| If you're looking for an adventure that is | | | | northeast-southwest and are separated by deep |
| physically active yet relaxing, mentally | | | | marine trenches. Just to the north, in |
| stimulating and spiritually uplifting, diving | | | | Mexican waters, is a fourth atoll reef, Banco |
| amid the wonders of a coral reef may be the | | | | Chinchorro, where there are abundant wrecks |
| ultimate answer. But where should you go, | | | | to explore. UK-based operator (020 7430 1766, |
| especially if you have a taste for something | | | | an adventure specialist undertakes some |
| and somewhere a bit out of the way? | | | | interesting tours to the region. |
| | | | |
| Here are four corners of paradise for the | | | | SOUTH AFRICA |
| discerning reef diver, which are teeming with | | | | |
| wondrous wildlife but not yet with truckloads | | | | Tropical sunshine and the warm Aughlas |
| of tourists. | | | | current have allowed the formation of a |
| | | | unique coral reef at Sodwana, about 400 km |
| ERITREA | | | | north of Durban near the Mozambique border. |
| | | | The reef is home to over 1200 species of reef |
| Eritrea has perfect coral reefs untouched by | | | | fish and also hosts visits from mantas, whale |
| humans and teeming with aquatic life in all | | | | sharks, Zambezi sharks, humpback whales and |
| the colours of the rainbow. At the bottom of | | | | dolphins. |
| the sea you'll find sunken wrecks, ships, | | | | |
| tanks, rocket launchers and even a complete | | | | Sodwana Bay - the name means "little one on |
| dry dock. In the Dahlak coral reefs you can | | | | its own" in Zulu - is one of the most popular |
| find 250 species of fish, as well as sharks, | | | | of the dive sites, being easily accessible by |
| dolphins, barracuda, tuna, caranx - | | | | road from Durban and enjoying temperatures |
| narrow-bodied fish with widely forked tails - | | | | averaging a pleasant 24°-28°C. There |
| and dugong, the near extinct sea cow. Dugong | | | | are many shallow coastal pools suitable for |
| are large enough not to have many predators; | | | | snorkelling, with interesting reef formations |
| on the other hand, they have a long life span | | | | and fish life. Check out with for your |
| and are slow breeders, which make them | | | | customised tour to the region. |
| vulnerable to threats. See them while you | | | | |
| can. You need a visa to visit Eritrea. There | | | | AUSTRALIA |
| are good hotels to stay in but sleeping on | | | | |
| the beach is free and fun. | | | | Yes, of course there's the Great Barrier |
| | | | Reef, but for something a bit different, |
| BELIZE | | | | think about Ningaloo Reef, which is off the |
| | | | town of Exmouth, pretty much as far west as |
| The Barrier Reef off Ambergris Caye (island) | | | | you can go in Australia (flights from Perth |
| lies about a kilometre off the windward side | | | | daily). |
| of the island. At about 300 km, it is the | | | | |
| longest barrier reef in the Western | | | | Ningaloo Reef is a fringing, rather than a |
| Hemisphere and the second longest in the | | | | barrier reef, because it is quite close to |
| world, after the Great Barrier Reef off | | | | the shore and only shallow water separates |
| Queensland. | | | | land and reef. This intricate reef system |
| | | | stretches over 260 km and, at some points, is |
| Inside the reef the water is shallow and | | | | only metres from the beach. It is home to |
| blue-tinged; outside the reef, the water is | | | | myriad marine animals, including the largest |
| deep and seen from the air looks a dark royal | | | | fish in the world, the rare whale shark, some |
| blue. Near Ambergris Caye the reef almost | | | | specimens of which grow to 18 metres in |
| touches land and here it is a magnificent, | | | | length. Whale shark visit the Ningaloo Reef |
| almost so!id wall of coral formations, broken | | | | between March and June looking for plankton |
| only by narrow channels called "quebradas". | | | | to eat. Humpback whales, manta rays and |
| The coral is astonishing in its endless | | | | green, loggerhead and hawksbill turtles can |
| variety of shapes and colours: rainbow-tinged | | | | also be seen in their season. |
| tropical fish, delicate sea fans, sponges and | | | | |
| gorgeous coral gardens. | | | | The little damselfish, which hide in the |
| | | | coral, the colourful and conspicuous wrasses, |
| Beyond the reef, the seabed drops sharply in | | | | the exquisitely patterned and graceful |
| a series of layers to enormous depths, where | | | | butterflyfish and the similarly gorgeous |
| gamefish such as mackerel, tuna, sailfish and | | | | angelfish, abundant cardinalfish and |
| marlin. | | | | parrotfish all contribute to making this an |
| | | | environment of rare splendour, impressive as |
| To the east of the Barrier Reef there are | | | | a diving destination all year round. |
| three separate atoll reefs, which run | | | | |