Ali Bey Resort Sorgun

Ali Bey Resort Sorgun is a large beachfront resort for divers who want the sea close at hand but do not intend to spend every waking hour discussing tanks and surface intervals. You have the Mediterranean in front of you, gardens covering 100,000 square metres behind you, and plenty on site for the rest of the day. It is also set up for families, with family rooms, a children's club, a kids' pool and an aqua park.

The hotel's website is available in English, Turkish, Russian and German, so English-speaking guests can at least find their way around the essentials before arrival. Inside the resort, the useful comforts are straightforward: air conditioning, free Wi-Fi throughout, daily housekeeping, room service and a 24-hour reception. In other words, the practical business of recovering from a day in the water is well covered.

You are in Side, Turkey, directly on the beach, rather than in Alanya. The resort has a private beach area, a sun terrace, outdoor furniture and balconies facing the Mediterranean or the gardens. That makes the shoreline part of the hotel rather than an excursion requiring transport, which is exactly the sort of geography that becomes useful when your legs have already done their share of work underwater.

Side's historic sights are close enough for a non-diving afternoon or evening out. Side Antique City, the amphitheatre and Side Museum are around 1.7 miles away on foot, while the Temples of Apollo and Athena are roughly 2 miles away. Manavgat Waterfall is about 6 miles from the resort, and Titreyengol is around 2.6 miles away on foot. Antalya Airport is approximately 44 miles away by road.

Every guest room has a private balcony looking towards the sea and the resort gardens, so you have somewhere to sit with a coffee while the kit, the legs and the brain all return to normal speed. Air conditioning matters here: the Mediterranean does not provide a cool-down merely because you have spent the morning underwater. Rooms also have a private bathroom with a bath or shower, towels, slippers, a bathrobe, toiletries and a hairdryer.

For two, the Deluxe Suite gives you more breathing space than a standard room, while the Deluxe Room can accommodate three with two single beds and a sofa bed. Families have larger choices, including the Family Suite and Duplex Suite, both designed for up to four guests; the duplex version has two bathrooms, which is a small but useful detail when four people are trying to get ready at once. The family options for two adults and two children up to 12 years old are separate room categories, so check the selected arrangement carefully rather than assuming that every family room works in the same way.

A coffee machine and electric kettle help with the first drink of the day, and a minibar is available in the room. Wardrobes and a clothes rack keep the everyday clutter under control, while a flat-screen TV with satellite channels is there for the evening when nobody has the energy for anything more ambitious than sitting down.

Three restaurants cover the main meals, with fresh seafood and Turkish specialities at the centre of the offer. Breakfast is continental and buffet-style, which gives you the useful option of eating lightly before a morning on the water or building a proper plate when the first dive is not in a hurry. There are also children's meals, a child-friendly buffet and special-diet menus available on request.

Five bars give you more than one place to stop for a drink, and the on-site café serves traditional pastries. A snack bar is available for the awkward gap between returning from the beach and sitting down to eat properly. Wine and champagne are also available, along with a minibar in your room.

The resort includes themed dinner nights and live music or performances, so the evening can stay on site when you would rather not organise another outing. Room service gives you a quieter alternative when a full restaurant feels like an expedition.

The aqua park and water slide are the obvious choices for anyone who still has energy left after the sea. Outdoor swimming pools, a separate kids' pool, sun loungers and umbrellas give you easier ways to spend the afternoon. If your ideal post-dive activity is lying down and moving only one hand towards a cold drink, the resort does not require you to be more ambitious.

Samara Spa is the place for a slower reset, with massage, facial treatments, a hammam, sauna, jacuzzi, mud bath and body wraps. There is also a spa lounge and relaxation area, alongside beauty services. Massage and spa facilities are available as services, while the fitness centre, fitness classes and personal trainer are there for guests who prefer to put their muscles back to work.

For more active days, you have tennis courts and tennis lessons, water sports, darts, table tennis, archery and a games room. Tennis equipment and court use carry an additional charge. Evening entertainment, themed dinners, live performances and bingo keep the resort lively after dark, while the kids' club, playground and indoor play area give younger travellers their own programme.

Check-in starts from 14:00 and check-out runs until 12:00. The reception is open around the clock, with private check-in and check-out, luggage storage and a wake-up service. Free private parking is available on site without a reservation, and car hire is available if you want to explore Side, Manavgat or the surrounding coast at your own pace.

Antalya Airport is about 44 miles away by road. An airport shuttle and a general shuttle service are available through the resort; these are services to arrange with the hotel before travelling. The resort also has a minimarket, a barber and beauty shop, laundry, dry cleaning and ironing services, although the latter services carry an additional charge.

Children of any age are welcome, and there is no age requirement for check-in. Cots can be requested for children aged two and under, subject to the selected room arrangement and availability; extra beds are not available. The resort is non-smoking, pets are not allowed, and cash is an accepted payment method.