A Hall of Fame moment in time
A Cayman Islands Reunion: Witnessing a Legacy Unfold
My recent trip to Grand Cayman marked a poignant return to a familiar island. While I’ve visited countless times over the past 40 years, this journey carried a different weight. Many of the dive pioneers who shaped the industry were gone, and the resort that once hosted countless Kids Sea Camp families had closed its doors. Yet, a sense of anticipation hung in the air. I celebrated my dear friend, Margo Peyton, founder of Kids Sea Camp and Family Divers, as she was inducted into the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame.
After a nostalgic lunch at The Cracked Conch, Margo and I decided to revisit Cobalt Coast Resort and Dive Tech, a place filled with memories of my daughter’s dive journey – from her certification to becoming a PADI Divemaster and eventually helping run Kids Sea Camp weeks. A wave of nostalgia washed over us as we entered the dive shop. Ever the storyteller, Margo engaged the young man behind the counter, Kameron, sharing her tales of the countless families she brought to this very spot.
Kameron listened with a smile, then revealed a surprising connection. As a young local Caymanian, he had spent many of his childhood days on that same dock, often shooed away by the resort staff when guests were present. Margo emotionally stated that she never sent away the local children. She recounted how she would walk down the dock at the end of each Kids Sea Camp group trip and call the local kids over. She would then hand out the extra masks, fins, and snorkels; Kameron’s smile widened as he declared, “I was one of those kids!” He explained how that simple act of kindness ignited his passion for diving, leading him to become a PADI instructor and ultimately work with the very same dive operator today.
In that instant, the power of Margo’s influence became crystal clear. Her award-winning formula for inspiring the next generation of divers had ripple effects far beyond our imagination. And, in a moment seemingly scripted for a movie, Kameron took the stage the following night as an MC and Local Emerging Honoree at the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame induction ceremony – the very same ceremony where Margo was being honored.
Overcome with emotion, Margo shared this incredible story during her acceptance speech. Her words resonated deeply with the audience. Caymanians, remembering her connection to their island where she had lived, worked, and raised her son, beamed with pride. Industry veterans, familiar with her impressive track record of certifying over 8,000 young divers and hosting hundreds of Kids Sea Camp weeks worldwide, applauded her dedication. And for those of us who have witnessed her journey, the recognition – including the PADI Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2018 DEMA Hall of Fame Reaching Out Award, and her membership in the Women Divers Hall of Fame since 2009 – felt like a fitting tribute to her passion and success.
But that unscripted moment on stage, that unexpected reunion between two individuals connected by a shared passion sparked years ago on a simple dock, truly captivated us all. Kids Sea Camp’s motto, “Give them a week, they will remember forever,” took on new meaning. It was a powerful reminder that sometimes a single moment, a gesture of kindness, can leave an indelible mark on a child’s life.
For 25 years, Margo has been connecting families to each other and the underwater world. Witnessing this culmination of her efforts in the Cayman Islands, surrounded by friends and colleagues, brought me back to the beginning of our own journey, the bond we formed 25 years ago that led to this extraordinary moment.
By Carolyn Pascal