25 years of business success didn’t happen overnight. From the shores of Provincetown, where the salty air mingled with dreams of far-off oceans, a young Margo Peyton grew, her heart tethered to the sea. Raised by a fisherman father and surrounded by the wonders of whales, dolphins, turtles, and sharks, she knew her path was destined to explore the watery realms that connected the world.
College led to travel and tourism, a scuba certification (a gift from her diving father), and a life-changing stint as a travel agent in the Cayman Islands. But it was motherhood that sparked a new vision. When her children, Jen and Robbie, asked to join her underwater adventures, Margo discovered a void: family-friendly dive resorts were scarce. A seed of an idea began to sprout. Didn’t the dive industry need to nurture the next generation of ocean lovers?
A chance encounter on a Bahamian beach with Carolyn Pascal, then publisher of Skin Diver Magazine, ignited the spark. Sharing their frustration about leaving their children behind on dive trips, they hatched a plan. Carolyn became Kids Sea Camp’s first champion, writing about Margo’s vision to unite families through diving.
The journey began with Sandy and Hans Ullrich of Ocean Encounters in Curaçao, who shared Margo’s passion for connecting children with the ocean. Together, they created the very first Kids Sea Camp. When Hans passed the torch to Nolo Ambrosi, Nolo and Monica embraced the vision, ensuring the annual event continued.
At a DEMA trade show, Margo met Nancy Easterbrook, a scuba-diving mom with two children. Nancy’s desire to be part of Kids Sea Camp resonated deeply with Margo, especially as it meant bringing the program to Grand Cayman, the birthplace of her son Robbie. With continued family ties 25 years later, Jason and Sue Belport opened their hearts and doors of the Cayman Islands with family weeks at Little Cayman Beach Resort and Cayman Brac Beach Resort. Football, basketball, volleyball, and diving are family affairs and a permanent home.
Neal Watson, “The Dive God,” became a mentor, guiding Margo through the world of dive travel, introducing her to key players at trade shows like Scuba Extacy, Our World Under Water, Beneath The Sea, DEMA, Scuba Show, and his own Lauderdale By the Sea event. Neal championed Margo’s cause, urging the industry to support her mission.
Werner Kurn of SCUBAPRO recognized the need for growth in the diving industry and championed Margo with kid-sized dive gear by SCUBAPRO, who began producing smaller BCDs, tanks, mouthpieces, and wetsuits, equipping Kids Sea Campers for underwater exploration. Bjorn and Sven Harms of SeaLife provided Margo with cameras, capturing the magic of these family adventures. Fraser Purdon became integral to the product growth, working with Margo to partner with SCUBAPRO and Sealife with his own motivation. Wife Tracy and daughter Sophie all became a beautiful part of the process.
After Ron Kip’s birthday celebration(owner of Bob-Sotos Diving) in the Cayman Islands, Werner and Neal introduced Margo to John Cronin — Cronin’s words of encouragement that her vision was ahead of its time became a guiding light.
After John’s passing, Drew Richardson and the team at PADI—Theresa Kaplan, Kristin Valette, Nick Jenny, and Bob Coleman—became pillars of support, helping Margo expand the Kids Sea Camp brand with PADI 5 star resorts around the globe. Margo became a PADI instructor, and partnerships with families like Martine and Ingrid Van der Valk and their children, Michelle, Barbs, and Steffie, broadened the Kids Sea Camp family in Bonaire with Buddy Dive, The Galapagos and Dominica.
Sam from Sam’s Tours in Palau and Dermot and Marc helped Margo bring Kids Sea Camp across the Pacific and created Palau Kids Sea Camp, a 15-year legacy. Then came Tom Peyton, who won Margo’s heart and embraced her children, Robbie and Jennifer. Tom brought music, sports, and boundless love to Kids Sea Camp, and together, they explored new horizons as a family, adding destinations like Galapagos, Utila, Costa Rica, Yap, Wakatobi, St. Vincent, Bahamas and Belize.
Tom connected with Luigi from Italy at a Canadian adventure show, leading to an extraordinary brotherhood, friendship, and partnership. Luigi, Mei, and The Arenui, a ship straight out of a dream. Biggs Eggert joined the family, bringing the magic and heart of the Philippines. Karolin Troubetzkoy, recognizing the value of family experiences as a mother and grandmother, welcomed Margo to bring Kids Sea Camp to the luxurious Anse Chastanet in St. Lucia.
As Margo and Tom’s children grew, so did Kids Sea Camp. Tom left his 27-year career as a newspaper editor to join Kids Sea Camp full-time. New adventures unfolded in Roatan and a lifetime in Fiji, starting with Tom and Margo’s honeymoon. We met and built strong bonds and relationships with Danny Charlton and his family, as well as with Murex Divers of Lembeh, Manado, and Bangka — Chris Heim with Pura Vida and Sea Explorers of the Philippines.
Kids Sea Camp became more than a business; it became a family and a tribe. Clients became friends,and some became like family. Children who attended camp years ago are now adults, some even grandparents. Kids Sea Camp life’s circles come full circle, even 25 years later.
Then came a mermaid who stole our hearts, Olivia; she has expanded the Kids Sea Camp story with Belize and our team. There are many to thank and be thankful for, countless individuals. It’s a story of passion, perseverance, and the unifying power of the ocean. It’s a story of gratitude for the incredible people who have made this 25-year journey possible. Oceans connect us all; the Kids Sea Camp family is a testament to that beautiful truth. We continue on this 25th year, full of gratitude for all those who have been a part of the journey; Lucy Dunbar, Kiley, Sven, Peter, Tabitha, Nadene, LindaSue, David Benz, Tarkan, Holly, Conrad, Annie, Rogest, Steven Frink, and William Clien.
25 years of partnerships have blossomed with leaders of the past embracing the excitement and youth needed in the present. Peter Hughes, Troy Bodden, Bonnie Toth, Maria Hult, Joanne and Zig, Rick Stratton, Brad Nolan, Brett Gilliam, Michele Westmorland, and Tanya Burnett all lent their voices. Cristina Zenato, Woody Tinsley, and Brad Holland became a part of our fabric. We created memories that will last a lifetime with AKR, Turquoise Bay, Mayan Princess, The Caribbean Pearl, and the beautiful people of Roatan.
25 years of created memories they will remember for a lifetime.
