World's best diving holidays
Diving in Egypt's Red Sea
Monday, 18, Aug 2008 11:13
Sharm El Sheikh has been named as the world's best location for diving holidays, in a new top ten dive spots list released by Cheapflights.co.uk.
They also recommend salsa alongside the fishes of Cuba, doing the Luau apres scuba in Hawaii and taking underwater snaps of the spectacular Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
The protected reefs of the Sinai Peninsula in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt are famed for the exquisite variety of coral found there.
Additional underwater residents include clownfish, sea eels, and blacktip reef sharks - not to mention all of the land activities visitors can enjoy apres scuba.
Sharm El Sheikh is famed not only for its white sandy beaches and rich marine life, but also for its lively culture and bustling nightlife.
Daylight brings opportunities for horse and camel riding and desert safaris.
"Personally the Red Sea is one of my favourite diving spots," explains Cheapflights.co.uk's travel expert, Nadine Hallak.
"Not only does it have remarkable coral reefs and marine life, but it also boasts some of the best shipwrecks in the world.
"For example, diving the Thistlegorm, which was a military supply ship, is truly astounding and offers the diver the surreal experience of swimming past motorbikes, jeeps and even Wellington boots which are still lined up perfectly as though they were still on their way to their next port of call."
In second place on the top ten diving holiday destination list is Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
The size of the marine world here is of colossal proportions not only in the physical sense but also in terms of what it has to offer.
Apart from being visible from outer space, it is home to more than 400 variations of coral and 1,500 species of fish including dolphins, sea turtles, whales and many more.
Scuba diving in Cuba is the third most popular diving holiday destination on the list.
If your sea quest is inclined more towards the Latin scene, Maria la Gorda in the Pinar Del Rio province west of Havana and the Jardines de la Reina Islands in the south come highly recommended.
With abundant coral and a colourful array of fish, Maria la Gorda (which translates as "Mary the Fat") is home to around 50 diving spots where divers can enjoy the aquatic scenery in crystal clear waters.
The diversity of fish also makes this area ideal for underwater photography as well as land activities such as hiking, ecotourism, nature-walks, water sports, excursions to neighbouring resorts, and much more.
Fourth place has been awarded to the idyllic Maldives islands in the Indian Ocean, where luminously clear water is home to ten different dive sites ranging from the flat reef experience of Kuda Haa Girifushi Thila to the deep Rasfari.
Those seeking more thrill than chill can try a wall drift among the strong currents at Banana Reef.
And Cheapflights.co.uk also includes divers' paradise Belize, the island of Cozumel on the eastern tip of Mexico, the Turks and Caicos Islands, Maui in Hawaii, tiny Sipadan Island in northern Borneo, and St Croix in the US Virgin Islands in its top ten diving holidays list.
To peruse the full list of top ten dive sites in the world visit the website.