Humpback whales breaching in a channel narrow enough to watch from shore, calves learning to breathe beside their mothers, and…Humpback whales breaching in a channel narrow enough to watch from shore, calves learning to breathe beside their mothers, and in the bay itself the remains of pirate-era ships in shallow water beside an island cemetery of pirate graves. Sainte-Marie was a pirate republic in the golden age of piracy, Kidd, Every and Condent used the bay, and the wrecks of that period are still being excavated in the shallows. The whales have been coming to the same channel far longer. Anchorage: The Baie des Forbans at Ambodifotatra was a pirate harbour in the early 1700s and is still the anchorage, the shallow bay holds several wrecks of that era. Hazards: Cyclone season Jan-Mar closes this coast; the reef pass has strong current. Plus