DIVING enthusiast Glen Smith has won the prize of a lifetime – a trip round the world.

The £12,500 ten-week holiday will take him diving around ten of the world’s most exclusive sites, from the Galapagos Islands to Mozambique and Belize.

After winning Diver Magazine’s competition, the 41-year-old has been told to expect encounters with the ocean’s most exotic creatures, from great white sharks to rare jellyfish, spotted dolphins and sting rays.

The trip has been described as ‘the ultimate diving experience’ by diving expert Monty Halls, who is leading the voyage.

‘I can’t remember the last time I entered a competition,’ said Glen, ‘but maybe I’ll enter a few more from now on! I had to send in a new feature for the magazine and suggested a through-the-keyhole experience of people’s dives, the places they had been, the operators they had used and whether they thought they were good, bad or ugly.

‘I think most people just sent in ideas – but I’m a creative director at Image Advertising and I designed some pages in the style of the magazine.’ Glen could not have designed a better holiday if he had tried.

He and 12 others were travelling to Belize yesterday before heading for the crystal-clear waters off the Bahamas, Cortez, Florida, Galapagos, New Zealand, Palau, Mozambique and South Africa.

‘From the coast from Mozambique down to the Cape there are more sharks than anywhere in the world,’ said Glen.

‘I’ve seen them before and was a bit apprehensive about going in with them, but when you see sharks, they’re so graceful you can’t help but be in awe of them.

‘They do get a bad press, but most shark attacks are through interference from people or mistaken identity.’ After winning the competition, Glen’s excitement turned to anguish as he faced the reality of leaving a wife, two young children and a busy job for ten weeks.

‘After the excitement of winning I was met with a raft of problems,’ he said.

‘Luckily, my wife and employer have been very understanding.

As a family we’re joined at the hip and I wonder whether I’ll be able to enjoy it without the people who are closest to me.

I won’t know that until I get there.

But I’m sure it will be great.’ Glen had been scheduled to go in 2003 but the aftermath of September 11 and the outbreak of the Sars virus delayed his trip until now.