CONTENTS
Farne Islands
Fiji
Florida
The Lizard
Loch Fyne
The Maldives
Sipadan
Southern Egypt
Spain
Thailand
Travel operators on tour
It's been about as easy picking 10 diving destinations to recommend for the year 2000 as it was to do the same thing in 1999 - which is to say, not very.
We look for places to suit all budgets, though with the emphasis on economy. You might be looking for a major excursion abroad, a break closer to home, perhaps both. So we make three UK-based suggestions, then explore further afield through the Mediterranean, Red Sea and beyond.
Asian destinations still offer good value for money, so Thailand is in there. For those who have been saving for something special or for whom money is no object, we turn to Fiji at the top end of the market, where diving is just part of a pampered Pacific holiday experience, and at diving Mecca Sipadan.
Sipadan, like the Maldives, which is also featured, is one of many destinations worldwide where hard corals have been devastated by a rise in water temperatures. The bigger they are, the harder they fall - that's the theory, but these destinations still have a whole lot going for them, and unless you're an all-or-nothing hard-coral disciple, we have no hesitation in continuing to recommend both places.
Not everyone wants to spend their entire holiday diving, and we know many of you like to combine underwater sightseeing with a family holiday or a break with friends. Some enjoy an activity-packed holiday, others prefer the simple life.
Florida or Spain, both underestimated as diving destinations, offer plenty of diversions, while our UK choices Loch Fyne, the Farne Islands and to an extent the Lizard in Cornwall are more about getting away from it all.
Our Red Sea recommendation this year is to explore the southern parts of Egypt, which means getting away from it all while the going's good.
A special feature this time round provides an insight into how tour operators put your holiday packages together. We follow a group of them on a fact-finding tour - on this occasion in the Cayman Islands. Find out just how important hotel bathroom wallpaper can be!
Enjoy choosing your Year 2000 holiday - enjoy diving it even more.
