Tags
beaches, coral, Diving, fishing, Iles Mitseo, Madagascar, sailing
This group of Islands is 55 miles north of Nosy Be, they are only accessible by boat, which save them from being badly spoilt by the tourist trade. Some are little more than large rocks, like the quatres freres (four brothers) which have great bird life, and are safe for nesting birds, as people cannot get up the steep sides, and have super diving round the base in fantastic clean warm water, with coral forested sheer rock walls and unbelievable fish life.
Tsarabanjina is probably the most beautiful of the islands, with beautiful beaches, clear water and coral. I had an underwear changing moment here, training the owner on a delivery, I let him choose the place to anchor, which he did, in the bay but near the shore. He was under the false premise that if you have a catamaran you can anchor close in.
http://madagascaryachtcharters.oisafrica.com/en/page/nosy-tsarabanjin.php
Better photos on this site, you can see the anchorage and the coral heads.
This is true if you know you are in a place where the weather is calm and the wind will not suddenly change and put you on a lee shore among all the coral heads.
I let him choose against my better judgement as he had to learn the consequences of his choices as skipper.
Madagascar narrows at the top and this means that the SE Trades can blow right across the Island under certain conditions.
That night the SE blew through at it usual 20 to 30 knots, putting us on a lee shore. It was a sleepless night as a torch showed us far too close to a coral head. The catamaran also had outboards and not in boards, they are far too ineffectual and unreliable for serious situations like this.
Eventually dawn broke, and we scarpered, not without an interesting moment as the trip line fouled round a coral head, as I dived in the water to free it, it broke, I yelled at the owner to get out of there and swam as fast as I could, caught the moving yacht and was hauled on board. Lesson learned by all.
Many yachts have been wrecked in the Mitseos as they have not understood the wind change, we, by the grace of God escaped.
The largest island in the group is Isle Mitseo itself, and the SW headland has an organpipe rock formation, the bay on the West side is sheltered but not all that pretty.
the island at the mouth of the bay, Nosy Ankarea, answers the tropical island image.
Paul was in his element, the fishing is good.
The diving and snorkeling are excellent.
We anchored of Nosy Lava (another one, there are quite a few by this name on the west coast), and spend some happy times on the beach, it is two islands joined together with a lovely sandy beach, no one else in sight, good snorkeling and a pleasant anchorage.
Madagascar is well worth the visit, and as one can charter a yacht, it is possibly one of the best holidays one could have if you like out-of-the-way places, interesting scenery, good diving and fishing, good seafood and a great holiday.