Alexandre Gala

English is spoken by the hotel team, alongside Spanish, German, Italian and French, so you can deal with the practicalities of a diving holiday without resorting to mime over the minibar. Alexandre Gala is a 308-room hotel from the Alexandre Hotels group, with a straightforward resort set-up: pool time, a restaurant, several places for a drink, and enough on-site facilities to keep a non-diving day occupied.

The mood changes with the hour. The Bar Hall brings cocktails, live music and a dance floor, while the Chill Out terrace is made for a quieter drink with ocean and La Gomera views. There is also a spa, a gym and family facilities, so the hotel can work for a couple travelling together or for a mixed group in which not everyone considers a second dive before lunch a moral obligation.

You are in Arona, at Avenida Arquitecto Gomez Cuesta 3, in Playa de las Américas, Tenerife, Spain. The beach is directly accessible from the hotel and is sandy, with sun loungers and parasols available. The sea is about 50 metres away, which is close enough for a swim without turning it into a day trip.

Troya Beach, Playa de las Américas and the Magma Art and Congress Centre are among the nearby points of interest. Arona's town centre is about 4 miles away, so this is a coastal base rather than a town-centre hotel. The setting suits you if you want restaurants, beach access and resort life close by, with the hotel itself keeping the return journey pleasantly short.

For two divers, the standard double room keeps things simple with twin beds, air conditioning and soundproofing. That combination matters more than brochure poetry when one of you is trying to sleep after an early start and the other has not yet adjusted to the local rhythm. A private bathroom, towels, toiletries and a hairdryer cover the routine practicalities, while the wardrobe gives wet-weather clothing and evening clothes somewhere to go.

The Club Alexandre twin room follows the same twin-bed layout and adds the same useful basics: air conditioning, a minibar, safe, television and tea- or coffee-making facilities. Choose this type if your priority is a slightly more club-oriented room category rather than a different sleeping arrangement.

For a family or a group of up to four, the Family Quadruple room is the sensible option. The rooms are non-smoking, and room service operates during limited hours, so it is worth treating it as a fallback rather than a guaranteed late-night supper plan. Housekeeping conveniences include laundry, ironing and dry-cleaning services, while the safe gives passports and small valuables a proper home.

Kalahari is the main restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner indoors, with international dishes alongside Canary Island cooking. Breakfast is a buffet from 7.30am, with freshly baked pastries, tropical juices and special dishes; the arrangement is practical for a diving morning, although no specific early breakfast or packed lunch service is listed. Meal plans range from breakfast only to half board, full board and all-inclusive, depending on the booking chosen.

There is one restaurant and three distinct drinking spots. Bar Hall is the lobby bar for cocktails, mixed drinks and soft drinks, with live music and dancing. Around the pool, Amazonas Snack Bar covers coffee, ice cream and snacks during the day. It is the place to land when you want something small without committing to a full meal.

Chill Out is the evening counterpoint: an open terrace with ocean and La Gomera views, background music and a jacuzzi. Room service is available during limited hours, and a café and snack bar add further options when a full restaurant meal feels like overkill.

Three outdoor pools divide the water time sensibly between adults, heated adults and children. That gives you room for an easy swim or a few quiet lengths without making the main pool the only possible plan. The hotel also has a sun terrace, direct access to a sandy beach, loungers and parasols.

The Natural Spa Wellness Centre is the heavier piece of recovery kit, with massages, facials, a hammam, sauna, jacuzzi and hydrotherapy. A treatment after a day in the water is an option; so is doing absolutely nothing afterwards, which remains a respectable holiday activity. The fitness area and gym offer a way to stretch the legs, with Zumba and fitness classes for anyone who prefers structure.

On land, you can use the library, billiards, table tennis, darts or the hotel’s entertainment programme, which includes performances, contests and live music. A kids’ club, children’s pool and play area make the property workable for families, while the garden and terraces give you places to sit when the room feels too small and the bar feels too lively.

The nearest airport is about 9.3 miles away. An airport shuttle is available as a paid service, and car hire can be arranged through the hotel. On site, you have free Wi-Fi throughout, a 24-hour reception, a lift, luggage-related services, a cash machine, currency exchange and a concierge service. Parking is available as a paid facility.

Check-in starts at 2pm and check-out is by noon. Early arrival and late departure can be requested, subject to the hotel’s arrangements. Express check-in and check-out are also available, which is useful when the return journey is timed around transport rather than your preferred pace.

Laundry, dry cleaning and ironing are available, with some of these services treated as chargeable extras. The hotel accepts cash, Visa, Mastercard and American Express. A conference room and business facilities cover the occasional work requirement, although the more convincing reason to bring a laptop is to check tomorrow’s conditions rather than attend a meeting.

The practical side of the property is clearer: free Wi-Fi throughout, laundry and housekeeping services, pools, a spa and a direct beach connection.