Pia and Paul's visit, February 2007

Pia loved the boat trip we did with Gibbs last time she was here, so we did it again with Paul. The boat is kept at the Vigie marina.

This is the view across to Elaine's and my favourite restaurant, The Coal Pot, on the other side.

Our second favourite, Froggie Jacques, is behind where we were standing. We all went there for dinner on Valentine's night.

Lunch at Smuggler's Cove

After stopping for a snorkel at Anse Cochon we went on down to Soufriere for lunch at what used to be the old Courthouse. The loos are now where the cells used to be, complete with heavy door and high, barred window!

The food is delicious and here are Pia, Paul and Gibbs, our boat's 'captain' enjoying a drink whilst our lunch was prepared.

From on the water to beneath it

Pia and Paul both wanted to try scuba diving so I had arranged this with my friend Lincoln. He has been instructing for many years and although he's a 'life and soul of the party' person off-duty he's totally focussed when he's working and I had complete confidence that he would look after P and P beautifully.

Dive Fair Helen are very safety conscious and the kids had to fill out comprehensive medical forms before they were accepted as divers. They then had a preliminary lesson in the small pool at JJ's Paradise, next to the dive shop and offices, to familiarise them with the equipment.

It wasn't very far on the boat to the dive site, so they didn't have to wait very long for their Big Dip.

Introducing the equipment

First came a lesson at the small indoor pool to introduce them to the equipment they will be using: the tank, the inflatable BDC and the breathing apparatus.

They need to be comfortable with this on land and in the pool before they go any further.

They look a bit dubious, don't they?

Deep breathing

Air is supplied to the diver via a hose and a regulator, a mouthpiece a bit like the one on a snorkel.

The first step is to practise with these and get comfortable breathing through them.

Then you get in the pool and do the same thing with your face under water.

Then into the pool to try it all out

Lincoln fastens the BCD (inflatable jacket, to which the tank is attached) around Pia and makes sure she is comfortable.

She then had to do a few laps of the pool underwater, getting used to breathing through the regulator before she went into the sea.

He did this with Paul too. Then onto the boat for the real thing!

And off we went. The dive boats are based at Marigot Bay (where some of the rich people have their yachts - and houses!).

It is one of the most famous bays in St Lucia and the movie, Dr Doolittle was filmed here.

OK, let's go!

'OK guys, this is IT!'

Lincoln leads the way into the water, followed by a very nervous Pia and - not quite sure how Paul felt at this point!

. . . . . and safely back again!

Although I should be used to it by now, it's still a funny feeling watching someone who matters to me disappearing below the surface of the sea - and a great relief when they return safely to the dive boat afterwards!

Both Pia and Paul said they want to do this again, which I think is a great compliment to Lincoln, their instructor.