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Words: Sophy Grimshaw. Photography: Corbis From exploring reefs and wrecks to diving under ice, there are plenty of novel ways to get wet ANTIGUA, WEST INDIES Reef diving is one of the best ways to glimpse a huge variety of underwater flora and fauna in their natural habitat, and at Cades Reef, a seven-mile stretch of colourful coral on the southwest coast [...]
Words: Sophy Grimshaw. Photography: Corbis
From exploring reefs and wrecks to diving under
ice, there are plenty of novel ways to get wet
ANTIGUA, WEST INDIES
Reef diving is one of the best ways to glimpse a huge variety
of underwater flora and fauna in their natural habitat, and
at Cades Reef, a seven-mile stretch of colourful coral on the
southwest coast of Antigua, there’s a choice of dive sites at
different depths, making it suitable for divers of all levels.
Among the reef inhabitants you might meet are stingrays,
parrotfish, sea turtles, lobster and intimidating-looking nurse
sharks (don’t worry, they eat only molluscs). Local dive
operator Jolly Dive, qualified instructors based at Antigua’s
Jolly Beach, offers a variety of packages;
www.jollydive.com
TIGNES, FRANCE
If Tignes, near Lyon, seems an unlikely dive location, that’s
because the ski resort is also the scene for diving of an
unusual sort – beneath the ice. Organised by extreme sports
centre Evolution 2, this faintly surreal experience takes place in
a frozen lake. If you’re a relatively experienced diver and you’re
up for braving the chill, you can drop down through an ice
hole and dive the still waters below. Available from December
to April, the adventure costs about £50; www.evolution2.com
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA
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The Eastern Red Sea at Jeddah has a fantastic
selection of diveable shipwrecks at varying depths
and degrees of visibility. These include the popular
coral-encrusted, 100-year-old “boiler wreck” and
the 1970s Staphonos wreck, now regularly inhabited
by endangered guitar sharks and blue snapper.
Another option is the Ann-Ann wreck, one of the
few that stands upright on the seabed, and where,
conditions permitting, divers can actually step
inside the galley;
LONDON, UK
Avoid spending the first few days of your holiday stuck
taking classes in a swimming pool by learning how to dive
before you go. The London School of Diving offers a PADI
(Professional Association of Diving Instructors) weekend
training course for £249 at its on-site three-metre deep
pool (pictured right) to would-be divers aged 10 and up.
A variety of other diving courses are on offer, costing
from £25;
