Safe from sharks, the lagoon of Sainte Marie Island is endowed with important coralline constructions. Its under water fauna and flora constitute a preserved natural heritage and a first-class diving site in the Indian ocean. At some knots far from big marine mammals (dolphins, humpback whales, dugongs…), in the bottom of a great diversity of intact coral gardens, numerous species of tropical fishes mix with sea turtles. To crown it all, the pirate history of Sainte Marie had covered the seafloors of ships, and some experienced treasure hunters regularly make discoveries worthy of adventure's novels.

A mask and a tuba are enough to contemplate the various coralline landscapes of the lagoon of Sainte-Marie. Protected by a creek, the under water gardens of the Masoandro Lodge are especially magnificent. The amateurs will also be able to initiate and/or to devote with a qualified supervision to scuba diving or to competitive harpooning.

From the first diving to the 30-meters levels, we organise divings supervised by professional divers (PADI, CMAS) on these sites.

Diving sites

Coco Bay A big granite rock covered by black coral is immersed not far from the Masoandro Lodge hotel. This site is a place appropriated to practise to the decompression’s procedure. Depth: 27 m Difficulty level: Easy Fauna: Turtles, “surgeons” fishes, pink and orange gorgonias Quality:		The grotto's passage At high tide, with a strong current, a cave allows the passage through a reef. This scuba diving requires an advanced level. Depth: 8 m Difficulty level: Difficult Fauna: Poissons pélagiques, thons, mérous, tortues, poissons chirurgiens, poissons perroquets Quality:

Diving from the Albrand tip At the north of Sainte Marie, near The Cocoteraie hotel, rocks of granite are scattered on the sand. As these funds are far from the most frequented circuits, they kept a wild character, appreciated by the amateurs. Depth: 20 m Difficulty level: Easy Fauna: Sea Eagles, groupers, skates, black “pointe”, barracudas, caranges”, “napoléon » fishes Quality:		Small coral garden Various corals grow on a little rock not very deep at few breaststrokes from the Masoandro Lodge hotel, the place is ideal to progressively start learning scuba diving. Depth: 11 m Difficulty level: Very easy Fauna: Groupers, reef fishes, “surgeon” fishes, multiple corals, shellfishes Quality:

Sand Islands An atoll of islets offers various diving journeys during the quiet season. The “Ilots aux sables” can constitute a one-day excursion combining diving and idleness on these pretty deserted islands. Depth: 25 m Difficulty level: Easy Fauna: Sea Eagles, coralline fishes, “caranges”, barracudas, sea turtles Quality:		Cocoteraie’s wreck The magnificent wreck of a 55-meter boat, in which you can come into, lies at few meters from the Cocoteraie terrace. Depth: 15 m Difficulty level: Très Easy Fauna: Lobsters, skates, “fusiliers”, soft corals, big groupers, lions fishes, crocodiles fishes, shellfishes… Quality:

The Mai's wreck A made of wood 7-meters boat, has been flowed depthly. Around, life has gradually taken place. This diving is close to the Napoléon hotel. Depth: up to 30 m Difficulty level: Easy Fauna: Groupers, tunas, skates, red snappers, « fusiliers » Quality:		Soanambo's reef A reef of the very sought black coral stretches in depth at about two miles from the coast. Depth: 28 m Difficulty level: Easy Fauna: Sea Eagles, crocodile fishes, skates, “caranges”, morays, big shellfishes, vases of sponges Quality:

Leopard's wreck Under a strong current, the carcass of an 8 meters boat shelters a big fish. Depth: 34 m Difficulty level: Difficult Fauna: Groupers, tunas, skates, red snappers, dolphins Quality:		Pagodas Unusual coralline formations evoke some pagodas. Depth: 12 m Difficulty level: Easy Fauna: Skates, groupers, morays, lobsters, sea turtles Quality:

The groupers wall Caressed by marine currents, a deep wall is the place of dwelling of gigantic groupers, as in a natural under water building. Depth: 40 m Difficulty level: Difficult Fauna: Big groupers, barracudas, “caranges", coralline fishes, nudibrancs, shellfishes Quality: