World Traveller November 2019

BEST SWIMS
Adaaran Select Meedhupparu
POSTER-PERFECT PLUNGE
Raa Atoll, the Maldives
If you’re lucky, you’re the first person
here. You pad a virgin trail of footprints
from bungalow to sea, and stretch out
on the cool sand. Picking up snorkel
gear, you chat with the hut attendant
about recent star sightings (‘There’s
a lionfish about — you might have
to dive down to see it’), before your
flippers propel you past the shallows,
to that crescent of pulsating coral
you’ve become addicted to. Here,
20 strokes from the beach and an
arm’s length from your mask, sea that
looked a blanket turquoise from your
seaplane reveals swirls of Day-Glo
parrotfish, sail-shaped Moorish idols
and blue tangs. Then, there’s that surly
lionfish. You watch its striped mohican
slink down to where the reef drops off
to an intimidating indigo. Head full of
ocean colour scenes, you paddle back
to laze by the pool for an hour at least.
That reef’s not going anywhere.
BUCKET-LIST DIP
The Dead Sea, Jordan
Cleopatra bathed here, King David hid
here from Saul, Jesus was baptised
upriver — even Herod slipped on his
Speedos for a dip. You’re floating in a
sea of history, and the amazing thing
is, despite the corporate hotel chains
thronging the shores, it still feels
transcendent. That salt stings, though,
which is why it’s best to access the
water via a hotel’s (with its freshwater
pools and showers for after). Try to keep
the salt out of any cuts or grazes, and
don’t shave any part of your body the
day you plunge!
SECRET SPLASH
Pigeon Island, St Lucia
You didn’t come here to swim, but you’ll
miss out if you don’t. Pigeon Island is
a former British military fort, now a
national park, at St Lucia’s northern tip.
Stretch your legs on the spiralling hike
to its hilltop, snapping the obligatory
photo with the cannons there. You’ll be
trekking back down just as the sticky
heat of late morning sets in — so first
slip down to the curves of sand on its
south side for a secret swim. There’s
a public loo to change in, and shade
from the trees. Kick off your shoes and
plunge into the Listerine-fresh ocean.
HOTEL POOL HEAVEN
Grand Hotel Tremezzo,
Lake Como
Outside, you have the glittering expanse
of Lake Como and a ‘secret’ garden
pool — all visible from your room. Inside,
there’s a velvet-red staircase to sweep
down as you head for dinner in your
best holiday togs. But, floating in the
lake, as smugly as George Clooney on
his hols is this special swim spot. It’ll get
in the way of your Como sightseeing —
lizard-still on the hotel’s loungers, drink
in hand and the gelato-cool pool right
by you, you’ll watch the tourist ferry
pass by with no urge to move.
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