As we wave goodbye to summer and the familiar grumbles about winter weather begin to take form, we're strong believers in escaping to pastures new to beat those troublesome winter blues. So we've taken up the role of exploring thousands of pristine beaches, staying in the most luxurious hotels and diving the world's most vibrant coral reefs in search of bucket list marine life (tough gig) - to bring you our top winter diving destinations. So hold off buying your woollies and invest in some swimwear for the crème de la crème of winter diving escapes.
Dive Between Continents: Iceland
First up on our winter diving escapes is somewhere suitable cold (it is winter after all) - Iceland. You'll need your dry suit certification, which we can arrange, but you'll be rewarded with the most unique dive site in the world: Silfra. Located in Thingvellir National Park just outside of Reykjavik, Silfra is the only place in the world you can dive between two continental plates in the clearest water. Add to that weird cold water creatures (including wolf fish) and sprinkle on top nature-at-its-finest land adventures and you've got the whole package. And we didn't even mention the Northern Lights...
Shore-ly Not: Egypt
For somewhere a little warmer and only a hop, skip and a jump from the UK (or five-and-a-half hour flight), the Red Sea welcomes you with waters full of plentiful marine life and hard and soft corals right into the sunlit shallows. The history buffs will delight at the wrecks that litter the sea floor while lovers of the big stuff can swim alongside hammerhead sharks in Elphinstone Reef.
Let’s Get Fishy: Oman
Oman's cup runneth over when it comes to the quantity of fish in its waters, and the Daymaniyat Islands are particularly fishy. Hit the seas from Muscat and watch dolphins fly through your wake before diving Daymaniyat's reefs, which are carpeted in hard and soft corals, topped with plumes of fish and turtles, rays and reef sharks.
An Octopus Love Affair: The Philippines
A brief love affair is happening in the Philippines. To be more specific - it's octopus mating season. Witness this fascinating spectacle in Dumaguete (as well as the beautiful, mesmerising mandarin mating dance). But with the season from October to November, there's no time like the present to book a winter dive escape to the Philippines.
Gentle giants: Tanzania
Guaranteed whale sharks? Yes please. Mafia Island Marine Park has it all; glide above healthy reefs of technicoloured corals teeming with fish - over 460 species to be precise - with surface intervals spent exploring deserted palm-fringed beaches. Better still, between October and April you're almost guaranteed to see whale sharks. Stay at the Robinson Crusoe-esque Pole Pole, which translates as 'slowly slowly' in Swahili. Nestled among palm trees overlooking turquoise waters, this island escape might feel like the middle of nowhere but is actually just 30 miles off the coast of Tanzania, making it an easily accessible option for a winter diving escape.
Wreck heads: Micronesia
It's not often you can say you've watched the elusive leopard shark slinking through an aeroplane (luckily not an airborne vessel). Hop aboard The Odyssey liveaboard and set sail for Chuuk Lagoon, home to over 50 Japanese WWII wrecks. Swim through the engine rooms of war ships, spot gas masks and shells and hover over tanks draped in corals that support a plethora of marine life. Combine your adventure with a stay at Manta Ray Bay & Yap Divers in Yap and dive in the home of the Manta Ray - although you can spot them year round in December you can see even greater numbers in the Mi'l channel for the mating season.
Cenote delights: Mexico
Mexico's cenote diving is some of our all-time favourite diving. The water is so clear you'll feel like you're skydiving into these spectacular lime sinkholes, lined with stalagmites and stalactites that are millions of years old (Insider tip: DON'T miss diving The Pit Cenote). For a base, the luxurious Maroma Resort and Spa forms a little slice of heaven away from the hustle and bustle of Cancun. Featured in 'Dive in Style' (aka the diving bible, if we do say so ourselves), the resort stretches along a private powder-white beach that dissolves into calm turquoise waters. Fancy seeing some fish? The world's second largest barrier reef lies only ten minutes from the resort's beach.
Darwin's playground: The Galapagos Archipelago
Unless you've been living under a rock, chances are the Galapagos will feature high up on your bucket list. Best known as Darwin's playground, the national park is a hotspot for conservation and science. Beautiful year-round, spot hammerhead's hover below playful sea lions and penguins, and, most significantly, you'll see a staggering 20% of marine life you won't find anywhere else. The best way to explore is by liveaboard, and the luxurious Galapagos Sky is one of the only boats regularly given permits for two-week dive trips to Darwin and Wolf.