The climate and seasons (not underwater only)
We said that in Nosy Be there are 345 sunny days per year, but we prefer to be careful because if you have 5 of those 20 days left, it is not just a nice consolation.
In this section we try to help you to choose, with the best knowledge, which is the best period, for you -divers or not divers- to visit us, and especially to be as clear as possible with the confusing information you can find through internet about ‘’ the best period’’ to visit Nosy Be.
Madagascar is crossed by Tropic of Capricorn, so in Nosy be, as a tropical country, there are three main season: the dry season from April to September, the wet season, from October to December, and the rainy season that start in January and finish at the end of march. The transition between one season and the other one is done in stage, and naturally, the total characteristic of a season is reached only in the middle of each main season.
We promise that the sea and the climate are always pleasant (with the exception of rainy season) and every season offers their underwater particular surprises.
Dry season
From April to September. This is the season with the best visibility under the water.
April is a very variable month; depending on how intense was the rain during the previous season, the visibility could be more or less good, but sure the quantity of fish that we could find on the shallows and wrecks in this moment is really impressive.
May is the month of surprises. Don’t expect anything, because you’ll be amazed.
You will have the possibility to see everything: from large filter of plankton (manta rays, mobulas, whale shark, common whale), benches of hug fish, and unexpected meetings. The visibility is good and the water temperature is wonderful.
Starting from June, there are less plankton in the water and therefore less fishes, but it would be a good moment to take good pictures, where to see the most timid creatures and enjoy a water temperature practically perfect, being also a good time for not divers because there are not much visitors in the island. If you desire tranquillity, more interesting prices and a fabulous climate, these is the perfect moment for you.
From the end of July, the big manta rays starting to be seen regularly, and the clear water allows wonderful shots.
But the real particularity of this season and during August, apart from the arrival of lots of tourists, is the arrival of the humpback Whale during their annual migration, for copulating, breeding, and calf feeding.
September is the climax: jumping whales, whales with calfs etc .. In short the festival of whale shark. But specially, not much people with reasonable prices. So if you have the possibility organise your holiday To Nosy Be in September.
The wet season
From October, the sea begins to warm gradually saturated with plankton: the visibility suffers the inevitable consequence, but the big quantity of fish that you see in each dive and the microcosm biodiversity of this burrier (pipefish, leaf fish, each type of nudibranchs, and Spanish dancers, shrimp symbionts , porcelain crabs, frog fish). But HE arrives, the ocean king, THE WHALE SHARK, which starts to frequent the Nosy be sea from the middle of October and remain to the middle of January.
October and November are very interesting months for the underwater world, and therefore in this period lots of divers groups arrived to Nosy Be.
On December and in coincidence with the Christmas holidays, the price rises and the weather starts to be variable. Not always is worth to come in this period, but the possibility to receive from Santa Claus a whale shark , it is a really temptation.
The rainy season
Here in Nosy Be we use to say that on January 6th, everybody stops their holidays, so all tourists leave us alone. In effect, from the middle of January the climate starts to be a surprise. The morning can start with overcast and rain, and then open with a wonderful day at noon ... or start well and opening with temporal at tree o’clock, maybe while you are returning from Iranja..
With this condition is very difficult to program the exit. Also the water starts to get a green tinge.
With February all diving centre are closed for holiday... we start again with calm in the middle of Mach, but we have to wait April to have good conditions...
