Diving holidays

This part of Egypt’s home to some of the world’s most colourful coral reefs, World War II shipwrecks and bright shoals of fish, so it’s no wonder it’s so popular with divers. Above sea level, you can get lost in the old town, or shop at Hurghada Marine Boulevard.

Scuba diving’s one of the main reasons people flock to Sharm El Sheikh. There are more than 250 coral reefs off the shore here, most of which are roamed by candy-coloured fish, stingrays and sea turtles. And it’s all flanked by 35 kilometres of beachfront.

Sal’s known for its Caribbean-like beaches and rainbow-painted towns. Head underwater, meanwhile, and you’ll soon see why it’s such a hit with divers – you’ve got cathedral-sized caves full of sharks, crabs and stingrays, kaleidoscopic natural reefs and shipwrecks.

With pale sands, glass-like water and dense rainforest, Khao Lak scores highly in the looks department. And if you’re coming here to dive, you’re in for more treats – a trio of wrecks is home to a huge crop of marine life, like manta rays, whale sharks and octopus.

Bali sits in Indonesia’s Coral Triangle, which has the biggest diversity of marine species on the planet. So, when you dip beneath the surface, you can spot everything from tuna to mantra rays. Elsewhere, you’ll have black-sand beaches and lush rice paddies to eye up.

World class scuba sites are easy to come by in the Maldives. Most of its 26 atolls come with ring-shaped reefs with aquarium-like diving conditions, and sharks and rays are so commonplace here that you’ll likely spot them without even leaving your hotel.