Clear waters, a year-round warm climate and colourful marine life all add to Dahab’s dive appeal. The bohemian, Egyptian resort on the Gulf of Aqaba is a superb starting point for beginners. One popular dive site for novices is Lighthouse Reef at the northern end of Dahab. The shallow reef reveals a variety of tropical fish, turtles, blue-spotted rays and a seabed carpeted with vibrant corals. During your time in the water, you can catch glimpses of pufferfish, lionfish and yellow-tailed barracuda, and hidden among the reefs tiny seahorses and ghost pipefish may make an appearance. There are several qualified dive schools and hotels in Dahab offering inclusive diving and accommodation packages which include transportation by 4 x 4 or camel rides to shore dive locations.

Malta, Comino and Gozo’s dive sites are revered worldwide and in recent years the islands have become Europe’s premier dive destinations. Between the trio there are over 50 dive centres, with many close to tourist resorts so you don’t have to compromise on 5-star accommodation. One of the best dive sites for beginners in Malta is Merkanti Reef - a shallow dive spot 10 metres deep, in calm, clear waters. It’s a great place for underwater photography with cuttlefish, octopus, wrasse and crabs living in the shallows. For those wishing to explore subterranean shipwrecks dive the HMS Maori site off the coast of Valletta or try Cirkewwa in northern Malta. The latter boasts natural subterranean archways, shipwrecks and even a statue of the Madonna! Taster dives and beginner courses are available from most resorts and towns, plus you can combine your stay with historic sightseeing, beach days and buzzing nightlife.

One of the best-known dive areas of the Maldives, North Male Atoll is recognised for its superb variety of scuba diving opportunities for all skill levels. With dive sites abundant with manta rays, large pelagics and vivid coral, the atoll offers up a veritable feast of subterranean wonders. You can effortlessly glide up to a sunken cargo ship or swim alongside schools of batfish, groupers and fusiliers. Lankan Manta Point due southeast of the atoll is a manta ray cleaning station, where rays converge during latter months of the southwest monsoon to be cleaned by wrasses. The dive site is easily accessible for beginners, plus you can also encounter lobsters, hawksbill turtles and whitetip sharks!

The picturesque coastal town of Byron Bay lies just over 100 miles south of Brisbane. The town is renowned for surfing, scuba and whale watching and has some of the best diving in Australia. One of Byron Bay’s finest dive sites, Julian Rocks Marine Reserve is suitable for all levels of expertise. Here you can view over 1000 species including pineapple fish, hawksbill, loggerhead turtles and wobbegong sharks. A perfect place for first-time divers is the reserve’s Nursery. This shallow dive only reaches depths of 5 to 12 metres and is sheltered so you won’t encounter any surprises!

The Caribbean boasts some of the world’s best dive sites - Barbados, Bonaire, Antigua and the Bahamas to name a few, but the Cayman Islands stand head and shoulders above the rest. With over 150 dive sites, there’s plenty to entertain beginners, intermediates and advanced enthusiasts. Beginners will adore the shallow dive site Stingray City, located within the barrier reef a few miles from shore. On arrival by boat, divers enter the water and sit at the bottom of the sandbar as swarms of stingrays gather around. These serene creatures glide gracefully through the water, allowing scuba divers to feed them squid or swim alongside and film them. It’s a breath-taking example of nature and best experienced in a small group on a private charter tour.

Sodwana National Park on South Africa’s east coast is a haven for all who enjoy the great outdoors. The park lies within iSimangaliso Wetland Park encompassing diverse eco-systems ranging from coral reefs to dune forests and savannahs. It’s home to the big 5 – black rhino, buffalo, lion, elephant and leopard as well as leatherback, loggerhead turtles and humpback whales. Visibility below water is high so you’ll have the opportunity to view colourful crustaceans, dolphins, manta rays and humpback whales with ease.