The Old Rectory

A former rectory turned into an 18-room hotel, The Old Rectory is aimed at travellers who want the coast close, a proper room to recover in and enough service around them to keep the day uncomplicated. The hotel website is in English, useful when you are arranging the practical details of a stay.

The mood is more grown-up coastal hotel than purpose-built dive lodge. You have direct access to the beach, gardens, an infinity pool, a sun terrace and a spa, while the town's restaurants and bars are close enough to give you an alternative to staying in every evening. For couples, the setting does much of the work; for divers, the useful part is simpler: you can return from the water to air conditioning, a shower, food and a bed without turning the evening into another expedition.

You are in Plettenberg Bay, South Africa, on the beachfront rather than set back behind a road. Wedge Beach is about 0.05 miles away and Central Beach about 0.1 miles, with direct beach access from the property. Lookout Beach is roughly 0.9 miles away, while Robberg Beach is about 1.2 miles away by road.

The location also gives you a few nearby places to change the scenery without planning a major outing. The Bungalow is about 0.05 miles away, and the Ski Boat Club roughly 0.4 miles on foot. Cafe de Alegria is around 0.3 miles away, while Skyy Bar is about 0.5 miles away. For a proper change of landscape, Robberg Nature Reserve is about 4 miles away and Indalo Conservancy around 3.5 miles away.

Plettenberg Bay Country Club is about 2 miles away, and the hotel places you within reach of several nature reserves and wildlife attractions. This is a useful base if your non-diving days involve walking, beaches or excursions rather than simply watching the tide from a balcony.

The two listed room categories are both for two people and both use a super-king bed, so couples get a proper sleeping surface rather than the usual holiday compromise disguised as flexibility. The garden-view room is the more generous choice if you value space around the bed and luggage; the pool-view room makes more sense if the outlook matters more than having the larger footprint.

Air conditioning is the practical detail you will notice most when you come back warm, wet and tired. Rooms also have heating, a fan, soundproofing, a private entrance and a private bathroom with shower, bathrobe, slippers and toiletries. The refrigerator is handy for keeping water cold, while the coffee machine and kettle cover the first drink before you are ready to face the rest of the day.

There is a seating area and desk, along with a flat-screen television and streaming service for the evenings when your legs have voted against going out. Garden views, a patio or terrace and the beachfront setting keep the rooms connected to the coast, while daily housekeeping and luggage storage remove some of the small irritations that accumulate during a diving trip.

Restaurant 1777 serves dinner, giving you an on-site table for the meal that matters most when you have spent the day in the water. The cuisine is Mediterranean, with vegetarian choices available, and the hotel also has a bar for the drink that usually arrives before the menu has been properly studied.

Breakfast is included and covers continental, Full English, vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free choices. That range is useful when one person wants coffee and something light while another is preparing for a full morning in the water. Breakfast can also be taken in your room, which is not a bad arrangement when an early start has made conversation an optional extra.

A minibar, tea and coffee facilities, packed lunches and room service give you ways to keep the timetable flexible. The restaurant is family-friendly and special-diet menus can be arranged, while the nearby Bungalow, Ski Boat Club and local bars give you a few alternatives when you want dinner somewhere else.

The infinity pool, sun terrace and beachfront loungers give you three perfectly respectable ways to spend an afternoon without making any of them sound like an organised activity. Pool and beach towels, sun umbrellas and outdoor seating are available, so you can move from water to shade without conducting a small logistical exercise.

The spa is called The Old Rectory Hotel & Spa and offers massage treatments, including full-body, couples, foot, head, neck, back and hand massage. There is also a steam room, foot bath, spa facilities and a hammam. A couples massage is the obvious choice when two people have returned from the sea with different opinions about whose turn it is to find dinner.

Yoga classes, gardens, a picnic area and board games cover the gentler end of the afternoon. If you want to leave the property, hiking, horse riding, fishing, windsurfing, snorkelling and golf are available nearby, while the hotel can arrange excursions connected with wine and the Plett Winelands. The beach itself is the simplest option, and usually the one requiring the least persuasive speech.

A 24-hour front desk, private check-in and check-out, concierge service, tour desk and luggage storage make arrival and departure reasonably flexible. Check-in runs from 14:00 to midnight, and check-out from 06:00 to 11:00. You need to give the hotel your expected arrival time, particularly if your travel day is likely to run late.

An airport shuttle is available and should be arranged with the hotel. Private parking is available on site without reservation, and Wi-Fi is free throughout the property. Laundry and ironing services are available, as are packed lunches, wake-up calls and room service.

Children of all ages are welcome. Cots and extra beds can be requested, with availability and conditions depending on the selected room. The minimum age for check-in is 18, guests under 18 must check in with a parent or official guardian, and pets are not allowed. Cash and major cards including Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Diners are accepted.