Nosy Be · Madagascar · Reef
South Canyon
Leopard, grey and whitetip sharks on a hand-shaped reef
Area photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0
South Canyon is a reef shaped like a hand, 7 km past Nosy Iranja and close to the Mozambique Channel. Strong current runs over it and the dive reaches 26 m, and divers make the long trip from Nosy Be for its sharks and plentiful fish.
Also known as Tombant Sud Canyon, South Canyon Drop-off.
Where it is and how deep
13.6300° S, 47.7276° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The reef spreads out in the shape of a hand and reaches a maximum of 26 m; the current across it is expected to be strong. Sharks are easy to spot here: leopard sharks, grey sharks and whitetips, among plenty of reef fish. When the visibility is good the site is at its best.
Marine life and season
- Reef sharks
- Reef fish swarms
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Off-season | Off-season | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Good |
Season follows Nosy Be: Cyclone season (Jan-Mar) shuts down most diving; whale sharks aggregate Oct-Dec and humpback whales pass offshore during the austral winter.
Know before you go
- Strong current is expected on this reef near the Mozambique Channel.
Dive videos
REQUIN LEOPARD avec Scuba Nosy Be , Nosy be , Madagascar. · scuba nosy be on YouTube
Questions divers ask
How early do boats leave Nosy Be for South Canyon?+
Boats set off by 7.30 am at the latest, because South Canyon lies 7 km past Nosy Iranja, a long way from Nosy Be.
Sources
- South Canyon Madagascar — ScubaGo
- Dive sites in the Nosy Iranja area — Scuba Nosy Be
More dive sites in Nosy Be
Reef
Coral plateau with fusilier shoals, turtles and passing grey sharks
Seamount
A 500 m dome where grey reef and leopard sharks patrol the slopes
Wall
Sheer walls where barracuda, mobulas and whitetips pass
Wall
A deep drop-off off Nosy Iranja with a fair chance of big fish
Wall
A tunnel and arches cut through a gorgonian wall below 30 m
Reef
A long soft-coral reef thick with reef fish, kept for the third dive
Pinnacle
Two rock peaks breaking the surface, cut through with arches and caves
Artificial reef
A scuttled trawler at 28.5 m off Nosy Sakatia
Similar dives elsewhere
A banana-shaped reef dived from the surface to 30 m
A canyon cut diagonally through the middle of a channel reef
Deep crevices at 16 to 30 m with hammerheads on the drop-off
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One of the few places whale sharks stay all year