Not alike the Ifaty lagoon, it is fringed with a close and young coral reef, and is shallower and smaller, with mostly sandy seabeds and not many different biotopes. It seems less rich than Ranobe's, even if it is undoubtly more beautiful, its sandy bottom and clear water producing shades of sapphire, turquoise, emerald... The reef itself is made of a lot of small coral platforms that emerge at large low tide, dug in furrows and spurs where they face the swell, in canyons where they escape it. Very nice coral coverage in these canyons. Then going off reef, sands, then canyons again or beautiful big coral patches, with quite a few fishes. From 10 meters at the reef foot to 18 on these patches and then 25 further. And after that begins the great show, between 25 and 40 meters : napoleons fish, potato groupers, giant groupers, baracudas, eagle rays, trevallies, giant moray eels and from time to time sharks or manta rays...
All this area is a protected marine area called Soariake, under the authority of WCS.
We are still exploring it, with a lot to be found yet.
South Tsiandamba - 22m
In between the Tsiandamba pass and Alohaloha, great site for a second dive, especially after Alohaloha. Two underwater hills covered with coral at 100%, so many species of fish, turtles, and water as clear as cristal...
Anjokozoko - 23m
Right north of the Salary south pass outside the lagoon, between 23 and 15 meters deep. Mariann, a norwegian woman who found it out whith us, named it Walhall, that is the Vikings paradise. Well, at least for one dive, Mariann believed in heaven. This is a reef big enough for many different dives, with deep and narrow canyons, some of them closed, caves, where live thousands of small fishes. An infinity of caves to be explored. Magnificent coral.
Walhall in pictures
Centre - 30m
In front of Tsiandamba, splendid coral and intense life. Lack of big fish
South Tsiandamba - 27m
On the sand, at 27 meters, deux small rocky patches with shabby coral, a bigger norther, you think it is going to be a boring one. And then, madly scratching on the sand, two big snappers, three, lowfin rudderfishes, dizains, hundreds, trevallies joining the dance, bigeye, yellow-doted, and even one or more giant trevallies. You are caught in a magnificent sarabande, spiral from bottom to surface, while in your back are patroling pickhandle barracudas, Syphraena jello. Sometimes big tunas around. Once, a big black marlin came and revolve around us...
Alohaloha in pictures
Centre - 10m
Right in front of the 'Un Peu Plus Au Nord' and 'Five Senses' hotels, on the reef, external, first range of canyons. Very good for a first try, a refresh, or a dive devoted to fire coral for instance, but impractcable as soon as the swell get bigger..
Anjokozoko - 12m
In the Anjokozoko pass, in the lagoon, a swimming pool on white sand, shallow, then a smooth slide to twelve meters leads to a wonderful coral garden. When no current, it's a great place for first dive or refresh, or just to see beautiful things. Baracudas, trevallies...
Salary - 28m
Life, life and life! Napoleons fish, Potato groupers, eagle rays, leopard sharks and everything else!
South Tsiandamba - 22m
Magnificent coral fields south of the Tsiandamba pass. Probably more to be found around...
South Tsiandamba - 30m
A long underwater hill south of Tsiandamba, coral and a lot of various life