Andrea Colby has been ’spreading the aloha’ through her outdoor business Port Erin Paddleboards for nearly a year. Our reporter Jess Ward gets on board, literally, to provide her view of the stand-up experience.

Being out in the sparkling, clear water and having an equally dazzling sky above me while balancing on a paddleboard, I could have almost mistaken Port Erin bay for a tropical paradise.

Going along with first-time paddleboarders Sam Turton (fellow Isle of Man Newspapers reporter), Finn Drysdale and Molly Storrie, both aged 12, we checked out the stand up paddleboard (SUP) experience that Andrea is offering to people of all abilities.

With a warm welcome, Andrea gave a brief safety procedure and explained the best way to treat the precious boards from her unit on Shore Road down to the sea.

Looks were definitely deceiving when walking into the waves on the hot, sunny afternoon.

It was instantly established that nobody was particularly keen to slip into the icy water that day.

Unfortunately for Sam, the sea had it in for him and he ended up in the drink. (See pictures.)

Standing on a paddleboard isn’t simple.

The good thing about the sport is that there’s an option to sit or kneel.

However, with the combination of core strength, good balance and the patient teaching of Andrea, who has been practising the activity for years, you can become a pro in no time.

’I’ve been all over the world surfing and paddleboarding,’ said Andrea. ’It’s been my passion for years.’

Andrea recently returned to her homeland from California and saw an opportunity to introduce the sport with Hawaiian roots to the island.

’Port Erin bay is so beautiful and the water is so clear that I was just shocked that nobody was doing it here because in California everybody does it.

’My grandad was in the Merchant Navy and as a kid I couldn’t wait to get off the island and get to the big city, but he used to say "you’ll go a long way around the world before you find a place that’s better than the Isle of Man". I think he’s right.

’We’ve got so much here and there’s this whole new generation of people that are wanting to be outside and to live a healthy lifestyle.’

As well as day sessions and lessons, she also runs yoga and hula hoop paddleboard classes and the only ’Twilight Glo-paddleboarding’ sessions in the British Isles with custom-made LED lights. For more information see www.facebook.com/PortErinPaddleboards/