Dive into a sunny break

Fancy combining some winter sun with a bit more than just dipping your toes in the water?

We’ve teamed up with diving organisation PADI for the pick of the places to catch some rays of sunshine – and those rays you find underwater!

Aqaba, Jordan

The nation’s only coastal city offers plenty of sunshine above the surface and diversity of dive sites below the tropical waters of the Red Sea.

The Aqaba Marine Park is home to some of the most spectacular coral reefs in the world and the 17-mile coast has soft and hard coral, wrecks and a myriad of fish, turtles and eagle rays.

On the surface, there’s the stellar sights of Wadi Rum and Petra to discover.

Fuvahmulah Atoll, Maldives

All the atolls in the archipelago offer a great winter sun escape, with plenty to enjoy above and below the surface.

But for those who want the ultimate sun and scuba getaway, Fuvahmulah offers the opportunity to see several different rare sharks in one dive.

Tiger sharks, reef sharks, hammerheads, whale sharks and ocean sunfish congregate yearround in their natural environment.

During the surface intervals, it’s one of the planet’s finest places for soaking up the sunshine on white sandy beaches, indulging in a massage under coconut palms and dining under the stars.

Kadavu Island, Fiji

The South Pacific nation is known as The Soft Coral Capital of the World, with one of the most colourful being The Great Astrolabe Reef in Kadavu Island.

Expect pinnacles, coral gardens, shipwrecks and manta cleaning stations where divers of all levels can enjoy the warm, tropical waters.

Up top, this island is hailed as Fiji’s untouched Eden, with coastal hikes, dense rainforests, secluded beaches and spring-fed waterfalls to discover.

More info and bookings, from budget friendly hotels to

luxury resorts, see padi.com