More than just a family dive vacation:
Dear Fellow Parents, Grandparents, and Fellow Ocean Adventurers,
As I reflect on the journey that led me to create Kids Sea Camp 25 years ago, my heart swells with a mix of joy, gratitude, and a touch of nostalgia. This isn’t just a business to me—it’s a love letter to my own children, Robbie and Jennifer, and now to my precious grandson, Zayne.
When I first held Robbie and Jen in my arms, I looked into their innocent eyes and saw my own reflection staring back. In that instant, I knew I had to be better, to do better, for them. Motherhood wasn’t just a role; it was a calling to instill the values that matter most—love, life, family, respect, and kindness toward others. But back then, I never imagined how fleeting those precious years would be. We only have about 17 summers with our children before they spread their wings—graduating high school, heading to college, and building lives of their own. Those moments of them learning to crawl, walk, ride a bike, swim, snorkel, and dive? They blur into a beautiful haze, leaving us wishing we’d savored every second.
That’s why I founded Kids Sea Camp: to create a “living classroom” where families could unplug from the everyday chaos and reconnect in the most profound way—through the ocean’s embrace. I wanted Robbie and Jen to see the world beyond our doorstep, to gain a global perspective that fostered open-mindedness and dissolved judgments. We traveled to places like Yap, where stone money still holds value and villages thrive without electricity or running water, yet children play joyfully with handmade toys from nature. In Fiji, they experienced ground ovens and communal living; in Utila, simple schools where books sparked imagination. These destinations weren’t just vacations—they were lessons in humility, showing how happiness blooms in simplicity, how diverse customs, governments, and spiritual paths all revolve around the ocean’s vital role. I wanted my kids to understand their impact from across the sea: cutting back on plastic and pollution, eating sustainably, and creating less waste. To see that we all share the same needs—homes, clean water, food—and the same desire to connect, regardless of culture, religion, or background.
Kids Sea Camp is different because it’s born from this personal passion— In a world of cookie-cutter vacations, we stand apart by curating experiences that prioritize unity over division. On our trips, it doesn’t matter what you do for a living, where you’re from —we come together to dive, to cherish the ocean, and to have fun with our kids and grandchildren. For a magical week, we find common ground in our shared love for adventure and family. It’s a reunion of family you never knew you were waiting to meet, where strangers become lifelong friends, and the ocean becomes the great equalizer.
What sets us apart even more is our commitment to safety, education, and heart. We’ve been training with PADI courses and kids programs for 25 years, customizing our kids programs like SASY and Seal Team, turning learning into play with Aqua Missions and other games that build confidence without pressure. For older kids, PADI Jr. Open Water, PADI Advanced Open Water, and specialties like PADI Fish ID, Underwater Photography, Coral Restoration, Wreck Diver, Night Diver, Rescue and Peak Performance Buoyancy open doors to deeper exploration. These aren’t just certifications—they’re pathways to becoming ocean ambassadors, teaching kids (and adults) about marine ecosystems, shark conservation, and sustainable practices.
We’ve certified over 8,000 youth divers, with thousands more pursuing continuing education alongside their parents and grandparents. Our handpicked destinations—Bonaire’s calm shores, St. Lucia’s vibrant reefs, Belize’s biodiverse waters, and liveaboards to the Galapagos, Raja Ampat, or the Red Sea—are chosen for their family-focused environments, where safety is paramount and every dive feels like a shared discovery.
At the core of Kids Sea Camp beats a team with hearts as vast as the ocean. Our instructors—passionate experts are more than teachers; they’re mentors who adapt to every child’s needs with kindness and fun.
Now, at 60, as Tom and I embrace grandparenthood with Zayne (not even a year old yet), I realize time is our most precious gift. I’m already dreaming of his first dive, showing him coral reefs I pray will thrive. The years with Robbie and Jen flew by, but those summers diving together—unplugging, laughing, exploring—created memories that sustain us. Robbie’s upcoming wedding to a fellow diver from Nairobi, Kenya, and Jen’s life with her military husband from a small town remind me how these experiences opened their hearts to the world.
Kids Sea Camp is the best choice because it’s designed to give you those irreplaceable moments. In a fast-paced world, we quiet the noise, allowing peace to settle as families learn to be dive buddies—not just in the water, but in life. Kids put down their phones, present in the moment, while parents rekindle laughter and friendship. It’s where grandparents witness wide-eyed wonder, siblings forge unbreakable ties, and everyone emerges wiser, more connected.
If you’re a parent or grandparent yearning to share the best of the world with your loved ones, join us. Let’s create a sustainable future together—one dive, one family, one memory at a time.
I like to remind people that children are 20% of our population; they are 100% of our future. And in that future, let’s focus on what unites us: love for each other and our big blue ocean.
Margo Peyton
Founder, Kids Sea Camp Inc.
