Balala Diving - Nosy Be

Balala isn’t a deep dive, but it’s one of those spots we love for its sheer density of unusual critters. We often spend a whole hour just in the first ten metres. The topography is a mix of coral bommies and rubble patches, which is exactly what the macro life here seems to prefer. You’ll want to move slowly, really slowly, because the star of the show often blends right in. We’ve found multiple Snakehead Cowries tucked into crevices, their mantles a marvel of camouflage. Keep your eyes peeled for the Indo-Pacific Hairy Hermit Crab scuttling amongst the debris, it’s a bizarre-looking little thing. This site also delivers on nudibranchs, though they’re not in the data, we’ve found some beauties here. The corals, like the Bottleneck Sea Cucumber and Starflower, add texture to the landscape, creating little hideouts. Balala is perfect for photographers, especially those with a macro lens. It’s also our pick for a second dive of the day when you want to unwind and just hunt for the small stuff.

Location

Nosy Be, Madagascar, Indian Ocean & East Africa

Coordinates

-13.598744, 47.818413

Marine Protected Area: Nosy Antsoha