| Bay of Diego Suarez | |
| Pushpin Map: | Madagascar |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Madagascar |
| Location: | Diana, Madagascar |
| Oceans: | Indian Ocean |
| Countries: | Madagascar |
| Cities: | Antsiranana |
Antsiranana Bay (also known as Diego-Suarez Bay) is a natural bay that stretches close to 20km (10miles) north to south along the northeast coast of Madagascar.[1] The waters average a depth of more than 20m (70feet), and the main channel can be as deep as 50m (160feet). The bay, protected by a narrow inlet that provides shelter from strong Indian Ocean winds, is believed to be the result of a submerging coastline or a drowned river valley that formed many peninsulas around the bay.
The bay's principal city, Antsiranana, is located on a headland.
The bay was first recorded by European explorers in 1500; sailors in the service of Portugal named the bay for the leader of their expedition, Diogo Soares. The bay was later used for shelter by a number of pirates and privateers during the Golden Age of Piracy, and it has been speculated as a possible location of the legendary pirate colony Libertalia.