Thank you to Magdalena Fielden, owner of True Blue Bay Boutique Resort for this account of the first Grenada Chocolate Festival!

Last week the small island of Grenada in the Caribbean celebrated very successfully their first Chocolate Festival. Grenada Cocoa and Chocolate are making a name around the world for being one of the best organic and ethically produced chocolates and cocoa. The Festival was created, designed and organized by Magdalena Fielden, owner of True Blue Bay Boutique Resort, Honorary Consul of Mexico in Grenada and great fan of Grenadian Chocolate. Mrs. Fielden was inspired by Mott Green, creator of the now renowned Grenada Chocolate Factory and his devotion to produce a sustainable, ethical chocolate that involved the whole community. The festival was also supported by the Grenada Chocolate Factory, Belmont Estate, the Mexican Embassy for the OECS and Mount Cinnamon Beach Resort.

The week of celebrations started on Monday August 18th themed “Getting in the mood for Chocolate” with a visit to Crayfish Bay Organic Farm located near the town of Victoria on the West Coast of Grenada. There visitors experienced a historical tour of the beautiful estate conducted by owner Kim Russell, his wife Lylette  and his farm manager Yvonneand learned about organic farming and making delicious Iced Cocoa Tea with fresh coconut milk from scratch. Later on, a few miles down the road at Rosemount Estate, Mr and Mrs Duncan, the Estate owners prepared a delicious farmer’s lunch and show us around their flower, herb and tropical fruit plantation. The day ended at the Art and Soul Gallery owned by local artist Susan Mains and her family, where professional and new island artists showcased their cocoa inspired artwork. From beautiful batiks to extraordinary paintings and sculptures, this amazing exhibition showed very successfully for two weeks.

Tuesday continued at True Blue Bay Boutique Resort with the theme “Chocolate Indulgence”. It started with a Yoga-Chocolate Mediation session at Sankalpa Yoga Studio instructed by teacher Malaika Brooks. After a yoga routine, yogis learned a meditating way to appreciate the texture, smell and taste of chocolate and hot cocoa tea. A chocolate inspired breakfast designed by Chef Gary Birkett at Dodgy Dock Restaurant was served after the meditation; this was followed by a hands-on workshop conducted by expert Mexican Chocolatier, Architect and creator of the Mucho-Chocolate Museum in Mexico City, Ana Rita Garcia Lascurain sponsored by the Mexican Embassy for the OECS. Ana Rita taught an audience of kids and adults about “The Healthy Benefits of Chocolate” and how to make chocolate skin treatments using only natural ingredients like avocado, vanilla and cocoa butter. Families enjoyed making and applying the treatments to each other, and some of the kids discovered very quickly that the mixtures where edible and tasted delicious. Blue Heaven Spa located at True Blue, announced the offering of a series of chocolate facials and body treatments that would be available for the whole of August and September. Tuesday ended with a fabulous “Sunset Chocolate Champagne Cruise”, sailing the beautiful crystal blue waters of Grand Anse and Saint George’s harbour.

Wednesday started at the well-established and pioneer on Agrotourism, Belmont Estate. The group of chocolate fans where welcomed by owner Shadel Nyack Compton and directed to the Estate museum to the opening of a very emotional art exhibition containing pieces created by artists living on the plantations to the North of the island. The love of farming and especially cocoa farming was perfectly portrayed in the work shown at this exhibition. Each artist had the opportunity to explain his or her work and one even read some poetry specially composed for the event. After the exhibition, the “Bean to Bar” tour started by visiting the plantation and learning about cocoa farming and cocoa processing on the estate. Then guests visited the Grenada Chocolate Factory and received a special tour by manager Edmon about the making of chocolate bars.

Later on guests were invited to experience a delicious lunch featuring Chocolate dishes back at the estate where they were entertained by local drummers and demonstrations of the traditional cocoa dancing and walking the cocoa.  A delicious brief workshop about making bon bons was offered by the Grenada Chocolate Company before leaving the estate. In the afternoon, back at True Blue at Dodgy Dock Restaurant, bartender Akim conducted a Rum and Chocolate Tasting session showcasing all local rums including the famous “Under the Counter” traditional Grenadian rum sold at the local rum shops. A surprise chocolate fountain with lots of goodies to dip in chocolate was enjoyed by all.

Thursday was time to “Cook with Chocolate” a cooking class was prepared by True Blue Bay Resort’s popular cooks Esther and Omega showcasing a chocolate lunch after the class. Ester and Omega where at their best making all laugh when preparing a delicious chocolate sauce to be served with fish or pork. Later that afternoon, craft chocolatiers and professional chefs competed for the best amateur and professional chocolate sweets title and some very talented local and international chefs were discovered. Chocolatier Ana Rita did a demonstration on how the Mayas make the first chocolate drinks and all got to enjoy the delicious Mexican version of cocoa tea.

Friday morning was a rest day to enjoy the beach and visit the local spice market and Saint Georges town. At sunset, families and couples meet at Mount Cinnamon Beach Cabana to enjoy a spectacular beach bonfire and danced barefooted on the beach to the sound of local drummers, all enjoying delicious and affordable chocolate dishes and drinks created by chefs from well-known local restaurants.

Saturday was  “Glamour Day”, at True Blue Bay Boutique Resort, starting with the first Arts and Crafts Chocolate Bazaar where around 30 local artists, artisans and fashion designers showcased their creations inspired by chocolate, cocoa and other locals spices like nutmeg. Chocolatier Ana Rita worked her magic again and conducted a talk about “The History of Chocolate”. She taught kids how to crush cocoa beans the old fashioned way using a “Metate” (a Mexican mortar used by the first tribes that populated Mexico) and taught them how to make simple chocolate paste and invited them to taste and appreciate the aroma of freshly crushed cocoa beans. Cocoa and chocolate beverages and food where served at Dodgy Dock Restaurant with festive music. But the highlight of the day was the glamorous and colourful fashion show organize by Marie Fielden showing designs by Modesty Grenada, Art Fabrik, and Veronica’s Vision. The clothing designs where exceptional and will be available at Art Fabrik, Too Kachi Boutique and Veronica’s Vision Boutiques from September.

The day ended with a sold out gourmet “Charity Auction Chocolate Dinner” at Mount Cinnamon Restaurant where Chef Gary Birkett from Dodgy Dock Restaurant, True Blue Bay Resort served the first course consisting of a Cajun and smoked duo of mahi mahi with white chocolate hummus and sweet and sour vegetables. Chef Nehanda Campbell from Le Phare Bleu served the main course consisting of chocolate spiced duck breast with wilted fennel & orange carrot salad and cardamom pure and Chef Andrew Sloley from Mount Cinnamon Resort served an outstanding dessert called Chocolate Decadence, a mousse, caramelized bananas, almond nut chocolate biscuit.

The silent style auction was a great success as several well know local businesses donated items like dive courses, day passes, jewelry, tailored made designed clothing, yoga classes, airline tickets, massages and gift certificates. All monies raised for dinner and auction came to a total amount of approximately EC$ 16,000 and will be donated to create a new Library and sick bay for Vendome Primary School in Grenada. 

Sunday the last day of the festival was celebrated by families back at Belmont Estate where fun kids activities like dancing, walking the cocoa and scooping cocoa beans out of pods were enjoyed by kids and parents. A delicious Grenadian Style Lunch with live Caribbean music was served and a small farmers and vendors market was interesting to visit. Of course no one left without paying a visit to the Bon Bon shop and stocking up with Bon Bons created by the Grenada Chocolate Company and Chocolate Goat Cheese from the Grenada Goat Dairy Project, a beautiful ending to a week of Pure Chocolate excitement.

The first Grenada Chocolate Fest concluded being a great success for all, participants, farmers, vendors and artists. Mrs Fielden looks forward to making it into an annual event that will benefit different sectors of Grenada’s community and entice future farmers and chocolatiers amongst the youth of Grenada. Dates have not yet been determined for the next year but hope to announce them soon.
Looking forward to enjoying some chocolate with you next year!

See a selection of photos from the Grenada Chocolate Festival on the Regaldive Facebook page

For more, please visit www.chocolate.truebluebay.com or Facebook.

If you're inspired, the Chocolate Treat Package is available from Regaldive throughout the year at True Blue Bay Boutique Resort. Three days of sweet treats for chocoholics. Ideal for non-divers or those who want some indulgent days off from diving! Contact Regaldive to find out more.

Can diving in Palau get any more spectacular? Yes! The diving in Palau is amazing throughout the year but divers booking on selected trips aboard S/Y Palau Siren that coincide with the Full Moon and New Moon dates of the lunar cycle can experience something truly incredible.

Witness thousands of Bumphead Parrotfish and Red Snapper spawning, attracting multiple exciting shark encounters with preying Oceanic Blacktips and Bull Sharks. Indulge in pioneering 'Blackwater' diving – night diving in the pitch black of night in deep water, watching one of the largest migrations on earth as all manner of weird and wonderful creatures from the depths head closer to the surface to feed. From post larval fish to Cephalopods, many smaller than your finger nail, these amazing dives present some of weirdest creatures you are ever likely to see without a submarine.

These extra special dive experiences are available on selected dates aboard the Palau Siren and hosted by expert marine scientist Paul Collins and award-winning photo-pro Richard Barnden of Unique Dive Expeditions and Sam’s Tours Palau. The team have spent much of the last four years studying the full and new moon cycles and their effect on the marine life, establishing where and when they occur on the reefs in Palau.

These special trips really do offer the chance of some unique and once in a lifetime diving. Paul and Richard will also deliver a number of presentations aboard the Palau Siren during the course of the trip, covering the ecology of these spectacular events and how to photograph them.

Guests will be split into two teams of eight, with one team each day diving with Richard and Paul during these spectacular events. This ensures the maximum experience for all guests and means minimal interference for this most magnificent natural phenomenon.

There is no additional supplement for this extraordinary adventure but guests should note that these dives are only for the experienced diver as there can often be very strong currents at the sites where the action is happening.

The proposed dates for these special trips are 13 – 20 February, 25 April – 5 May, 24 May – 3 June and 19 – 26 October 2015. Places are strictly limited so if you are interested please contact us as soon as possible to secure your spot.

Call us on 01353 659 999 to check availability.

There’s no doubt that diving makes you hungry and the vast swathes of food polished off at lunchtime on any dive boat are proof of that. And with the average 45 minute dive session burning over 500 calories, there’s no such thing as over-indulgence on a dive holiday. Many of Regaldive’s destinations are known for having great food but divers looking for the best diving and dining should head to the Caribbean...

Grenada

Divers with a sweet tooth will be spoilt for choice on the Spice Island of Grenada where chocolate has made its mark on everything from cocoa tea to spa treatments. Visit between 18th and 24th August 2014 and join in Grenada’s first ever Chocolate Festival. Guests staying at the beautiful True Blue Bay Resort can enjoy a daily breakfast with chocolate specials, visit the Chocolate Factory and attend a multitude of chocolate themed cooking and tasting events.

Perfect for non-diving friends and family, the Chocolate Festival programme is also designed to allow plenty of time to ensure visitors can get their daily diving fix. Divers can burn off the calories from their indulgence by venturing below the water to Grenada’s 50 plus dive sites including the Bianca C and Hema 1 wrecks, adrenaline charged drift dives and an underwater sculpture park.

A seven night stay at the True Blue Bay Resort, departing on 17th August 2014, costs from £1,539 per person to include return flights, transfers and B&B accommodation. The Chocolate Festival Program costs an additional £125 per person and an eight dive, dive pack costs from £233 per person. True Blue Bay is something of a foodie heaven, also boasting the award-winning Dodgy Dock Restaurant and Lounge Bar, a unique waterfront venue well-known for its Caribbean with a Mexican twist cuisine, and spectacular sunsets.

Finally, visitors to Grenada can add a little spice to their trip with a visit to one of the many nutmeg processing plants on the island. As the second largest exporter of nutmeg in the world, spices account for a large part of the Grenadian economy and you can also see cinnamon, cloves, ginger and other spices being farmed here. Toast your holiday with a delicious rum cocktail or two in the Caribbean tradition but watch out for the local tipples which can be up to 80% proof!

Bonaire

Home to diving freedom is Bonaire, the top shore diving destination in the Caribbean and one where even the car licence plates proclaim this ‘Divers’ Paradise’. Part of the Dutch Antilles in the Southern Caribbean, Bonaire imports much of its food from other countries but has developed a reputation over recent years for excellent cuisine with a mixture of local and international flavours. Bonaire is also a regular winner of the Taste of the Caribbean competition where teams of chefs from 20 different Caribbean countries compete against each other for the title of Caribbean Chef of the Year.

Divers staying at the popular oceanfront Buddy Dive Resort benefit from superb access to the house reef with steps leading directly down to the sea and the many underwater photography opportunities that Bonaire is famed for. Conveniently located above the dive dock, 'Ingridients' is one of the best gourmet restaurants on the island. Here, every dish is prepared using fresh local ingredients to reflect a new style with a Mediterranean / European twist. Meals can be enjoyed watching the dive action below, or enjoying the amazing panoramic ocean view and sunsets.

Monday night is Lion Fish Night! They might look beautiful underwater but non-native lionfish have become a huge problem in much of the Caribbean where they breed faster than rabbits and can reduce native marine creatures by 90% within a matter of weeks. In Bonaire, as on many other Caribbean islands, lionfish are most definitely on the menu as a sustainable and environmentally-friendly food choice, and taste delicious too!

A seven night stay at Buddy Dive Resort in Bonaire costs from £1,427 per person to include return flights, transfers and B&B accommodation. A six days unlimited shore diving pack costs from £95 per person.

Tobago

Laid back Tobago is all about diversity – on land, and underwater. One of Regaldive’s most popular destinations, Tobago’s position, sandwiched between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, allows for a stunning combination of dive sites and diving styles.

The Guyana current flows around the Altantic coast and the northern tip of Tobago providing some of the most spectacular drift diving in the Caribbean and attracting sharks, turtles and rays, as well as super-charged corals. The Caribbean coast benefits from the influence of the Orinoco River, whose nutrient rich waters support an abundance of marine life. The reefs are generally more sheltered here and boast colourful and thriving fish stocks and also the wreck of the Maverick, a former car ferry sunk in 1997 that lies in 30m.

Above water, Tobago is a similar melting pot in terms of culture and cuisine. A rich mix of African, Indian, Chinese, European and Middle Eastern influences informs everything from street food to fine dining. Fans of Indian food in particular will find much to tempt their taste buds here including the famed ‘Doubles’ sandwich (a filling of curried chickpeas and spicy sauce between two pieces of fried flatbread) that regularly tops best sandwich lists around the world.

A seven night stay at the Grafton Beach Resort on the north coast of Tobago costs from £839 per person to include return flights, transfers and B&B accommodation. A five day dive pack (10 dives) costs from £237 per person. This lovely resort is new to the Regaldive programme and offers a superb location on a hillside overlooking palm-fringed Stonehaven Bay. It’s also minutes away from one of Tobago’s best-known restaurants, the Seahorse Inn, which is as recommended for its incredible beachside setting, as for its fresh seafood and fine fare.

Call the Regaldive Team on 01353 659 999 to find out more.

Follow in the fins of Jacques Cousteau by participating in the Cozumel Scuba Fest 2014. Divers are invited to this special event which takes place in Cozumel, Mexico from 9th to 14th December this year. Participants follow a special ‘route’ – a programme of nine dives on nine reefs over four days that is specially designed to take in the top underwater highlights of Cozumel that oceanographer Cousteau famously said represented ‘one of the best places around the world for diving.’

The Scuba-Fest JM Cousteau Route 2014, named after Jean-Michel Cousteau, eldest son of Jacques Cousteau who participates in the event, visits renowned Cozumel dive sites including Palancar Caves, Paso Del Cedral and Punta Sur.

Palancar Caves is a very popular dive site with stunning topography. What starts as a wall dive, ascends to a maze of tunnels, gullies and canyons that twist and turn from the outer wall through to the inner reef in an explorer’s dream.

Paso Del Cedral is a favourite of photographers. Here you will discover schools of grunts and snappers sheltering in the swim-throughs and nurse sharks snoozing beneath rocky overhangs. Look out for the elusive Splendid Toadfish, which is endemic to the island of Cozumel.

To join the Scuba Fest, divers need a minimum certification of PADI Open Water Diver or equivalent; although more advanced divers will get the most out of the exciting and diverse dive sites on the island. Divers should allow a day for a check dive or refresher (if required) prior to the start of the organised dives which take place on 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th December.

Guests booking their holiday with Regaldive can pre-book their Scuba Fest Dive Pack at the special rate of £252 per person which includes nine guided dives (one night dive), a commemorative logbook, polo shirt, air or nitrox tanks, weights, and hire of mask and fins (if required).

Regaldive will tailor make your complete Scuba Fest package to also include flights, transfers and accommodation at a choice of hotels on Cozumel including the Allegro Cozumel Resort and the Occidental Cozumel Resort.  Day trips can also be arranged to the mainland for diving the Cenotes.  Divers wanting more time to explore the captivating Cenotes, or discover the many attractions of Mexico above water, can opt for a twin centre stay to combine the Cozumel Scuba Fest with a few days on the Riviera Maya.

To find out more, please call the Regaldive Team on 01353 659 999.

HRH The Duke of Cambridge officially took over the Presidency of the BSAC this week, Wednesday 9th July, at a special event in London. The event was also attended by HRH The Prince of Wales who was thanked for his 40 years tenure as President by BSAC Chairman Eugene Farrell.

During the event, The Duke of Cambridge donned scuba gear for a short pool dive and snorkelled with children and special guests. The Duke is well-known for his love of diving and has spoken of his wish to inspire a new generation of divers by ‘working with BSAC to encourage even more young people into the sport.’ Great news for diving!
 
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From encounters with over-friendly dolphins to stage-managed shoots with crocodiles, Malcolm Nobbs has captured it all on camera. As the man behind the lens of so many of the outstanding images Regaldive use, Malcolm is certainly well-travelled. We managed to catch up with Malcolm at his home in Australia between trips (I don't think he had even unpacked his suitcase!) to find out a bit more about what's in his kit bag, his most memorable dives and where he's off to next! 

Q.1: How did you get into underwater photography?

A.1: My first dive was near a small Egyptian town, Taba, in 1995.  I was staggered to discover such a rich and vibrant world existed beneath the waves. Until then I’d had no idea what I had been missing - such stunning soft corals and colourful sea life. But straight away, like most divers, I had the urge to capture some memories to take home. So it wasn’t long before I took a video camera underwater and subsequently I switched to stills photography, which I found more satisfying.

Q.2: What is your most memorable dive?

A.2: Any dive when I make a major mistake is a memorable dive and haunts me for weeks afterwards. Having dived for 19 years I’ve made a number of stupid mistakes.  But undoubtedly the worst was in July 2001 at the Blue Hole, Dahab, Egypt.  The Blue Hole is literally a hole in the reef that is around 55 meters wide, 300 metres deep with an archway which leads out into the Red Sea. It is reputed to be the most dangerous dive site in the world and has claimed many lives. I first dived through the archway, on air, in April 2001, having previously done a series of deep dives to help build up my resistance to the mind-clouding effects of Nitrogen Narcosis. I put a lot of planning into this dive, had two independent tanks in case one failed and support divers and all went well. I recorded what was for me a new personal maximum depth of 59.7 metres.

Three months later I decided to repeat this, again on air, preparing as before with a number of deep dives and having support divers and taking two tanks. My initial decent was faster than on the previous occasion, dropping 40 metres in 3 minutes whereas previously I had taken almost 6 minutes. I think  this was the cause of what was a new and frightening experience for me, a sudden and very strong sensation of nitrogen narcosis, causing me to misjudge my buoyancy control and hit a maximum depth of 70.4 metres as I exited the archway. Indeed I was close to losing control, and at that depth breathing air, vunerable to oxygen toxicity. Nevertheless within a minute I had ascended back up to 61 metres, three minutes later 50 metres and two minutes after that, 36 metres.  As I ascended higher, all feelings of narcosis quickly left me. But not the realisation that I had really pushed my luck - I had totally underestimated the danger of narcosis at depth. How very stupid. It certainly remains my most memorable dive and the thought of it still embarrasses me to this day!

Q.3: You’ve travelled extensively… what’s your favourite destination, and why?

A.3: For liveaboard trips it has to be Costa Rica’s remote Cocos Island, well known for its huge schools of hammerhead sharks. With at least 27 endemic fish species it should be on every diver’s wish list. For shore and day boat dives, I'm totally sold on Australia. The variety of sea life is staggering, from the whale sharks of Ningaloo Reef on the west coast, to the leafy sea dragons and great whites of South Australia. New South Wales has sea lions, seals, weedy sea dragons, fantastic macro life and a wide range of sharks and then further up the east coast there is the beauty and marine treasures of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea.

Q.4: What kind of camera equipment do you use?

A.4: In July 2012 I bought my present SLR, a Nikon D7000. It is a DX format camera like its predecessor the Nikon D200, enabling me to continue to use all my old D200's DX lenses. I have two Inon Z-240 strobes and my underwater housing is the Subal ND7000, rather rudely dismissed by my son as “looking like a container”.

Q.5: You’ve captured so many incredible moments… what’s your 'money shot'?

A.5: Possibly my best known 'money shot' is of a saltwater crocodile swimming between me and the bow of a dive boat. My dive buddy can be seen hiding behind the keel and looking up, a reflection on the water’s surface shows my wife looking down anxiously from the bow. It's proved a popular photograph. It’s also a fraud, totally stage-managed by me, even down to the contrived reflection.  The crocodile was less than two metres long and had a rope tied to its tail so that it could not reach me. I photo-shopped that out later. My buddy was not hiding behind the keel, he was holding onto the rope with one hand, the keel with the other.  My wife was not anxious, just fed up that I was taking so long to take the shot.

Q.6: Any particularly tricky subjects or hairy moments underwater?

A.6: Although I have dived in open water with many types of sharks including great whites, oceanic whitetips, tigers and bull sharks, I have to say I’ve rarely felt in danger.  Despite some at times hysterical media coverage to the contrary, most marine life is very cautious. Their motto seems to be: if in doubt, leave alone. To marine life, divers with scuba tanks sound very noisy. We probably seem like strange aliens and best avoided!  However “silent” surfers and swimmers can be mistaken for natural prey and clearly this is a concern. But bizarrely, what I think was my most hairy moment was an encounter with an overfriendly large bottlenose dolphin! I was diving near my old home town Folkestone, UK for what was intended as a simple shallow dive on 'my home patch'. The dolphin must have heard my bubbles underwater and decided to check me out.  She began to play with me, spinning faster and faster around and around me. The underwater visibility turned to zero. She seemed so huge and powerful. Even though I knew that she had no aggressive intentions towards me, I felt very vulnerable. Eventually she stopped and opened her mouth right in front of my face. It seemed very large! I kept still and she eventually became bored and disappeared.

Q.7: Any tips for budding photographers, underwater, or topside?

A.7: I can't offer any great insights into topside photos but hopefully I can do better underwater.  For a start you need good diving skills. Sometimes you have to try and remain in a fixed position to photograph, perhaps fighting a current or twisting at some awkward angle, and you often have to keep still. Move too quickly and you can frighten your subject.  Be clumsy and you can cause damage. Correct lighting is an essential element of a good underwater photograph. If the natural light is poor, you need to compensate with some flash, ideally from an external flash gun, rather than one built into the camera. Getting close to a subject is generally essential.  Unfortunately if there are particles in the water, the flash will illuminate the particles in front of your lens, thereby spoiling your shot. But you can avoid this if you use an external flash gun, angled so that it lights up your target but not the water between your camera lens and your subject. My goal is always to try and make it seem as though the subject is relaxed and interested in me and eye contact from the subject to my camera lens helps achieve this illusion.

Q.8: What’s next on your diving wish list? 

A.8: For me, it’s all about the marine life I hope to see. My next dive trip is to South Australia where I’m hoping to see great whites larger than any I’ve seen before, then Indonesia's Cendrawasih Bay to, fingers crossed, photograph whale sharks sucking small silverside baitfish out of fishermen’s nets.  I failed to see any sailfish when I visited Mexico last year, so next year I’m going back to try again and on the same trip I hope to see great hammerheads off the Caribbean's Bimini Islands.  My diving wish list just seems to grow bigger and bigger but next year I plan to tick off another must-do, South Africa’s Sardine Run...

We asked Malcolm to cpmpile his top 10 shots... Take a look at the album on our Facebook page here >

For more information or to see more of Malcolm's photographs, see www.malcolmnobbs.com

There's no need to fly to far-flung locations to learn how to dive! Press Association writer Nilima Marshall recently visited the Maltese Islands on a Regaldive holiday with her husband to earn her scuba stripes...

"Bruce Willis Ruins All Films," I say to my partner as we get ready to see the glimmering emerald sea in the beautiful Maltese island of Gozo. We're not debating the acting merits of the hunky Hollywood superstar, but rather making vital checks for our final diving adventure at Xlendi Bay. Before taking the plunge, we need to carry out pre-dive safety checks for Buoyancy, Weights, Releases, Air and 'Final okay' - and that's where the mnemonic comes in (sorry Bruce!). It sounds complicated, but it's actually quite a simple task - even for someone like me, who's never even had a swim at the beach, let alone descended 18 metres below the water's surface.

Equipment thoroughly examined, we head off to the bay for the final dive. As we slowly descend, an unseen enchanting world emerges before my eyes. Thousands of colourful fish of all shapes and sizes gently weave through this captivating underwater garden: amberjack, bream, red mullet and parrot fish are some of the many species that form Gozo's incredible marine life population. Hundreds of bream, shimmering in the water with silvery translucent bodies slowly glide past as we gradually move deeper. A spiky sea urchin slightly startles me as it scatters its spores into the ocean; we also sight a sea cucumber, fireworm, cardinals and a bright orange starfish resting on the rocks.

Our instructor Richard Salter spots a tiny octopus tucked away beneath the green seaweed - I can hardly believe my eyes. The entire experience is an amazing technicolour dream come to life - I feel like I've swum into the exotic, magical world of Finding Nemo.
After touching our deepest point at 18.5 metres and negotiating a rocky tunnel, I realise how breathing through a regulator and moving weightlessly has become second nature in only a few days.

We have enrolled to take part in a PADI course with St Andrew's Divers Cove in Xlendi. The programme aims to provide beginners like me with the basic skills for dives to up 18 metres. St Andrew's is a friendly dive centre, and a magnet for divers from around the world. The centre not only has 11 instructors but is just a few steps away from Xlendi Bay, which is perfect for newcomers like us, who are staying at St Patrick's Hotel nearby.

As a first-time diver, I have my apprehensions. Thankfully, Richard immediately puts us at ease, reassuring us that diving is actually one of the safest sports - providing you follow the rulebook, have reliable equipment, and you never dive alone or beyond your experience. "Diving is fun and amazing, but being complacent about your gear could get you into trouble," Richard warns us. With more 6,000 logged dives, he knows a thing or two about what could go wrong. "Diving is not a contest," he tells us in one of our training sessions. "The slower you move, the better diver you are."

During training Richard takes us through the basic theory and science of scuba diving. We learn about the effects underwater pressure has on the lungs and why it's important never to ascend or descend too quickly.. The trick is not to panic, which is easier said than done - especially when we are removing our regulators and masks underwater, simulating real-life scenarios, such as running out of air or losing our masks. The experience feels strange at first, but once we start trusting the equipment, we are hooked. I can't wait to get my PADI Open Water Diver scuba certification.

Seeing the world underwater is a dream for many people, and I consider myself fortunate I did not have to travel very far. A little over three hours away from London by flight, Gozo is pretty much on our doorstep. Home to more than 60 dive sites, Malta and Gozo have been awarded the second best diving destination in the world by Diver magazine last year (Egypt came first), because of their range of exciting wrecks and diversity of marine life.

While Gozo has one of the most incredible underwater environments, there's lots to do on this tiny island if you want to stay on land. Xlendi itself is a popular tourist destination, brimming with restaurants offering local fish and Mediterranean cuisine - and the secluded bay is the ideal place to unwind and catch the sunset. Gelateria Granola in Xlendi, I am told, is one of the best ice cream shops in Europe and the tiramisu flavour I order is absolutely delicious. Further afield is the Azure Window (or Tieqa Zerqa in Maltese) - a limestone arch near Dwejra Bay, popular with scuba divers as well as visitors. The site has featured in many films and television series, including Game Of Thrones. Mgarr Ix-Xini, a breathtaking, peaceful strip of blue water between two cliffs is also worth a visit. At the entrance to the bay are the crumbled remains of a coastal tower built by the Knights of St. John in 1658.

Malta itself is only a short ferry ride away, and we dock at Cirkewwa Harbour for a day of sightseeing. We drive through the island, past the busy beaches and cacti-strewn landscape to the capital Valletta - which was awarded World Heritage Site status by UNESCO in 1980. The Grand Harbour is resplendent with history and character - from Fort Ricasoli, built by the Knights of Malta in 1693, to the beautifully restored 16th century warehouses and the leafy Upper Barrakka Gardens. Fort Ricasoli is occasionally used for filming - Russell Crowe is said to have wielded his sword while filming Gladiator within these fortified walls.

Malta is blessed with natural harbours and has long been a hub of commerce, but its strategic location means the country has been invaded by numerous rampaging forces. "Malta, Gozo and Comino were invaded many, many times - and fought over by the Phoenicians, Romans, French and British," our guide Nicolette Camilleri tells us. As a result, huge fortifications, including Fort St Elmo, had to be built around Valletta to deter the Turks from further invasion. Centuries later, British-ruled Malta was a target of more than 15,000 tonnes of bombs in the Second World War - becoming the most bombed location during the war. Malta was awarded the George Cross in 1942 as official recognition of the country's bravery.

We hop on to a traditional Maltese water taxi, known as 'dghajsa', for a leisurely ride through the harbour to the Vittoriosa Waterfront. Here, al fresco dining spots overlook the marina and private luxury yachts. (Chelsea football tycoon Roman Abramovich is said to have one docked here.) Among other attractions is the majestic St John's Co-Cathedral, hosting a treasure trove of priceless paintings. Built for the Knights of St. John in the 16th century, the building boasts spectacular ornate interiors with roof panels depicting scenes from John the Baptist's life. The island still retains a colonial feel and plenty of British references with old-fashioned red telephone and pillar boxes. The 'Silent City' of M'dina, with its narrow cobbled streets and mix of medieval and baroque architecture, makes it one of the most enchanting places on the island.

We conclude our tour by heading off to Rabat countryside for a quiet lunch at Rogantino's, the perfect place to get away from the crowded seaside. The 500-year-old building, which was refurbished to become a popular dining spot, exudes homely charm and rustic ambience. Rogantino's houses a variety of wines, including port and sherry dating back to the 1920s. The owner, Tony Grech, happened to come across a cache of fortified wines at a warehouse that had been abandoned 65 years ago.

As we relax in the restaurant gardens, unwinding with a glass of local chardonnay and admiring the overlooking lush vineyards, I begin to understand why the Maltese islands draw so many visitors from across the UK. Malta and Gozo may be diminutive islands, but they're priceless little gems floating in the Mediterranean, captivating us with a wealth of amazing, exotic attractions - on land and underwater.

Feature Credit: Nilima Marshall, Press Association

Image Credit: Rob Smith, St. Andrews Diver's Cove

If you haven’t discovered Marsa Alam yet, this resort is one that really does tick every box. Boat Diving. Shore Diving. House Reef Diving. Dugongs and Dolphins. Sharks. Wrecks. Legendary sites. Marsa Alam has it all!

Well-known as the liveaboard gateway to the Southern Red Sea, Marsa Alam is growing in popularity for its land-based diving. The range of diving here is simply mind-blowing… and unique in the Red Sea. Combine shore dives along the 100km stretch of pristine coastal reef, with boat trips to legendary Elphinstone and Sha’ab Samadai (Dolphin House). Take a jeep safari to visit the stunning seagrass habitat of Marsa Abu Dabbab and say hello to Dennis the Dugong and his turtle friends.

Choose from a great range of accommodation to suit all budgets and holiday styles.  Our Port Ghalib hotels offer the best access to boat diving and evening entertainment in the marina. Or get away from it all at one of our beachfront resorts. We can tailor-make a flexible dive package to combine boat, shore and house reef dive options at most resorts.

What’s more Marsa Alam can be reached with ease from both Hurghada & Marsa Alam airports, allowing greater choice of airlines, flight price and travel dates. 

Discover more about Marsa Alam here... with packages from just £399pp, this destination is sure to exceed your expectations.

For those who are as passionate about above-the-water adventure as they are about below-the-water exploration, then Regaldive has the ideal offering. Having teamed up with our sister company, adventure travel specialist Explore, we can offer divers the best of both worlds with an action packed dive holiday and Explore Tailormade add-on.

Divers venturing to the Maldives can enhance their adventure with an Explore Tailormade add-on in Sri Lanka. Bringing together sharks, rays and world-class drift dives with shrines, iconic temples, palaces and a Reclining Buddha, there’s no need for divers to compromise on this 12 day combo. After seven days exploring the oceanic volcanic mountain range of the Maldives - home to 26 atolls, a rich marine ecosystem and reefs, sandbars, islands and lagoons - divers will transfer to Sri Lanka. There they will spend five days exploring Dambulla World Heritage Site, the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, the 5th century Sky Fortress and the mountain town of Kandy.

A seven night dive holiday in the Maldives costs from £1,331 per person to include flights transfers and Half Board accommodation. The five day Sri Lanka Sights add-on costs from £440 per person.

Those looking to concentrate on one country can undertake an 11 day dive holiday and self-drive add-on in Oman. Divers can combine Oman’s fascinating underwater life with its famous above-the-water highlights including Nizwa Fort, Jebel Shams, Wadi Bani Awf and Muscat. Below the water, they can venture to the UNESCO protected Daymaniyat Islands, admire the two small wrecks on display at the Fahal Islands, see the larger Al Munassir Wreck and admire a variety of rays, leopard sharks, moray eels, green and hawksbill turtles and scorpion fish.

A seven night dive holiday in Muscat, Oman, costs from £768 per person to include flights, transfers and B&B accommodation. The four day Self Drive Arabian Adventure add-on costs from £365 per person.

Explore Tailormade add-ons are also available in Tanzania, Thailand and Borneo.

Call the Regaldive Team on 01353 659 999 to plan your next adventure!

Regaldive is excited to announce the release of tickets to the 2015 Sardine Run expeditions in South Africa. With tickets to the 2014 expeditions having sold quicker than ever, divers are advised to get in there quick to guarantee their place for next year.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest marine events on the planet, the Sardine Run takes in many phases and sees vast shoals of silver sardines moving over a hundred kilometres up the east coast of Africa. Accompanied by their food source, plankton, the sardines are stalked by predators for the duration of their journey including over 20,000 dolphins, orcas and bryde’s whales; thousands of copper sharks; hundreds of seals; tens of thousands of gannets and storm petrels, and hundreds of sea birds. Humpback and southern right whales can also be seen following the same route as they migrate from their summer feeding grounds to the southern and eastern coast of Africa.

Our nine day expeditions allow divers the unique opportunity to experience first-hand the wonders of the Sardine Run. Guests will travel in small groups and spend seven days diving, swimming and snorkelling in close proximity to the marine life. They will also have the opportunity to partake in optional above-the-water activities including a microlight flight over the Wild Coast, horse riding and trekking.

The 2015 Sardine Run expeditions will take place in the period from 16 June to 24 July 2015, with tickets costing from £2,577 per person for an eight night trip. Longer durations are also available. The price includes full board accommodation at Mbotyi River Lodge, transfers, diving, an expert guide, some dive equipment (cylinders, airfills and weight belt), full air support and a microlight flight, afternoon activities and a donation to a local conservation group.

For further information, call the Regaldive Team on 01353 659 999.