Red roses, chocolate hearts and cards adorned with cupid: love it or loathe it, Valentine's Day is approaching and nothing says romance better than a luxury escape à deux. Whether marooned on a desert island (complete with luxurious creature comforts, naturally), setting sail into the unknown, or making a keystone event truly unforgettable, we've got you covered (without a paper mache heart in sight).
Private Island Escapes
Situated off the coast of Tanzania in its own marine reserve, Thanda Island ('Thanda' literally means 'Love' in Zulu) is your quintessential postcard-perfect paradise… with whale sharks (for February, anyway). Hop across to Mozambique for the wild beaches of &Beyond Vamizi, replete with a private chef, in-room spa treatments and a stargazing tower, not to forget the superb diving (read Neill's experience of Neptune's Arm). For a real bucket list extravaganza, spend a few days marooned on the jungle-clad island of Coral Caye in southern Belize, before heading north to dive the famous Blue Hole.
Sail Away With Me
Possibly the most romantic liveaboard in the world, the Alexa is a private charter yacht which sets sail in the remotest corners of Raja Ampat, so you can dive some of the world's best dive sites (it is home to the highest marine biodiversity on the globe, after all). Out of water, seven members of crew are at your beck and call to make sure your trip is nothing short of spectacular.
Or if you're planning on kicking it up a notch…
A Unique Engagement…
How about diving for your engagement ring?
Start your day with the ultimate breakfast in bed, delivered by a ceremonial Polynesian canoe at Four Seasons Bora Bora before diving for Tahitian pearls hidden in the southern turquoise lagoons, the building block for a more memorable wedding ring.
If you believe that diamonds are forever then embark on a diamond safari off the coast of South Africa (albeit, unfortunately without Sean Connery). You'll be whisked away by private charter from Cape Town to Port Nolloth to dive the coastline for the perfect diamond. Above water, you'll see the diamond cut and polished whilst toasting over a decadent lunch before being flown back to Cape Town in time for supper.
Already got the ring? Why not propose in Mexico's El Pit cenote, where the freshwater allows for HD visibility while shards of light will make the ring glitter and gleam throughout the cave.
…Followed By A Wedding To Remember
Nothing quite says I love you than a wedding… underwater. In the warm Caribbean seas surrounding Nassau in the Bahamas, write 'I do' in front of a coral-clad wreck, with a memorable wedding party made up of Caribbean reef sharks.
If you're then struggling to top it for your honeymoon, check out our Honeymoon Diving collection.
