A new study has listed Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt as the top location in the world for diving holidays.
The report, conducted by Cheapflights.co.uk, celebrates the protected reefs off the Sinai Peninsula, with their abundance and variety of coral and sea creatures such as clownfish, sea eels and blacktip reef sharks.
The resort is also particularly popular with backpackers and holidaymakers as a result of its beautiful white sandy beaches and lively nightlife.
Nadine Hallak, the website's travel expert, said: "Personally the Red Sea is one of my favourite diving spots. Not only does it have remarkable coral reefs and marine life, but it also boasts some of the best shipwrecks in the world.
"For example, diving the Thistlegorm, which was a military supply ship, is truly astounding and offers the diver the surreal experience of swimming past motorbikes, jeeps and even Wellington boots which are still lined up perfectly as though they were still on their way to their next port of call."
The rest of the top five comprised the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, Maria la Gorda and the Jardines de la Reina Islands in Cuba (third place), the Maldives and Belize.
Filling the other top ten positions were: the island of Cozumel on the eastern tip of Mexico, the Turks and Caicos Islands, Maui in Hawaii, Sipadan Island in northern Borneo and St Croix in the US Virgin Islands.
It almost goes without saying that anyone looking to participate in scuba diving while on holiday should ensure they are covered by their backpacker travel insurance policy.
