. Bring European style plug adaptors for charging on board.
  • Spares. Remote islands have few shops. Pack spare o-rings, mask strap, fin strap and any must have kit.
  • Training. Courses on board are common and good value. Madagascar suits all levels.
  • Visas and documents. Most visitors buy a visa on arrival, stays up to about 60 days, fee payable in Ariary. Passport should have at least six months validity. Arrange travel and dive insurance.

Why a Madagascar liveaboard is worth it

  • You will dive reefs few people have seen. Low dive traffic means healthy coral and unhurried briefings.
  • You will meet the headline species. Whale sharks, mantas and seasonal humpbacks, plus varied reef sharks.
  • You will switch off. Warm water, quiet anchorages, stars at night, and a full logbook at the end.

If you want true escape, big animal encounters and bright Indian Ocean reefs, Madagascar liveaboards deliver. It is adventure with comfort, perfect for your first liveaboard and still fresh for seasoned divers.