Emerald Sea — Photo: Babaomby Island Lodge

Boats moored off a white beach on the Emerald Sea. — Photo: krishna naudin

A coral islet in the Emerald Sea. — Photo: Matthieu Manohiaina

Crossing the lagoon by boat. — Photo: Chirocca77

The Bay of Diego Suarez from the Montagne des Français. — Photo: Masindrano

Madagascar

May · 93% rideable

Emerald Sea

What it's actually like

Windsurfers, start in front of Babaomby Island Lodge, where you can stand everywhere, or sail La Piscine, about 500 m long and 40 cm deep. August is the pick at 100 per cent. It is remote, so ride within reach of the lodge's boat.

Salama, hello, and welcome to the Emerald Sea, the Mer d’Émeraude: a lagoon in the far north of Madagascar, near Diego Suarez. It is about 12 km long and 3 km wide, closed by a huge coral barrier and scattered with islets. You get here by boat from Ramena, Sakalava Bay or Diego Suarez. The draw is a powerful trade wind over warm, shallow water, with reef waves outside.

April to November is the season. In every one of those months at least eight days in ten clear 12 knots for three daylight hours or more. August is the pick at 100 per cent, with July and September a point behind. The mean over those hours sits between 17 and 22 knots, strongest from June to September. From December to March it drops to between three and six days in ten.

The south-easterly trade is the Varatraza here. It settles in April and blows without a break until the end of November, between 20 and 35 knots every day. From early May to late October 98 per cent of the wind is above force 4. In the peak months the lagoon is properly lit.

Beginners start in front of Babaomby Island Lodge, where you can stand everywhere. La Piscine, the swimming pool, is the flat spot: about 500 m long and 40 cm deep over white sand. Babaomby runs a guided downwinder there each week, with lunch on the islet of Nosy Antaly Be. KiteParadise visits La Piscine only when the tide allows, so check the tide before choosing a spot.

Two waves break on the reef, and they work with the wind from April to November, best from June to October. Nosy Toreky is the easier one: 1 to 2 m with the wind side-onshore from the right, and it works at low tide over the coral. Nosy Suarez is the longer, better-known right-hander of 1 to 3 m, with the wind side-shore from the right. It is one for confirmed riders chasing jumps and rollers.

The lagoon is remote. Do not count on a public rescue service or lifeguard. Babaomby’s school covers riders with a jet ski and a boat, and the wind and the current always run into the lagoon. Ride where your lodge’s boat can reach you, and carry what you need for the day.

Rules and safety. For an ambulance or the police, call 117 from a mobile or 17 from a landline. For the fire service, call 118 from a mobile or 18 from a landline. Ask your lodge.

Babaomby Island Lodge has sea-view and garden bungalows with full board, and a school with four IKO kite instructors teaching kite, wing and windsurf. The water is 26 to 28°C, so a lycra is plenty. On a rest day there is a baobab forest north of the lagoon. A mangrove river is reached by boat when the tide allows, and there are guided walks to the red tsingy of Babaomby.

Arrachart airport at Diego Suarez is about 23 km by road from Ramena, around half an hour, then a boat to the lagoon. Boat times differ: from the airport it is 30 minutes by car and 1 hour 30 by boat, or 45 minutes by boat from Ramena. Ask your lodge.

When it's good

Is it for you?

LevelNot checked yet
Windsurfers start in front of Babaomby, where you can stand everywhere and learn.
WaterMillpond to head-high
Windsurfers get flat water about 40 cm deep at La Piscine, and reef waves outside.
LaunchMind your feet
White sand underfoot at La Piscine, coral on the reef where the waves break.
WetsuitBoardies
Sea about 28 °C in May: boardies weather, with a rash vest at most.
AprèsLights out at nine
No bar within 5 km, but 1 place to eat: early nights, early sessions.
CostNot checked yet

Where to launch

Conditions change. Check local rules and conditions before you ride.

Launch
Hazard

Babaomby lodge front

You can stand in front of the lodge, where the school teaches beginners.

For kite, wing, windsurf. Directions: Google Maps · Apple Maps
La Piscine

The flat spot, about 500 m long and 40 cm deep over white sand.

For kite, wing, windsurf. Directions: Google Maps · Apple Maps
Nosy Toreky

Reef wave of 1 to 2 m, wind side-onshore from the right.

For kite. Directions: Google Maps · Apple Maps
Nosy Suarez

Right-hand reef wave of 1 to 3 m, wind side-shore from the right.

For kite. Directions: Google Maps · Apple Maps

Getting there

Nearest airportDiego Suarez (DIE). Arrachart airport is about 23 km by road to Ramena, around half an hour, and then you take a boat.
Getting aroundBoat. Go by boat from Ramena, or take the lodges’ transfers from Diego Suarez or Sakalava Bay. Boat times differ, so ask the lodge.

Stay, learn and rent

Full details for every place are in the Pocket Guide.

Babaomby Island Lodge

Sea-view and garden bungalows with full board on the lagoon. Open 17 March to 1 December in 2026.

Mazava Loha Resort

Wooden bungalows and suites facing La Piscine, with a kite and windsurf school.

Book on Booking.com

Book links to Booking.com and Agoda may earn WindChaser a commission, at no extra cost to you.

Pocket Guide

Emerald Sea, in your pocket

Everything you need on the beach in one PDF. Save it to your phone and it works with no signal.

01The month: wind, conditions and water02Every hazard, and the local rules03The launches, with maps04Getting there with kit05Stays, schools and kit hire06Where every score comes from

Emerald Sea

When it's good

Is it for you?

Where to launch

Babaomby lodge front

La Piscine

Nosy Toreky

Nosy Suarez

Getting there

Stay, learn and rent

Babaomby Island Lodge

Mazava Loha Resort

Babaomby Island Lodge

Mazava Loha Resort

Kitesurf Madagascar

Babaomby Island Lodge

Emerald Sea, in your pocket

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