Royal Life Poseidon Residences Long Beach

English is spoken by the hotel team, alongside German and Russian, so you can deal with the practical details without resorting to underwater hand signals. Royal Life Poseidon Residences Long Beach is an aparthotel with a private beach area, garden, terrace, bar and seasonal outdoor pool, suited to divers who prefer room to spread out rather than a standard hotel box.

The mood is easy-going and self-contained. You have a kitchenette, a dining table, a balcony and a washing machine in the accommodation, while the site also brings in a minimarket, hairdresser, fitness room and children's facilities. It is the sort of base that works when your day revolves around the sea, but your evening does not have to.

You are in Iskele, directly on Long Beach, with a 200-metre stretch of golden sand in front of the property. Sun loungers, parasols, showers and a beach bar keep the practical business of getting from room to water fairly painless. Makenzi Public Beach is about 0.7 miles away on foot if you want a change of shoreline.

The location also gives you room to explore by car. St Barnabas Monastery is about 6 miles away, while Othello Tower and the Venetian Palace are each roughly 10 miles away. Ercan Airport is about 27 miles by road; Larnaca International Airport is about 35 miles by road. The airport transfer exists as a bookable service, and car hire is available if you want to cover more ground.

The Studio with Ocean View is the obvious choice when you want an apartment rather than somewhere merely large enough to sleep. It combines a sea view and balcony with a seating area, sofa bed and dining table, giving you somewhere to sit while the kit dries on you and the day slowly comes back into focus. A lift serves the upper floors.

The kitchenette is properly useful rather than decorative: refrigerator, stovetop, dishwasher, coffee machine, kettle and kitchenware are all there. Add the washing machine and you can deal with salt, sand and repeat clothing without turning the bathroom into a laundry room. Air conditioning handles the hot part of the night, while a mosquito net is provided for another small but worthwhile comfort.

A private bathroom has a shower, hairdryer and towels. The room also has free WiFi, a television, wardrobe space, ironing facilities and a drying rack for clothing. Family rooms are available, and the accommodation works particularly well for anyone who values a little domestic control over fixed hotel routines.

Half-board is the house formula, with breakfast served as a buffet from 07:00. Poseidon Restaurant covers breakfast, lunch and dinner, serving international cuisine on a terrace with sea views. The dress code is smart casual, which means you can move from the water to the table without pretending you have packed a tuxedo.

For something looser, Ocean Bar sits on the beach and serves light snacks and cocktails from 10:00 to 18:00. It covers lunch and dinner as well, with a casual dress code and the sea a few steps away. The separate Poseidon Bar is the lobby bar, focused on cocktails when you want a drink away from the sand.

Room service runs around the clock, useful when your appetite arrives at an antisocial hour or you would rather stay in after a long day outside. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are available. The property also has a barbecue, while the in-room kitchenette gives you the fallback of making coffee, preparing something simple or keeping drinks cold.

The main pool is outdoors and includes a swim-up bar, with loungers and umbrellas around it. There is also a water slide, so the pool area is not designed solely for silent laps and solemn contemplation. The private beach offers the quieter alternative, with direct access to the golden sand and the sea.

Poseidon Spa covers 200 square metres and includes massages, facials, a hammam, sauna and jacuzzi. That gives you several ways to loosen shoulders that have spent the day carrying a cylinder. A fitness room and yoga are available too, although the more sensible post-dive discipline may be finding a shaded lounger and staying there.

When you want to move without making a project of it, cycling, hiking, kayaking, paddleboarding, snorkelling and boat excursions are available. Jet skiing, billiards, darts and tennis equipment are also offered. Families have a kids' club for children aged 4 to 12, children's activities, a children's pool, children's menu and babysitting, so the property can accommodate more than one definition of a relaxing afternoon.

Free private parking is available on site, with no reservation needed, and WiFi is free throughout the property. The hotel can arrange an airport shuttle and other shuttle services; these are bookable services to organise with the property before arrival. Luggage storage, concierge assistance, car hire, laundry and dry cleaning are also available, with a doctor obtainable on request.

Check-in runs from 15:00 to midnight and check-out from 08:00 to 11:00. You need to give the property your expected arrival time in advance. Private and express check-in and check-out are available, which is handy when flight times refuse to behave sensibly.

Payment is accepted in cash, Visa and Mastercard. Smoking is not allowed, and parties or events are not permitted. The property welcomes children of all ages, while pets are not accepted. Upper floors are accessible by lift, and the accommodation includes air conditioning, heating and non-smoking rooms.