The sea temperature at Madagascar (Nosy Iranja) today is 28.2 °C (83 °F) – water as warm as a bath. The usual October average is 27.5 °C. Over the last 30 days the sea has warmed from 27 °C to 28.2 °C. Swimmable all year – the sea averages 26 °C or more in every month. Source: Sea Temp Map (seatempmap.com) – NASA MUR satellite data and the Copernicus Marine sea forecast.
| Month | Min | Avg | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29.2°C / 84.6°F | 29.6°C / 85.2°F | 29.8°C / 85.6°F |
| February | 29.2°C / 84.5°F | 29.5°C / 85.1°F | 29.9°C / 85.9°F |
| March | 29.4°C / 84.9°F | 29.8°C / 85.7°F | 30.4°C / 86.7°F |
| April | 29.8°C / 85.7°F | 30.1°C / 86.2°F | 30.5°C / 87.0°F |
| May | 28.9°C / 84.0°F | 29.4°C / 84.8°F | 29.9°C / 85.7°F |
| June | 27.5°C / 81.4°F | 28.0°C / 82.3°F | 28.4°C / 83.1°F |
| July | 26.2°C / 79.1°F | 26.7°C / 80.1°F | 27.2°C / 80.9°F |
| August | 26.0°C / 78.7°F | 26.4°C / 79.6°F | 27.0°C / 80.6°F |
| September | 26.1°C / 79.0°F | 26.7°C / 80.1°F | 27.2°C / 81.0°F |
| October | 26.7°C / 80.0°F | 27.5°C / 81.4°F | 28.1°C / 82.5°F |
| November | 27.9°C / 82.3°F | 28.7°C / 83.6°F | 29.4°C / 85.0°F |
| December | 28.9°C / 84.0°F | 29.4°C / 84.9°F | 30.0°C / 85.9°F |
| Month | Min | Avg | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26.6°C / 79.8°F | 27.1°C / 80.7°F | 27.6°C / 81.6°F |
| February | 26.7°C / 80.1°F | 27.2°C / 81.0°F | 27.8°C / 82.0°F |
| March | 27.0°C / 80.6°F | 27.6°C / 81.6°F | 28.1°C / 82.6°F |
| April | 27.3°C / 81.1°F | 27.9°C / 82.3°F | 28.5°C / 83.3°F |
| May | 26.8°C / 80.2°F | 27.3°C / 81.1°F | 27.5°C / 81.5°F |
| June | 25.5°C / 77.9°F | 25.9°C / 78.7°F | 26.1°C / 78.9°F |
| July | 24.7°C / 76.4°F | 25.0°C / 77.0°F | 25.1°C / 77.1°F |
| August | 24.2°C / 75.6°F | 24.7°C / 76.5°F | 24.9°C / 76.9°F |
| September | 24.5°C / 76.1°F | 25.1°C / 77.2°F | 25.4°C / 77.8°F |
| October | 25.3°C / 77.5°F | 25.9°C / 78.6°F | 26.3°C / 79.3°F |
| November | 25.9°C / 78.7°F | 26.7°C / 80.0°F | 27.3°C / 81.1°F |
| December | 26.5°C / 79.6°F | 27.2°C / 80.9°F | 27.8°C / 82.0°F |
5-year averages (2021–2025). Min/Max are typical daily lows and highs, not record extremes. (Copernicus ERA5)
Nosy Iranja holidays
Nosy Iranja is a pair of small islands off the north-west coast of Madagascar, about 50 km south-west of Nosy Be. The larger island, Nosy Iranja Be, has a fishing village, a lodge and a lighthouse, and at low tide it is joined to the smaller Nosy Iranja Kely by a long sandbar of white sand.
Beaches
Almost the whole shore of Nosy Iranja is white sand, and the water around it is clear, warm and mostly calm, with coral and fish close to the beach for snorkelling. Walking across the sandbar between the two islands is the highlight of a visit, but only at low tide; at high tide the sea covers it, so check the tide times before setting out. The sandbar has almost no shade and facilities on the islands are limited, so bring water and sun protection. The sea temperature on this page is measured off the southern tip of Nosy Iranja Be, where the sandbar begins.
Things to do
Sea turtles come ashore on Nosy Iranja to lay their eggs, and the islands are known as a nesting site; nests on the beach should be left undisturbed. A path on Nosy Iranja Be climbs to the lighthouse, with views over both islands and the sandbar. Most visitors combine the trip with Nosy Be, where the Lokobe reserve has lemurs and forest walks, Mont Passot gives views over crater lakes, and boats go to Nosy Komba and the Nosy Tanikely marine reserve. Whale sharks are often seen in the waters around Nosy Be, usually from about September to December.
Weather and best time to visit
At Nosy Iranja the sea stays above 26 °C / 79 °F all year, even in the coolest month.
On Nosy Iranja and around Nosy Be, the drier months, roughly May to November, are generally the best time to visit, with more sunny days, though boat crossings still depend on the wind and sea. The rainy season, from about December to March, has heavy showers, high humidity and the risk of tropical cyclones, and some trips may not run.
Hotels and where to stay
Places to sleep on Nosy Iranja itself are few – a small lodge with bungalows on the larger island – so most people stay on Nosy Be and come for the day. The west coast of Nosy Be, around Ambatoloaka and Madirokely, has hotels, restaurants and the boat operators.
Signature hotels: Vanila Hotel & Spa (Nosy Be)
Airport and getting there
Nosy Be is served by Fascène Airport (NOS), with flights from Antananarivo and international connections that change over time. From Nosy Be, speedboats reach Nosy Iranja in about one to one and a half hours, depending on the sea, and transfers are usually booked through hotels or local tour operators.