48 METRO Thursday, November 30, 2017
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News | Deals | Round-ups
For… Small beer
Two Londoners have launched what they say is the world’s first brewery dedicated to strong-flavoured session beers between 0.5 per cent and 2.8. per cent ABV. Bermondsey’s Small Beer Brewery will initially launch a Pilsner and a dark lager.
Sunken treasure: Jason deCaires Taylor’s Museo Atlántico
For… Australian white ibis
Despite rumours of Birdy McBirdface-style mockery, the much-maligned ‘bin chicken’ – so called for its trash-raiding habit – currently leads an online poll to find Australia’s bird of the year for 2017. Voting closes on December 9 (birdlife.org.au).
Good week
breathtaking! Bad Week
For… Secondary smokers
A policy to ban smoking on the streets of South Korean capital Seoul has been unexpectedly shelved. ‘The [definition of] public smoking is too broad,’ complained a Seoul City official, ‘so instead we may designate more non-smoking areas.’
For… Parisian pavements
Examining Parisian clichés – rudeness and dogs, among others – local comedian Julie Collas confirmed to website The Local that pavement dog poo was a real problem. ‘You know where you get the most? Outside schools. People don’t care here.’
You don’t need to leave Europe to find superb scuba diving – just head to affordable, sun-soaked Lanzarote, says Richard Mellor
W
hile scuba diving is often see, though, as they bury themselves into the sea floor while waiting to ambush prey.’ synonymous with exotic, faraway waters like the Among the other headline marine life are moray eels, butterfly rays, barracudas, Caribbean or Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, hammerhead sharks, dolphins there are opportunities closer and octopuses. And also here, just offshore, is the world’s to home. Specialist Dive Worldwide first underwater sculpture park: British artist Jason has just launched a European alternative: deCaires Taylor’s Museo Lanzarote, in the balmy Atlántico (facebook.com/ Canary Islands, a fourmuseoatlantico). hour flight from London. Wright says Lanzarote suits newly qualified Warm with excellent divers. ‘Professional and visibility, the destination’s friendly staff, plus shallow, southern seas contain lavagentle waters, make this the formed reefs, small caverns, ledges and the odd barnacleperfect place for those still a .Luxury: Stay at the. little nervous in the sea,’ she covered shipwreck. So what might you spy? adds. Plenty of learn-to-dive .Sandos Papagayo resort. courses are also available. ‘Keep your eyes peeled for the Dive Worldwide’s trip is offered on a small endangered angel shark [aka monkfish],’ says product manager Sarah Wright. ‘It’s private, tailor-made basis, so you can go thought that the remaining population is mainly when you want and do what you want. The found around the Canaries. They’re difficult to suggested itinerary is seven nights, including
five mornings of underwater exploration in tandem with Rubicon Diving, a PADI five-star training centre that will ferry you and a few other divers around some of Lanzarote’s 30-plus scuba sites. You can choose between two all-inclusive hotels, both in the resort town of Playa Blanca. The Marconfort Atlantic Gardens Bungalows offers whitewashed rooms with two pools, tennis and a spa, while the bigger, pricier Sandos Papagayo is beachside, with four pools and more of a resort feel. Afternoons are left free so you can either do more diving (at an extra cost), investigate Playa Blanca’s beach or shops, settle down over some grilled seafood or head inland to explore. Whatever you do, pack the SPF – there’s yearround sunshine here, with temperatures averaging 17C even in January. From £1,195pp for seven nights all-inclusive, including flights from London, transfers and ten dives, diveworldwide.com