Penelope Granycome

PENELOPE GRANYCOME knew Sicily but had never sampled its scuba-diving – a trip to the small island off its north coast gave her the opportunity to find out why it was so highly rated.

You don’t need to be a full-on cave diver to enjoy the spectacular cenotes of the Yucatan peninsula, though a week spent exploring the caverns in good company could give you the appetite to delve deeper, as PENELOPE GRANYCOME discovers. Photos by KATHY HUGHES

In parts of the world divers are waging a hard-to-win battle against invasive lionfish – but when these fish strike back, it can be to devastating effect. PENELOPE GRANYCOME reports

The playful grey seals of the Farne Islands are guaranteed to put smiles on divers’ faces – PENELOPE GRANYCOME reports on a weekend trip that a mixed weather forecast could not spoil, with photography by ALEX HU and video by MARK PUSEY.

PENELOPE GRANYCOME is not an underwater photographer, but that didn’t stop her looking, learning and enjoying a photo-workshop trip hosted by pro Mario Vitalini on the liveaboard Hurricane in the southern Egyptian Red Sea.

Director of photography Rob Franklin has long been a first call when big underwater filming projects are in the wind. PENELOPE GRANYCOME talks to him about BBC boot-camps, Blue Planet challenges, a whisky-fuelled fantasy in Mexico and how best to turn pools green.

Does scuba diving reduce stress? Diving enthusiast Penelope Granycome discovers the underwater benefits of scuba diving for mindfulness, meditation and stress relief when she sinks into the translucent seas of the Turks and Caicos Islands…

Moving slowly into the light:
The global pandemic has been and still is traumatic for us all. Rushing back to 'normal' with unprocessed emotions may not be the most mindful way.

Escaping from the whirl of life into the sublime warm waters and luxury of the Bunaken Oasis Dive in North Sulawesi is pure unadulterated bliss, and an experience not to be missed.
If seeking adventure with unparalleled five-star service, ethical sensitivity and care for the natural environment are factors that impact your travels, then this luxurious Resort may be for you.