ESCAPE TO STINGRAY CITY!

If the financial ‘crunch’ and the onset of short winter days are a daunting prospect – fear not. Dive Worldwide’s 9-day escape to Grand Cayman – an island of pristine beaches and superb marine life - comes with a saving of £150 p/p on the cost of luxurious beachfront accommodation if travelling before 19th December 08! Tours depart London four times a week – best time to go – NOW!

Nestled amongst the calm, turquoise waters of the western Caribbean, Grand Cayman is the largest of three Cayman Islands. Guests stay in luxury beachfront accommodation at The Reef Resort, located on 1,450ft of pristine white sand beach. The resort’s on-site dive operator, Ocean Frontiers, offers boat trips to diverse dive sites including the famous Stingray City - for close encounters of Southern Atlantic Stingray, to the less developed east end and Jack McKenny’s – at 25,000ft it is the northern hemisphere’s deepest drop-off. Bathed by prevailing currents and with visibility of up to 150ft, divers may also encounter sharks, turtles and Moray Eel amongst the teeming marine life. For time on dry land, follow the Mastic Trail through ancient forest where endemic animal species, including rare Blue Iguana, may be spotted, visit the Turtle Farm for further close-ups of Green Sea Turtle or simply relax back at the resort’s hot tub! After a full day’s activities, enjoy freshly prepared meals from Castro's Hideaway Ocean View Restaurant, then take in the magnificent Caribbean sunset from Castro’s Hideaway Beach Bar.

The holiday NOW costs from £1,485 p/p (was £1,635) (based on two sharing) including flights (BA), taxes, fuel surcharges, 7-nights hotel Studio Room accommodation at the Reef Resort (RO) and 5 days of 2-tank boat dives (10 dives), one night dive, plus tanks and weights.

Click here for more dive holidays in the Cayman Islands.

MANTA RAY OR HAMMERHEAD? - TAHITI - RANGIROA

Tahiti and her islands are definitely the underwater destination for observing anything ‘big’ and in large numbers. If the watery depths are calling, join Dive Worldwide on a 10-night dive holiday, based at Kia Ora Village Resort on the Rangiroa atoll, for exceptional year-round diving. From now till mid-October Rangiroa offers peak viewing of Manta Ray, then throughout January and February, large numbers of Hammerhead Sharks congregate to breed. Holidays depart London daily – best time to see Manta Ray – NOW!

The Rangiroa is the largest atoll in the South Pacific, offering a gigantic lagoon up to 28 metres deep, measuring 75km across and 25km wide - so large that it's impossible to see from one side to the other. Rangiroa's most famous diving spots, Avatoru - the best place to see Manta Ray, and Tiputa - also known as the ‘Shark Caves’ for obvious reasons, open on to the Pacific Ocean. Here, twice-daily tide surges allow for exceptional drift diving in crystal-clear waters, known as ‘shooting the pass’. A short distance out into the lagoon, the reef drops to 1,200 metres where sharks and other pelagics congregate, including Eagle Ray, Jackfish, Barracuda, Turtle and Dolphin. Divers are based at Kia Ora Village resort, consisting of Polynesian-style bungalows set amongst a large coconut plantation on the lagoon's edge. Although scuba diving is the major attraction, there are also great sites for snorkelling, swimming and relaxing around the vast lagoon and for time out of the water, choose from tennis, bike rides and glass bottom boat tours.

The tour costs from £4,135 p/p including scheduled flights, taxes, transfers, hotel accommodation with breakfast, plus 16 dives with equipment.

Click here to see more dive holidays in Tahiti.