well travelled

Diving enthusiast Penelope Granycome sinks into the translucent seas of the Turks and Caicos Islands for thrilling aquatic adventures and a hiatus from her anxious mind

D escending into the blue, joy surges through my body as we float over a dramatic underwater cliff. Hard and soft coral is framed by a school of yellowtail snappers, while inquisitive Caribbean reef sharks swim close by to give us the eye, their bodies undulating with the grace and instinct only sharks possess. I can’t help but smile into my regulator at their presence – their energy and beauty. I don’t feel afraid, I feel in awe.

Trust and surrender

Nothing makes my heart surge with happiness more than being submerged in the underwater world. Scuba diving is akin to a moving meditation, and it can draw out underlying anxieties as if by osmosis. The camaraderie and wonder of taking part in this peer-reliant sport, while immersed in glorious nature, releases a double dose of endorphins that is pretty hard to beat – and never more so than in these incredible azure waters.

I am staying at the Sandals all-inclusive Beaches Resort hotel in Grace Bay – 12 miles of sweeping, white sandy beach on the north shore of the island of Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos archipelago. Voted the world’s best beach in the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice awards, Grace Bay is famous for couples wanting to relax together, marry or rekindle romance lost in the stress and bustle of modern life. For families, there is a range of activities and lovely, child-friendly restaurants.