Madagascar Sainte Marie Dive Packages:

We offer 6 or 10 dive packages together with the accommodation of your choice. It is preferred if you bring your own dive equipment however if you do not have any, Il Balenottero will provide equipment free of charge. For the dives to the north it will be possible for Il Balenottero to pick you up from your hotel. In some cases you will be asked to meet the diving team in Ambodifatotra (main town of Sainte Marie) and costs for the transfer from the hotel to town and back will be for your own expense.

A highlight of anybody’s trip to Sainte Marie will be the excursions with Il Balenottero. A marine facility offering whale watching tours in their own yacht as well as scuba diving under the supervision of charming Massimiliano “Max”. The diving is both spectacular and varied with many different dive sites available including ship wreck dives. The meals which follow the dives in different restaurants on the island are fantastic! (At your own cost). Diving off the northern most tip of the island will take you for lunch at Cocoteraie Robert, which most certainly qualifies for the restaurant at “the end of the universe”.

Please note:
As Madagascar does not have a decompression chamber, please ensure that you have comprehensive dive insurance (DAN).
Dives that are cancelled or not completed by the clients are non refundable.

Dive Sites:

The South - Ile Aux Nattes:

La Pagode, an accessible, large coral formation that drops to 12m and allows for an easy dive. You may see rays, lobster, moray eels, turtles, trumpet fish and many coral species. The pagoda coral is a unique feature of this dive.
The wreck that is situated not far off the coral reef is at 12m. You can easily penetrate the wreckage and the propeller provides some fun photo opportunities. The wreck is home to the bigger wreck species.
Shark Pass is an 8m dive that is only done at high tide. Strong current flows along a small canyon and you can see small grey shark, surgeon and parrot fish.

West Coast - La Crique:
Coco Bay an easy 25m deep dive down a granite stone slope. This dive has a variety of coral formations as well as orange and pink sea fans, pelagic fish like barracuda and tunnie and the usual coral fish abound like surgeon fish, rock cod and gobies. There is also the chance of encountering a turtles. A special feature of this dive is the black coral.
The wreck dive is a challenging deep dive to 40m, but the sight of the huge pelagics makes this a very rewarding dive.
Paroi des Merous drops to 40m is a site for experienced divers only and offers some exciting diving. You can see big groupers called Merou, potato bass, kingfish, barracuda, snapper and the usual coral fish. This is also a good site for nudibranches, porcelain shells and turtles. This dive site often had current and only advanced divers will be allowed to dive here.

The North - La Cocoteraie:
Anivorano Rocks offers diving on granitic rocks with barracuda to 20m on this dive you may be lucky enough to see the Napoleon Wrasse. The strong current allows for an easy drift dive.
The wreck of a Reunion cable boat is an easy dive at 15m providing magnificent photo opportunities – stonefish, crocodile fish, lionfish, puffer fish, octopus, lobster and the usual colourful reef fish keep you entranced.
Cape Alebrand on the island’s North Cape, has a sandy sea bottom with granite rocks it drops to 20m. It is a beautiful dive, and there is the opportunity to see grey shark, black tip sharks, rays and barracuda as well as eagle rays.

The East
Ile Aux Sable: This is a sandy islet off the east coast which has 3 good diving spots that range from 15 – 25 metres. The fish species that can be seen are: little black and white tip shark, groupers, lobster, kingfish, tuna, stingrays, pipefish and traveller fish. Turtles are also often sighted here and the coral gardens abound with the usual coral fish.
Ile Aux Baleines (Island of the Whales): The same type of diving as at Ile Aux Sable, but a lot wilder and unexplored.

Humpback whales migrate past the island from July to October. Contact us for our whale excursion itineraries.
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Itinerary: 7 nights
DAY 1: Fly to Antananarivo (Tana), the lively Malagasy capital in the Central Highlands. On arrival you will be met by our agents and transferred to the Relais des Plateaux. (B&B)
DAY 2: Transfer to the airport and fly to Sainte Marie Island. A representative of the hotel will meet you on arrival. Transfer to the hotel of your choice where you will be staying for 6 nights. 6 dives included.

DAY 8: Transfer to the airport and fly back to Antananarivo. Make your way to the international departure lounge and check in for your flight to Johannesburg

International (ex Johannesburg) and internal Malagasy flights, all accommodation and meals as indicated, 6 dives and all airport-hotel transfers

Prices Do Not include:
Meals not indicated, drinks, tips to guides, porters etc., any personal expenses, travel insurance, internet access, airport taxes and visa fees.

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Below is an approximate prices per person sharing (October 2007):

Le Galion **
US$ 1283 Euro 988 ZAR 8322 & 1092 airport taxes (Guesthouse, bed and breakfast)
Le Galion is a small guesthouse situated on the lagoon of Ambodifatotra Bay. The guesthouse is the newest addition to the Il Balenottero Diving Centre and is the perfect place for divers as it is only a 5 minute drive the Dive Centre.

The double story Malagasy house has 4 bedrooms (3 double, 1 twin room). All bedrooms are on the second floor with large windows and stunning views of the lagoon and surrounding. Downstairs is a spacious lounge with doors opening on to a breakfast terrace with a hammock and lush gardens. There is also a separate bungalow with one big double bed and an extra single bed for clients wanting to share. The rooms and bungalow do not have ensuite bathrooms. Two toilets and a bathroom with a hot shower are in the main house. Breakfast is included in the rates and for dinner we recommend the Malagasy restaurant a couple of steps away from Le Galion.

La Crique **
US$ 1371 Euro 1056 ZAR 8889 & 1092 airport taxes (Standard Room, bed and breakfast)
A small rustic hotel situated on the west coast of Ile Sainte Marie (one hour’s drive north of the airport). Situated in a picturesque bay surrounded by rocks and corals and perfect for snorkelling, La Crique has 11 traditional bungalows nestling in the magnificent gardens and offering perfect vistas of the sea.

9 of the bungalows have en suite facilities ensuite (WC and shower). The standard bungalows sleep 2 people and the family bungalow has two rooms (the second room is tiny with two bunk beds for small children only). The studio has two bedrooms and the second bedroom can be used as a triple sharing room. Please note that we do not offer the rooms that do not have private bathrooms.

The restaurant offers basic Malagasy cuisine and the breakfasts are continental (French bread, jam and butter). All meals need to be ordered in advance.

Please note: The generator is switched off from 22h00 to 07h00.
 

Masoandro Lodge ***
US$ 2125 Euro 1636 ZAR 13824 & 1092 airport taxes (Comfort Bungalow, dinner, bed and breakfast)
A short transfer from the airport by traditional oxcart (cars are available for the less adventurous!) The hotel offers an excellent restaurant specialising in seafood and French cuisine. The bungalows are tastefully decorated and spacious with private bathrooms.

There are 6 deluxe bungalows (55 m2) that have a fan and air conditioning and accommodate up to 4 people (one large, suspended double bed, 2 single beds in a mezzanine). The 9 comfort bungalows (35 m2) are for one couple and only have a fan.

All rooms have a safe and private veranda. Facilities include a bar and private dive centre. Whale safaris are offered by boat. Scientists studying whales stay at Princesse Bora during the whale season and offer guests a chance to participate in their research, which can be a thrilling highlight contrasting a relaxing holiday. Swimming in the sea only possible at high tide but there is a magnificent rim flow pool to relax in.

Minimum stay throughout the year is 3 days.
From 06JUL to 30 SEP 2007 our rates include two free whale expeditions per person per stay.

Specials:
January & February 2007 special low season prices for dives