Emerald Sea sailing tour from Diego Suarez: Fishing and swimming

Sail out to turquoise shallows and fish from a traditional dhow

A six-hour sailing excursion from Diego Suarez port to the Emerald Sea aboard a traditional dhow, where you fish with seasoned sailors, swim off white sand beach and eat fresh seafood lunch. The boat departs and returns directly from your cruise ship disembarkation point, and a guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese.

Step-by-step itinerary

Sailing and enjoying Emerald Sea

• Depart from Diego Suarez port
• Sail aboard traditional dhow
• Try fishing with seasoned sailors
• Swim and relax on white sandy beach
• Enjoy seafood meal and drinks
• Take photos of the sea and surroundings
• Return to check-out point

The experience

You leave the port of Diego Suarez aboard a traditional sailing dhow and head straight to the Emerald Sea, a site known for its translucent water and white sand beach. The water shifts through shades of blue depending on depth and light, and the shallow bay is where you'll spend most of your time. A crew of seasoned sailors runs the boat and can teach you to fish if you want to try it. Swimming off the beach is part of the day, so bring a bathing suit and plan to get in the water.

Lunch is fresh local seafood prepared on or near the beach, served with drinks. The operator provides bottled water throughout the day. You'll have time to take photos and move at a pace that lets you enjoy the water without rushing between stops. Bring sun protection (hat, glasses and sunscreen), because there's little shade once you're on the water or the beach.

The boat picks you up at your cruise ship disembarkation point and returns you to the same spot, so you don't need to arrange transport from the port. A guide travels with the group and speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or Portuguese depending on your preference.

What’s included

• Private transportation from the port.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• fresh seafood lunch and drinks.
• government fees.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Les Grands Voyages de Madagascar

Is this one for you?The boat departs directly from your cruise ship disembarkation point and returns you there, so you don't need transport to the port or time to find your way back: the whole excursion fits inside a single port call without the logistics of getting to a separate meeting point.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

What exactly is the Emerald Sea and why is the water so blue?

The Emerald Sea is a shallow bay near Diego Suarez famous for its translucent water that shifts through many shades of blue depending on the depth and the light. The color comes from the sandy bottom and the clarity of the water itself, which is why it's a popular spot for swimming and photography.

Do I need fishing experience to try fishing on this tour?

No. The seasoned sailors aboard the dhow can teach you to fish if you want to try it, so beginners are welcome. Fishing is an option, not a requirement. You can also spend the time swimming or relaxing on the beach instead.

How does the pickup and drop-off work if I'm arriving on a cruise ship?

The tour starts and ends at your cruise ship disembarkation point in Diego Suarez, so the boat picks you up directly from the port and returns you there. You don't need to arrange separate transport to or from the port.