Family Traveler

81sportunderastranger’ssupervisionisnerve-wracking.ButtheFourSeasons’qualityofserviceextendstoitslargediveoperation,lendingmuch-neededcouragetoquailingparents.Housedinthemarinecentre,it’sstaffedby 13 instructors,whospeak 11 languagesbetweenthem,andruledwitharodofironandsurfeitofcharmbyAngela.Therecouldn’tbeamoreprofessionalandreassuringset-uptowhichyoucouldentrustyourchildren.Fourdaysofstudyandpracticediveslater,withhisnewfoundfriendandinstructorSabrina,Danwasacertifiedscubadiver,readytoembarkonhisoceandivingdebut.Forme,itwasadreamfulfilled,butalsounnervingtobe12 mbelowthesurfaceoftheIndianOceanwithbothmyminnowsintow.Howtinyandvulnerabletheyseemed,flailingarounddwarfedbytheirtanksandfins.Well,thatwasDanandme,atleast;mydaughterispartmermaid,asgracefulasanyofthemarinelifearoundher.Watchingthemexploreandexcitedlypointoutcomicalcreaturesthey’dpreviouslyonlyseenonscreenallowedmeapreciousandall-too-raremomentofprideformypartintheirinduction.Thatsaid,Icouldhavedonewithoutmysafety-conscioussoncontinuallycheckingmyairconsumption–there’sdefinitelyacareerinhealthandsafetyaheadforthatboy.Onourlastnight,welazedunderasilverywaningmoon,dazzledbytheinfinityofstars,recliningonfloorcushionsonthelaidbackjettybar.Aswesippedcocktails,thekidstriedtoidentifyfishandsmallsharksinthelamp-litoceanbeneathus.AyoungRussiangirlMariellaandcoare(wet)suitedandbooted``````wokeusfromourreveriewithacryof,‘Look,aMantaRay,’andwiththeconfidenceoftheirnewfoundexpertise,IheardMollyandDanpolitelyandprecociouslyputherstraight.‘Actually,it’saneagleray–wesawtwoonourdivetoday!’It’saholidaymemoryI’mstillsavouring,andtheperfectconclusiontoacrammedweekwhereweembracedmostoftheactivitiestheoceanhastoofferandsomewehadn’tevenimaginedexisted.Withsomanywaterypastimesonoffer,fromwaterskiingtowakeboarding,jetskiingtosnorkellingand,let’snotforget,ournewfavouritetheJetPackJoyRide,itwashardworktocommitmyselftoinertia...thoughIcanassureyou,Igaveitmybestshot.``````GETTINGTHEREPriceduringschoolsummerholidays:Kuoni(kuoni.co.uk)offerssevennightsB&BattheFourSeasonsResortMaldivesLandaaGiraavaruinabeachbungalowwithpool,includingreturnflightsLondonGatwickandseaplanetransfers.From£13,7 41 forafamilyoffour(departing14 August 201 6,twoadults,twochildrenaged2-11,sharing)``````LEARN-TO-DIVECOURSES:PADISealTeam,£3 255 aquamissions+PADISealTeammanual&DVD(min 8 years)OpenWaterCourse,£6 253 to 4 days’trainingPricesincludeequipmentrental,boatchargesanddiveguides,unlessotherwisespecified.Allpricessubjectto23.2%servicechargeandgoodsandservicestaxTHEMALDIVES:THELOWDOWNlearnto...scubadive