DESTINATIONS — ACTIVE & ADVENTURE HOLIDAYS
path, making them the ideal place to spot these unusual- looking creatures along with mako sharks and other marine life. Dive Worldwide’s Blue Shark Adventure, based in off-the-beaten-track Pico, is only for the experienced (at least 50 logged dives), but the specialist operator has also introduced a beginner’s package in Santa Maria that will offer divers the chance to spot sharks, barracuda, tuna and manta rays. Book it: A week’s B&B at the Hotel Santa Maria on Santa Maria starts at £1,175, including flights and 10 dives. A week’s B&B on Pico starts at £1,095, including eight dives.
diveworldwide.com
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Sharm el-Sheikh is a firm favourite, according to Olympic Holidays’ diving
executive Richard Ward. “Sharm offers a variety of dive sites within easy reach, with reefs and wrecks to explore, and competition keeps prices sensible,” he says. “Ras Mohammed National Park is my personal favourite.” Adding diving to a hotel stay is easiest for novices – one-day tasters start at £75 with Olympic – but the more experienced might prefer a liveaboard, which offers access to more distant dive sites. Book it: A week on Snefro Pearl liveaboard starts at £1,199, including flights, transfers, meals, and day and night dives, departing September 14.
olympicholidays.com
THAILAND Looking for the best of both worlds? Thailand combines great diving
with plenty for families or non- divers, so no one feels neglected. Popular choices include western
resort Phuket for access to the Similan Islands and Richelieu Rock, and laid-back eastern island Koh Tao for the variety of species around Chumphon Pinnacle. Book it: Eight nights’ B&B at family-friendly The Sands Khao Lak by Katathani starts at £899 with Travel 2, including Etihad flights and transfers. Sea Fun Divers in Khao Lak offers day trips to the Similan Islands from £85 for two dives.
travel2.com
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travelweekly.co.uk — 24 July 2014
SOUTH AFRICA Forget cute Nemo-like clownfish – South Africa has sharks. Cage dives are
concentrated around Cape Town, but – strictly for experienced divers due to currents – Aliwal Shoal and Protea Banks on the Durban coastline boast unrestricted access to hammerheads, tiger, bull and ragged-tooth sharks. Novice divers can still see plenty at Sodwana Bay, which is home to 1,200 species of fish, turtles, bottle-nosed dolphins, angelfish, migrating whales (April to July) and whale
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sharks (January and February). Book it: 2by2 Holidays’ 10-night Scuba Diving: Sodwana Bay, Safari and Aliwal Shoal starts at £1,995 including mixed-board accommodation, flights, dives and equipment.
2by2holidays.co.uk
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MEXICO Shallow dive sites and short transfers make Playa del Carmen the place
to combine a few dives with a relaxing beach holiday. Be on the lookout for turtles, barracudas, stingrays, nurse sharks and lobsters. More experienced divers can explore the caves and caverns dotted along this coastline, or wreck sites further north towards Cancun. Book it: Funway offers seven nights’ all-inclusive at the Occidental Grand Xcaret from
£899 for departures on October 9. The price includes a two-tank dive for certified divers and flights.
funway4agents.co.uk
spotting, but they are even more of a thrill for divers, being home to species such as whale sharks, hammerheads and manta rays. The islands are best suited to those with at least 50 dives under their belt because of the complex currents and cool water temperatures. Book it: Original Diving offers nine nights’ full-board in a deluxe cabin on board Galapagos Sky from £4,250. The price includes dives, three excursions, all flights and a stopover in Guayaquil.
originaldiving.com TW
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GALAPAGOS The Galapagos Islands are great for wildlife-
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