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Explore Diana

The DIANA region of Madagascar, encompassing Diego, Antsohihy, Nosy Be, and Ambanja, offers an unparalleled diving experience for enthusiasts seeking vibrant marine life and diverse underwater landscapes. Situated in the northwest, this area is a hub for adventure with its volcanic-based topography creating unique diving environments. Nosy Be, a highlight of DIANA, boasts three distinct diving areas, each presenting a captivating array of underwater plateaus, colorful coral formations, and intriguing wrecks.

Diving in this region is more than just an exploration of beautiful seascapes; it’s a journey through deep canyons and subterranean arches that showcase the extensive biodiversity native to Madagascar. Divers are treated to thrilling encounters with exotic species, including golden-eyed lemurs' marine counterparts. From July to October, humpback whales grace the waters, while whale sharks make their appearance from September to November, and hammerheads thrill divers in December and January. These seasonal spectacles, combined with the region's distinct underwater architecture, make DIANA an irresistible destination for those seeking both adventure and tranquility beneath the waves.

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Diving in Diana

Diana boasts some of the best dive sites, attracting divers with its diverse underwater attractions. Notable wreck dives include the "Three Brothers," where coral-covered remnants of old ships offer a glimpse into history amidst colorful marine life. Popular shore dives are easily accessible, such as the Nosy Be area, famed for its vibrant reefs and the chance to witness fascinating marine behaviors, like the captivating dance of manta rays.

For night dive enthusiasts, the region offers mesmerizing experiences, revealing nocturnal creatures and bioluminescent displays. Whether you prefer the convenience of shore diving or the adventure of liveaboard trips, Diana provides a balanced array of options. Liveaboards allow divers to explore remote locations, ensuring diverse and unforgettable underwater encounters that cater to both novice and experienced divers alike.

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The best Months to Dive in Diana

Diana, Madagascar, offers diverse diving conditions year-round with varying seasonal influences. From November to April, water temperatures range from 28°C to 30°C/82°F to 86°F, providing warm and comfortable diving environments. During this period, visibility remains moderate but can be reduced due to seasonal rains.

May through October marks the dry season, where water temperatures drop slightly to 25°C to 27°C/77°F to 81°F, and visibility typically improves, often exceeding 20 meters/66 feet. Winds and currents are generally mild, but stronger trade winds may occur in August and September, potentially affecting surface conditions. Diving is possible throughout the year, though planning around the rainy season may enhance the overall experience.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Diana

Diana, located in the north of Madagascar, is a haven for marine biodiversity, particularly around Nosy Be and its surrounding islands. The coral reefs are teeming with common reef fish, such as butterflyfish and angelfish, providing a colorful spectacle for divers year-round.

Seasonal highlights include sightings of whale sharks from October to December, making this period ideal for encountering these gentle giants. Green and hawksbill turtles are also frequently spotted, especially near nesting sites during the warmer months. Manta rays can sometimes be seen gliding through the waters from May to November, offering an unforgettable experience for those diving in these pristine waters.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

Green Turtle

Green Turtle

682 Sightings
J
38
F
2
M
5
A
23
M
23
J
8
J
83
A
109
S
84
O
118
N
103
D
86

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 200

Moray Eel

Moray Eel

543 Sightings
J
17
F
0
M
3
A
7
M
4
J
33
J
88
A
82
S
89
O
111
N
57
D
52
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle

520 Sightings
J
18
F
1
M
3
A
43
M
21
J
17
J
67
A
68
S
62
O
76
N
98
D
46

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 27

Barracuda

Barracuda

196 Sightings
J
19
F
2
M
0
A
0
M
7
J
1
J
7
A
17
S
37
O
54
N
23
D
29

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 300

Octopus

Octopus

80 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
1
A
0
M
1
J
2
J
9
A
5
S
18
O
6
N
33
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 600

Wrasse

Wrasse

72 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
2
J
12
J
11
A
7
S
14
O
18
N
0
D
6

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

Stingrays

Stingrays

1.1k Sightings
J
7
F
3
M
4
A
76
M
80
J
39
J
125
A
155
S
119
O
168
N
173
D
114

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Angelfish

Angelfish

946 Sightings
J
11
F
1
M
4
A
70
M
44
J
55
J
109
A
141
S
138
O
189
N
105
D
79

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Butterfly Fish

Butterfly Fish

844 Sightings
J
14
F
3
M
10
A
47
M
29
J
43
J
114
A
126
S
122
O
170
N
85
D
81

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 100

Parrotfish

Parrotfish

792 Sightings
J
20
F
3
M
3
A
37
M
28
J
38
J
79
A
112
S
97
O
199
N
96
D
80

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 28

Clownfish

Clownfish

781 Sightings
J
12
F
6
M
5
A
49
M
31
J
51
J
110
A
75
S
110
O
169
N
84
D
79

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 8

Bannerfish

Bannerfish

636 Sightings
J
7
F
1
M
0
A
32
M
27
J
46
J
74
A
108
S
73
O
144
N
72
D
52

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Grouper/Basslets

Grouper/Basslets

597 Sightings
J
20
F
1
M
0
A
30
M
24
J
18
J
37
A
63
S
78
O
145
N
118
D
63

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Pufferfish

Pufferfish

549 Sightings
J
10
F
2
M
4
A
14
M
24
J
21
J
73
A
101
S
45
O
130
N
75
D
50

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3000

Nudibranch

Nudibranch

545 Sightings
J
6
F
1
M
4
A
14
M
6
J
10
J
34
A
88
S
69
O
147
N
132
D
34

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 12

Lionfish

Lionfish

522 Sightings
J
9
F
0
M
3
A
12
M
8
J
56
J
97
A
94
S
53
O
95
N
55
D
40

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Triggerfish

Triggerfish

483 Sightings
J
18
F
0
M
3
A
42
M
16
J
7
J
44
A
66
S
54
O
116
N
68
D
49

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 85

Surgeonfish

Surgeonfish

419 Sightings
J
10
F
0
M
0
A
15
M
7
J
30
J
55
A
64
S
38
O
85
N
62
D
53

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

Sweetlips and Grunts

341 Sightings
J
5
F
1
M
0
A
18
M
6
J
36
J
25
A
49
S
27
O
69
N
62
D
43

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

Boxfish

Boxfish

336 Sightings
J
9
F
0
M
3
A
13
M
8
J
18
J
51
A
38
S
30
O
111
N
31
D
24

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 350

Damselfish

Damselfish

283 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
0
A
16
M
2
J
16
J
50
A
57
S
32
O
56
N
30
D
23
Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark

251 Sightings
J
9
F
7
M
10
A
8
M
5
J
7
J
36
A
32
S
34
O
41
N
14
D
48
Silvertip Shark

Silvertip Shark

245 Sightings
J
5
F
4
M
0
A
16
M
6
J
5
J
34
A
36
S
51
O
33
N
47
D
8

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Jackfish

Jackfish

233 Sightings
J
10
F
2
M
0
A
33
M
10
J
11
J
20
A
11
S
30
O
51
N
17
D
38

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Trumpetfish

Trumpetfish

210 Sightings
J
12
F
0
M
0
A
9
M
7
J
20
J
33
A
18
S
27
O
49
N
29
D
6

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Goatfish

Goatfish

196 Sightings
J
3
F
0
M
3
A
14
M
12
J
12
J
5
A
39
S
28
O
59
N
0
D
21

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Scorpionfish

Scorpionfish

178 Sightings
J
6
F
0
M
0
A
7
M
8
J
10
J
12
A
14
S
41
O
29
N
34
D
17

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Soldierfish

Soldierfish

174 Sightings
J
15
F
0
M
0
A
6
M
4
J
1
J
10
A
41
S
16
O
54
N
0
D
27

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 20

Guitarfish

Guitarfish

155 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
24
J
32
A
27
S
24
O
23
N
25
D
0
Grey Reef Shark

Grey Reef Shark

138 Sightings
J
4
F
5
M
0
A
0
M
7
J
7
J
25
A
19
S
13
O
28
N
17
D
13

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Spiny Lobster

Spiny Lobster

103 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
1
A
1
M
0
J
0
J
24
A
3
S
23
O
17
N
29
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 110

Snapper

Snapper

90 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
2
A
0
M
0
J
12
J
0
A
12
S
23
O
22
N
2
D
17

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 7000

Crab

Crab

83 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
2
J
0
A
12
S
21
O
26
N
17
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3400

Shrimp

Shrimp

82 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
0
A
1
M
0
J
0
J
4
A
11
S
18
O
16
N
24
D
6

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 30

Stonefish

Stonefish

77 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
9
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
8
S
24
O
27
N
2
D
7

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Cornetfish

Cornetfish

64 Sightings
J
6
F
0
M
0
A
10
M
0
J
2
J
3
A
1
S
3
O
0
N
22
D
17

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 55

Lobster

Lobster

56 Sightings
J
13
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
6
J
14
A
0
S
1
O
8
N
2
D
12

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Electric Ray

Electric Ray

53 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
53
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 50

Frogfish

Frogfish

47 Sightings
J
6
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
9
S
0
O
20
N
0
D
12

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Squirrelfish

Squirrelfish

43 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
0
A
1
M
4
J
0
J
5
A
20
S
3
O
5
N
0
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

Emperor

Emperor

34 Sightings
J
6
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
14
S
0
O
2
N
11
D
1
Blacktip Reef Shark

Blacktip Reef Shark

27 Sightings
J
3
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
4
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
6
O
0
N
6
D
8

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