If us divers had our way, every scuba stint would last an eternity. But, eventually, the air gauge calls time on the fun (what a spoilsport) and up we come. Our cure for the post-dive blues? Hiking boots, a cracking trail and a healthy dose of fresh air. Luckily, plenty of destinations offer just the tonic, pairing underwater thrills with plenty of action back on solid ground - from deep-blue dives and volcanic peaks in the Azores to kaleidoscopic reefs and jungle jaunts in Australia. So, ready to make the most of your surface interval? Read on to discover our top five hike and dive duos...
The Azores, Portugal
Seeking an adventure at both ends of the altitude spectrum? Set your sights on the Azores. These paradisical Portuguese islands are particularly dreamy between June and October, when clear waters beckon you beneath the waves and sunny spells call for hitting the trails.
But one pulse-raising pursuit at a time, so first, let's talk diving. Take the plunge at Santa Maria's Baixa do Ambrosio, where devil rays glide with a grace that rather contradicts their nefarious name. The ray roll call continues at the Formigas Islets and Dallabarat Reef, where stingrays and mantas swoop and somersault after plankton in an enchanting feeding phenomenon. And, should your dive buddy fire off an emphatic flurry of hand signals, chances are a blue shark just cruised into view...
Once you've resurfaced and kicked off your fins, compare sightings over a good debrief - and where better for the post-dive chinwag than halfway up a volcano? Mount Pico, Portugal's loftiest peak, is just a speedy boat ride away, home to lunar-like lava fields that lead you 7,700ft up into the clouds. Time to lace up those hiking boots.
French Polynesia
An escape to French Polynesia poses the rather delightful dilemma of 'sharks or summits first?' Base yourself on the island of Mo'orea, in the heart of the Society Archipelago, where a May to November escape strikes the sweet spot for trailblazers and water babies alike.
In this far-flung Pacific paradise, we recommend shaking off the long-haul stiffness with a good leg stretch before the diving begins. Hike through wild jungle interiors leading up towards the volcanic heavyweight of Mount Rotui. And when things start to feel a little sweaty? Make a beeline for Afareaitu Waterfall, where tumbling cascades have your cool-down covered.
What goes up must come down, and in Mo'orea, we recommend doing so with a dive computer strapped to your wrist and a tank on your back. All kitted out, roll backwards off the boat into azure waters, sharing the big blue with gliding turtles, lemon sharks and bottlenose dolphins. As you swim alongside these marine marvels, listen out for humpback whale songs rippling through the Pacific. Talk about finishing the dive on a high...
Ecuador & the Galapagos
In Ecuador and the Galapagos, Mother Nature offers a rather impressive two-for-one deal: sky-high hiking on the mainland, bucket-list diving offshore.
June to November is prime time for a liveaboard voyage to the remote Wolf and Darwin Islands, where hundreds of hammerheads and whitetip reef sharks cruise through the currents. Joining this toothy spectacle are pregnant whale sharks, carrying some very precious (and soon-to-be-supersized) cargo.
Return to Ecuador's mainland to discover the 19,000ft Cotopaxi volcano's ash-strewn slopes, where the Andean views (and, admittedly, the altitude) are bound to take your breath away. Back down to Earth (by which we mean Quito), there's no better reward for your hiking endeavours than a piping-hot empanada, a fried pastry with delicious fillings. Sharks ticked off, volcano conquered and a local delicacy demolished - not a bad trio for the travel diary.
Belize
Belize might be small in size, but its adventures are anything but. December to April sees this Central American country at its sunniest, setting the scene for adventures on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, where more than 500 fish species thrive. With queen angelfish, stoplight parrotfish and silver tarpon swirling into view from all directions, there's plenty to keep even the most seasoned diver wide-eyed.
With your marine-life bingo card now sporting plenty more ticks, hang your wetsuit up to dry and spend your surface interval chasing discoveries of a different kind. A hotspot for Maya history, venture into the ancient ruins of Xunantunich and wander between its centuries-old plazas and temples before tackling the monumental Sky Palace Pyramid at Caracol.
Australia
Australia's list of accolades is a long one, from the world's largest coral reef and oldest rainforest to seriously cute koalas. On the mainland, trek through the Daintree, meet Aboriginal communities and (hopefully) cross paths with a few iconic marsupials along the way. Then, head to Cairns, the jumping-off point for the much-raved-about Great Barrier Reef.
While these big-name beauties garner all the attention, Australia's east coast also boasts the lesser-known (but equally impressive) Lord Howe Island. Dive into calm waters refreshingly free from a flotilla of boats and spend your time among carnivalesque coral gardens, spotting technicolour wrasse, vivid moray eels and teeny-tiny nudibranchs. Visit between June and October, and you're in for an even bigger spectacle, as humpback whales parade through these tropical waters on their annual migration.
Back on dry land, hike coastal trails overlooking the sparkling Tasman Sea. And, when your step count has reached suitably smug proportions, flop onto the sand and enjoy a quintessential Aussie pastime: a beach barbecue beneath the swaying palms. Not a bad incentive to pick up the pace on that final mile...
Feeling inspired? At Original Diving, we can curate trips that pair bucket-list dives with epic hikes - just leave the logistics to us and start dreaming up your next big adventure...
