DESTINATIONS INDIAN OCEAN | DIVING
ABOVE: Diving at Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru in the Maldives
BEST FOR . . . LUXURY Sell: Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island Why: For a secluded escape with exceptional diving, Carrier recommends this private island resort in the Seychelles, 140 miles from main island Mahé and a 30-minute flight from the airport. “With four atolls located within the Outer Islands, Desroches has always been a favourite destination for diving,” says Jenny Basham, Carrier product manager for the Indian Ocean. “There are more than a dozen dive sites nearby, with some legendary spots including the Desroches Drop and Circus Cave.” Local dive operator Blue Safari is on hand to take guests on excursions to explore the best of them – from wall dives and tunnels to deep caves and swim-throughs – with courses ranging from introductory sessions to eco-diving. Book it: Carrier offers a week from £4,865 based on two sharing an Ocean-View Pool Villa, including international and domestic flights, departing October 21.
carrier.co.uk
30 18 MARCH 2021
BEST FOR . . . FAMILIES Sell: La Pirogue, Mauritius Why: For an action-packed stay that combines diving with other activities, suggest this family-friendly spot on the west coast of Mauritius. Its Padi centre offers diving courses and excursions for novices through to advanced divers, while windsurfing, snorkelling, kayaking, sailing and trips in glass-bottom boats will keep any non-diving members of the clan busy. Accommodation is in traditional Mauritian-style thatched cottages set among coconut groves, with a resident band, six restaurants and bars, plus a kids’ club and teens’ club on hand to keep younger ones entertained. Book it: Gold Medal offers seven nights’ all-inclusive from £2,079, including flights from Gatwick on November 9 and based on two sharing a Garden Bungalow. goldmedal.
co.uk
BEST FOR . . . BUDGET TRAVELLERS Sell: Biyadhoo, Maldives Why: Diving holidays don’t have to mean blowing the budget. For an excellent-value Maldivian resort that puts the focus on laid-back simplicity, Kuoni points to Biyadhoo, which offers diving for every level from its on-site Padi school, with a number of top sites close by and a colourful house reef offering standout snorkelling (guests get two snorkelling trips included per week). Rooms are set right by the water’s edge and there’s a set-menu restaurant and alfresco bar where guests gather at nightfall after an active day. Book it: A week’s full-board costs from £1,479 based on two sharing a Standard Room on selected dates in September and including flights from Gatwick. Guests staying between May and November get a free upgrade to all-inclusive.
kuoni.co.uk
BEST FOR . . . ECO ENTHUSIASTS Sell: Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru, Maldives Why: Direct eco-conscious divers to Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru, set in the North Malé Atoll, where hammerhead sharks, hawksbill turtles, eagle rays and shipwrecks count among the treasures. The property offers courses for all levels from its Padi centre. Guests can embark on overnight catamaran cruises to explore the diving highlights of the North and South Malé Atolls, or venture off on a Full Moon Night Snorkel in the company of the resort’s resident Marine Lab team. Other marine activities include coral planting and reef cleaning, while an award-winning spa, two beachfront restaurants and waterfront bar cater for those who’d rather sit back and take it easy, cocktail in hand. Book it: An Ocean View Pool Villa starts at £410 per night, based on two people sharing on a B&B basis.
banyantree.com
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travelweekly.co.uk
PICTURE: Shutterstock
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