My husband loves diving and I can barely swim, so when he told me he had booked a day out on the Pilla Pipa and that I was going snorkelling you can imagine how I felt!

I needn’t have worried, from the very start the crew put me at my ease and we were given a very comprehensive talk on exactly what would be happening – this could have been boring but wasn’t – the crew have been taught to engage with their guests and have a knack of knowing who needs extra attention and giving it.

So, my husband was kitted up and off, or rather down he went for his dive. Me …. I was helped into a buoyancy jacket, shown how to wear my mask and use my mouthpiece and most importantly, how to breath. At first I struggled, do you know how hard it is not to breath in through your nose when you should be breathing in through your mouth. However, once in the water I had no problems and breathing through my mouth came naturally. I was accompanied by a member of the crew all the way. He was gentle, extremely patient and never ever made me feel I was a burden. He took to the time show me the wonders of the reef that I would otherwise have missed and I will forever be grateful to this young man for showing a 55 year old, nervous woman who suffers from negative buoyancy and will only swim in water where she can stand up,  that she can snorkel and enjoy the wonders of the ocean.  Lunch on the island was excellent, the food, the company and the welcome a memories that will stay with me forever. Thank you so much Pilli Pipa, you made my stay in Kenya one to remember.