Southern Madagascar - Madagascar - page 153

Getting There and Away
Tuléar is the hub of the Great Reef. North of Tuléar, there is no public transportation after
Mangily.With the exception ofprivate planes, the northern hotels are all reached byprivate
4WD. Transfers can be arranged, but are expensive. Sometimes the more northern hotels
are better reached by driving south from Morombé, but there is only irregular service there
from Air Madagascar.
South of Tuléar, there are boat transfers to Anakao, which is a quick and wonderful way
to arrive, but south of Anakao you need a private 4WD again, or lots of time. At the time
of research a ferry service was due to begin soon across the Onilahy River south of Tuléar.
It will shave a day's drive off a road trip to Anakao, making the rest of the southern reef
much easier to reach.
SNORKELLING THE GREAT REEF
The Great Reef is a prime snorkelling ground. However, human proximity has
taken its toll, meaning that some sections of the reef are in better shape than oth-
ers. Using information on coral health and fish populations supplied by local
marine conservation NGO Blue Ventures ( Click here ) we've graded the quality
of the reef from 1 (low) to 10 (high).
Andavadoaka (grade 7) Some nice small bommies (shallow, isolated patches of
reef) can be reached from the shore. Slightly deeper reefs are a short pirogue
(dugout canoe) trip from the village. Longer pirogue trips reach shallow sites off
the island of Nosy Hao.
Salary (grade 6) Good sites are really too deep to snorkel but there are some
small bommies inshore.
Ifaty/Mangily (grade 6) Snorkelling can be done by pirogue in the Rose Garden
Marine Reserve (for a fee).
Ambondralava/Beravy Good sites are really too deep to snorkel but there are
some small bommies inshore.
Tuléar (grade 4) Reef can be shallow but requires a short pirogue/boat trip.
Anakao/Nosy Ve (grade 5) Snorkelling in the marine reserve off the northern tip
of the island (for a fee).
Beheloka (grade 6) Good sites are further offshore and need to be reached by a
pirogue trip from the village.
Ambola (grade 6) Most sites can be reached by a pirogue trip from the village.
Itampolo (grade 8) One great site for snorkelling straight off the beach in the
north, great coral cover, diverse fish and shallow depth.