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Dive Review of Madagascat in
Africa/Nosy Be, Madagascar

Madagascat: "A liveaboard charter in Madagascar", Nov, 2019,

by Malcolm Hunter, ME, US (Reviewer Reviewer 3 reports). Report 11290.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 4 stars Food 5 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling 4 stars
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 5 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments Maki Cat is a motor-catamaran from South Africa based in Nosy Be, Madagascar (Madagascat.co.za) that is available for whole boat charters with a minimum of four and maximum of eight passengers (six divers).
Harriet, the owner, is based in Cape Town, and does a great job at organizing voyages, very responsive to all issues. Stephane, from France, is captain and dive master, and Noel is first mate, and they run a first-class operation with all dives taking place directly from the boat, and a zodiac available for shore excursions. Fred, the cook, prepared the best meals we have had on a dive-boat.
Based on the condition of the coral and the abundance and diversity of fish the quality of the diving was very good, probably “excellent” if the Caribbean is your main frame of reference. Stéphane’s English is certainly adequate but somewhat limiting vis a vis details. For example, every dive site was described as having “beautiful corals and many fishes.” The dive sites were well-distributed so we covered a lot of sea motoring among them, typically with passages of 1 -3 hours given the boat’s speed, about 5 knots. We were a group of 2 divers and 3 snorkelers; our snorkeling friends were very happy with the experience (and we certainly enjoyed our best whale shark encounter) but to me the water seemed a bit too deep for optimal snorkeling.
Madagascar is a long way to travel for divers based in the US and thus it would be best to combine a charter with a week or two enjoying Madagascar’s amazing terrestrial fauna—lemurs, chameleons, and much more on the main island.
Websites Madagascat   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Widely
Closest Airport Nosy Be Getting There We traveled on Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa; there are also direct flights via Milan and Johannesburg

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, dry Seas calm
Water Temp 78-80°F / 26-27°C Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility 30-60 Ft/ 9-18 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions [Unspecified]
Liveaboard? yes Nitrox Available? no

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas None
Dolphins 1 or 2 Whale Sharks 1 or 2
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 4 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 3 stars Large Fish 3 stars
Large Pelagics N/A

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter N/A Boat Facilities N/A
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments We just did some point & shoot photography. Not sure what they would have done to accommodate serious photographers
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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