DESTINATIONS CARIBBEAN | DIVING
LIKE THIS? THE BAHAMAS
With more than 700 islands and cays, there’s no shortage of underwater entertainment in the Bahamas. For the intrepid, there’s shark diving – including at the aptly named Shark Wall – alongside a host of other sites, not least in Nassau, where you can dive around a twin-engine Cessna sunk for the Jaws 4 film.
CANOUAN
WHERE: If clients have already been there and done that, suggest St Vincent and the Grenadines instead – specifically Canouan, says Rebecca Bryson, head of sales at Caribtours. “This small island is protected by one of the world’s largest coral reefs,” she says. “Travellers can marvel at the colourful coral formations, exotic marine life and giant boulders situated tens of feet below sea level.”
HIGHLIGHTS: Key spots include Windward Bay, a calm lagoon protected by a barrier reef; and Gibraltar, a giant stone about 10m in depth that attracts a whole universe of striking fish. But for some of the most extraordinary sights suggest Tobago Cays, a cluster of five islets known for its green sea turtles, accessible by catamaran from the island. “It’s a paradise for snorkellers with its fluorescent waters and a medley of colourful tropical fish,” says Bryson.
BOOK IT: Caribtours offers seven nights at Mandarin Oriental, Canouan, from £5,199 per person based on two sharing a One Bedroom Oceanview Suite, including breakfast, flights
and transfers.
caribtours.co.uk
TRY THIS GRAND CAYMAN
Iconic sites such as Stingray City, Devil’s Grotto and Eden Rock have put Grand Cayman on the map among snorkellers and divers the world over. Add in drop-off walls, caverns, tunnels and shipwrecks, and there’s rather a lot to see beneath the surface of this well-heeled island.
LITTLE CAYMAN
WHERE: But for clients who have already seen beneath the bigger sibling’s shores, up it a notch with a small-plane flight across to Little Cayman. This sister island may be home to only a handful of dive resorts, and an even smaller handful of fishermen, but serious divers flock here from across the world to experience its renowned undersea treasures.
HIGHLIGHTS: At its heart is Bloody Bay Marine Park, a submerged mountain range featuring a wall that plunges a staggering 2,000 metres. Groupers, barracudas, triggerfish and a whole lot more can all be seen here, with a plethora of sites to explore, from Donna’s Delight and Randy’s Gazebo to Lea Lea’s Lookout and Barracuda Bite. For peaceful accommodation right on the beach, suggest Southern Cross Club, where it’s all about the diving.
BOOK IT: A five-night stay at Southern Cross Club starts at $1,713, based on two sharing in summer, and includes airport pickup, oceanfront bungalow, use of club kayaks and all meals. A two-night, two-tank dive package starts
at $110.
southerncrossclub.com
TRY THIS
LIKE THIS?
68
9 JANUARY 2020
travelweekly.co.uk
PICTURES: Shutterstock
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