Accommodation: Anse Chastanet Resort

25 amazing years of Kids Sea Camp

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Margo Peyton, kids Sea camp, kids and diving, family scuba diving

A few moments ago

Twenty-five years of Kids Sea Camp seem like just a few moments ago. Robbie was only 6, and Jen was just 4. As a mother and businesswoman, I wanted so much to spend time with them and be with them daily. I wanted to watch them grow up before me and show them the world rather than have them read about it in a book.

A single mom with two kids

I was a single mother with two kids, working six days a week. In the summer, it was impossible to find camps that I felt were educational, safe, fun, and enriching my two children’s lives the way I wanted to be enriching my own life. Jennifer would get so upset when I had to go away. She wanted to know why she could not come. It was really a huge dilemma for me.

Carolyn Pascal, then the publisher of Skin Diver magazine, and I were sitting on a beach in the Bahamas during another work trip, and we were both missing our kids. I told her I honestly wished we could find a way to take our kids on dive trips. She agreed, and right then, we began creating a vision that would become Kids Sea Camp. Carolyn had the media, and I had the resort. Since 2000, divers of all ages have been exploring the underwater world with Kids Sea Camp. Every year, Kids Sea Camp brings families to the Philippines to dive into the endless “bucket list” of diving adventures in Dauin, Ando, Cabilao, Apo Island, and Oslob.

KSC started in Curacao

We pooled our resources, and the first Kids Sea Camp family dive-adventure week took place in Curaçao with Ocean Encounters and the Curaçao Sea Aquarium in 2000. I had just seven families on the first trip. Fast forward, Kids Sea Camp is entering its 25th year in 2025. My daughter Jen will be 29, and Rob will be 31. My kids are grown, Jens is married, and we have our first grandchild to enjoy and look forward to introducing to the underwater world someday. Because of Kids Sea Camp, there are more than 8,000 other kids who have become certified divers over the past 20 years of Kids Sea Camp. Kids Sea Camp has over 500 families who travel to 13+ countries, taking 25-29 trips each year.

I’m so very proud and grateful to my dive team and the diving industry. They have supported my vision and co-created Little Gear, kids’ dive courses, shared the stories, and listened to all those little voices.

PADI created courses for kids aged 4-18, and they have always supported me in organizing trade shows such as The Scuba Show, DEMA, Beneath The Sea, and others, connecting me with dive operators worldwide. Dive Media, DAN, Dive Training, Scuba Diver, Diver Magazine, Dive News Wire, Sport Diver, and many others ran the stories and shared the voices.

Partners matter

My partners have all helped me make diving safer for kids. SCUBAPRO was the first to create SASY gear, little tanks, fins, masks, and tiny wetsuits. The resorts and dive operators who have stood by me and celebrated our brand together believe that kids are the future. I have chosen resorts that I can trust to put family first and child safety above all.

I’m thankful to all the families for choosing Kids Sea Camp for their family dive vacation. Some of those kids, and even the instructors, now have their own families and keep coming. Many are now grandparents who are bringing their grandkids. 

When I ask them why they chose Kids Sea Camp, they tell me, “Because time is the most important thing in life, Margo! Time with our kids and our grandkids is priceless.” They want to make memories that will last a lifetime. That’s our tagline, and we do just that! Our trips cater to the elderly, the young, experienced divers, and even non-divers. We are special needs-friendly and cater to all families. Kids Sea Camp is a safe, fun, educational, and authentic family vacation focused on the underwater world and each other. It’s a place where kids unplug from their virtual worlds and reconnect to each other and the outdoor world.

Tom joins the company

In 2006, my best friend Tom Peyton asked me to marry him, and Robbie, Jen, Tom, and I became a family. Tom left the news industry and joined the Kids Sea Camp in 2013.

Celebrating our 25 years

We are excited to celebrate 25 years of business this year with 25 Kids Sea Camp event weeks in 2025. I hope you will join us! In celebration of our 25 years, we have created  “Empty Nester” dive trips for parents like me who have grown-up kids but still want to travel with someone they know and trust. We have new destinations and liveaboards as well as PADI Pro courses for all those kids turning 18 and older who want to become Dive Masters or even Dive instructors. We will be celebrating our 25th year of business at each incredible destination.

By Margo Peyton, President of Kids Sea Camp

I am thankful for the world’s best family adventure travel guides and a PADI dive team. Woody, Patrick, Jen, Rob, Lilly, Holly, Sven, Brad, Jesse, Sophie, Josh, Fraser, Conrad, Max, Carolyn, Ellen, Jacob, and Tom.

Top 5 best family dive adventures with younger divers ages 4-16

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Top 5 dives for family, The Philippines, kids Sea Camp, kids and diving

MARGO PEYTON’S: Top 5 best family dive adventures with young children, plus many more.

1. Bonaire: This island is at the top of my kid-friendly list because of many of the condo properties, such as Buddy Dive, Capt Don’s, and Bel Mar. They are perfect for larger families, offering 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom villas. Buddy Dive, in particular, offers the Buddy Dive Academy, with PADI programs such as SASY for kids age 5-7, PADI Seal Team for kids age 8 & 9, and Jr. Open Water, Jr. Advanced, and even Jr. Rescue.

Their staff is well-trained with oodles of experience with kids. Not to mention, Bonaire is one of the calmest, clearest, and easiest places to dive in the world. Parents and their certified youngsters can jump right off Buddy Dive’s dock and enjoy a nice, easy dive. Since kids aged 10 and 11 have a 40-foot max depth, it’s often hard to find places where the sandy bottom does all the work at 40 ft.

Here, parents can relax and enjoy their kids diving with tarpon, turtles, schools of colorful tropical fish, and, of course, the coral nursery trees. Bonaire also has lots to do topside for families, including one of my favorites, Blow Karting on the world’s largest salt track! Bonaire caters to every level of diver and is one of our more affordable programs.

2. St. Lucia: I just love bringing families to this island. It’s world-famous for honeymooners, but now that the honeymooners have children, they can return to celebrate with the whole family. Some of the best diving is below the famous Pitons, and there are some great wrecks for teen divers to explore. It’s crazy cool to dive some of those volcanic formations and pinnacles under the sea. Kids especially love Superman’s Flight, one of the best drift dives on the island. Anse Chastanet is perfect for both diving and non-diving families. They offer paddleboarding, kayaking, sunrise and sunset yoga, volcano hiking, jungle biking, and, of course, scuba diving.

Did I mention chocolate tasting and farm-to-table culinary classes with cupcake decorating? How about live music and jazzy sunset cruises? And if that’s not enough, every May and June, you may be lucky enough to catch the sea turtles nesting on the Anse Mamin Beach. I have also been fortunate to catch the sea turtles’ hatch in late July and August. We released 98 baby turtles 2 years ago, and it was amazing! During the Kids Sea Camp weeks at Anse Chastanet, kids can learn to dive, do SASY or Seal Team, and explore the protected marine sanctuary.

American, Delta, and United Airlines all offer daily nonstop flights from the US, making it one of the easiest places to reach. There are 1- and 2-bedroom Piton-view rooms, as well as beach-level rooms for families. Dive St. Lucia is very family-friendly. All dives are guided, and the ratio for kids is 1 instructor or Dive Master to every 2 kids. It does not get any safer than diving with Dive St. Lucia.

3. The Philippines is also high up on my list with Sea Explorers, and I would just tell you that taking kids to dive with Whale Sharks in Oslob, turtles at Apo Island, and to experience the largest to the smallest marine animals on one trip is truly life-changing. Pura Vida Homes is perfect for families. We sell out for Kids Sea Camp every year. Traveling in a private guided group is the way to go here, with an experienced dive team including Margo, Tom, and Bigs.

Top 5, Palau, kids and diving, family dive vacations4. Palau: Yes, I know it seems a long way to go, but Palau is definitely a Wow! Kids love JellyFish Lake; it’s the only time they don’t have to be afraid because the jellyfish don’t sting. It’s a rare opportunity to see the 8th wonder of the world! Palau is also one of the few places in the world where kids can safely learn about and dive with sharks, manta rays, and other big marine life. Many of the dive sites are in shallow water, easy for all to enjoy.

5. Fiji: To me, Fiji is all about family. It is all about love and children, music and dance, food and friendship. It’s a place where culture becomes an integral part of the trip.  Kids have so many opportunities to interact with the local villages and local children. It’s a very humbling experience and for sure an educational vacation. I believe there is one resort that stands out for its Luxury 5-star service and diving: Jean-Michel Cousteau’s resort. The name kinda says it all. 1- and 2-bedroom villas are perfect for families, with the Point Bure for families of 5. There is shore diving and spectacular reef and shark dives. JMC has a full-service, kid-friendly dive team. They can cater to any diet and are also special-needs-friendly. I have had great experiences at Castaway Island and Beqa Lagoon as well, but I would for sure say JMC is absolute perfection for kids.

With beautiful over-water cabanas and a private lagoon to snorkel or paddle board, it’s perfect for families that want peace & tranquility. Mayan Princess offers 1 and 2-bedroom oceanfront villas with full Kitchens. The dive sites are 5-10 minutes away, and the boats are large and spacious. Both locations offer excellent in-ocean training areas for Seal Team & SASY. All-inclusive resorts are an easy way to budget your trip and get the most for your money!

PLUS FIVE

I know you only asked for 5, but since kids and diving are my life, I’m going to give you a few bits more. For liveaboards and kids, you can’t beat the Rocio Del Mar Team in the Sea of Cortez and Socorro. They are like papas in the water with kids and families, and really have an outstanding safety record. We offer a full-boat charter, so it’s all about the kids. Dancing with sea lions and giant manta is an amazing liveaboard experience for kids and parents alike.

 Roatan: The Bay Islands continue to be one of the dive world’s hidden treasures. The marine park has blossomed, and since its inception, there has been a huge comeback of turtles, large schools of fish, grouper, and lobster. There are so many shallow sites and beautiful beaches to explore. My two favorite properties for families are Turquoise Bay Beach Resort and Mayan Princess, both all-inclusive, owned and operated by local families. The staff is super kid-friendly at both resorts and dive operations, with Mayan Divers and Subway Divers offering lots of smaller tanks and kids’ gear. Turquoise Bay offers free horseback riding every day and has just completed a total resort renovation.

I did not talk about the beautiful Cayman Islands, where my own son was born and where my kids learned to dive, because everyone already knows how awesome they are. They’re easy to get to, lots to do, and a great choice for so many reasons.

 All of the above are featured Kids Sea Camp destinations. That does not mean that’s all there is out there; it just means those are the ones I feel are best suited for our younger divers, SASY and Seals.

Taking your kids on dive adventures around the world is giving them a living classroom to learn in. It’s giving them a global view of the world and all its possibilities. It’s taking their dreams and making them a reality, a priceless family bonding adventure.

Kids Sea Camp has contributed to over 8,100 youth certifications and taken over 350 families a year diving. We have a perfect safety record, with zero accidents. Please join our Kids Sea Camp family at one of these locations this year. Cherish the opportunity to dive with your kids while they are still young. It’s one of the most beautiful, forever memories you can give them.

Margo Peyton, Owner, Kids Sea Camp & Family Dive Adventures
PADI Instructor 57474

Grandmother uses KSC for quality family time

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Grandmother divers, family dive vacations, kids sea camp

Discovering Kids Sea Camp is a real gift to my family  

My two adult sons, Danny and Chris, are divers, and they convinced me, 25 years ago, to become a PADI-certified diver.  When they married their wives, Celenie and Stela, they also joined the adventures and became divers. Over the years, I had made taking dive trips with my sons and their wives a top priority for quality family time. 

When my grandkids came along, much to my sadness, the family dive trips came to an end. Then one day, as I was thumbing through Scuba Diving Magazine, dreaming of taking dive adventures with my grandkids, I discovered Kids Sea Camp. 

Kids Scuba, Family Scuba Diving Adventures, Kids Sea Camp, Margo PeytonI immediately called and shared my find with my sons, and suggested we start taking family dive trips again. They were all for it, and in 2013, we were off on our first trip — to Palau Royal Resort and diving with Sam’s Tours and Kids Sea Camp.

The grandkids were 3, 7, 7 & 10. Benjamin, Sophia, and Hunter started SASY with Margo, while Jackson, at age 10, joined the PADI Jr. Open Water Diver class. We, the adult kids, felt like we had gone to heaven. We enjoyed diving during the days while the kids had fun learning with other kids. It was absolutely PERFECT for everyone! There are times set when adults and kids dive or snorkel together, too. Because of owner Margo Peyton’s expertise, instructor training, and perfect safety record with kids, she is granted a special waiver to dive in the ocean with PADI Seal Team kids aged 8 & 9 worldwide. 

Kids Sea Camp in Fiji

We have traveled with Kids Sea Camp to Fiji, where the kids had run of the entire resort, and while Benji was still in SASY, Hunter and Sophia advanced to the PADI Seal Team classes. We had lots of interaction with the local people, and everyone on staff was not only helpful, warm, and hospitable but also genuinely interested in our experience.  When we were leaving Fiji, my grandkids were crying and hugging the very special people they had come to know and love. Hunter even said (while sobbing), “How can I possibly leave these people?”  You know your grandkids have had a life-changing experience when their emotional reactions are so intense, and they don’t want to leave. 

In the summer of 2017, we traveled to Kids Sea Camp Philippines with Sea Explorers. My second grandson, Hunter, became a PADI Jr diver and joined Jackson diving with the other certified kids. We now have 3 generations of divers in our family, diving together. 

It seemed impossible to top Palau or Fiji, but Margo & Tom managed to do it yet again. As always. The Pura Vida Homes resort was luxurious, and the staff and service were nothing short of excellent. I had a torn ankle tendon prior to the trip, and a divemaster was always right there on the ladder to help me take off my equipment and hand it up. The Banka boats were the coolest and most spacious dive boats I have ever been on. 

Whale sharks in Oslob

We all went to Oslob Island, where we swam and dove with EIGHT whale sharks!! An absolutely mind-blowing experience and a memory created that we, as a family, will never, ever forget. How many families get to have an experience like that?

Each trip is better than the last. Kids Sea Camp sets the bar high with dive operators. Margo runs her trips with expert organization, safety, and professionalism. I love the many interesting and fun outings, events, and activities planned for us to enjoy as a family, out of the water. 

All of our trips have been, as the MasterCard commercial says, “priceless.”

I know for absolute certainty that our next trip will be another amazing adventure filled with precious family time, diving, and unforgettable memories. 

Sophia and Benji are next to get certified, then we will all be a family of divers again. Owners Margo & Tom Peyton provide a very personal experience, from planning your trip to assisting you every step along the way. Tom and Margo arrange visits to local schools or villages, provide special-needs care and special-occasion surprises, give educational presentations, and so much great family time. 

In Palau, Margo set up a spectacular helicopter ride over the Rock Islands for us. The result of all the personal service is why we keep coming back! It’s impossible to put into words how these unique family dive adventures have bonded our family and created memories for me with my grandkids that will last them a lifetime.

We have experienced fascinating cultures and explored new worlds so very different than our own. Each of these trips has expanded our knowledge, appreciation, acceptance, and love of people from all over the world. At the end of each trip, Margo Peyton and Brad Holland have left us memories to last a lifetime, documented in their photo gallery on www.familydivers.com. 

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Tom and Margo, Peyton, for creating Kids Sea Camp, the gift of being able to dive and travel with my kids and grandkids.

Story by Vicki Singley

KSC Turkey Bowl News

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Kids Sea Camp, Turkey Bowl, Thanksgiving vacations
Coach Lloyd Kaufman has agreed to terms with the Happy Campers for this year’s KSC Bowl

Former KSC Cowboys defensive coordinator Lloyd Kaufman will be leading the Happy Campers against the KSC Cowboys at this year’s Turkey Bowl in St. Lucia. The deal with the front office was agreed to in principle on Tuesday.

“I have long loved the tradition and importance of the KSC Turkey Bowl.” Coach Kaufman spoke on Wednesday at a press conference in Detroit,” It will be an honor to follow in the footsteps of legendary coach Travis. I will say we plan to run a combine on Monday. Hopefully, we will see what condition the team is in after the long offseason.”

Coach Peyton is happy about Kaufman’s coaching opportunity

Kaufman was excited about the new opportunity. “Well, after studying as defensive coordinator under coach Peyton for a year, I felt it was time to spread my wings. You know and see what I could do at the pro level. It certainly will not be easy going up against my former mentor this year.”

When asked about coaching against his old coach, Peyton, he said, “But I feel I have a good understanding of head coaching fundamentals, a good recruiting class, and most importantly, a copy of coach Peyton’s playbook.”

Major coaching change

“For the first time in its young existence, there has been a coaching change. Texas icon Will Travis has been leading the Happy Campers for the past two years. But due to contract disputes with the Campers’ front office, coach Travis will not be on the sidelines for the 2014 Kids Sea Camp Turkey Bowl.

“I got run out of town!” An angry and disappointed coach, Travis, responded. “Kaufman walked right past me. He’s up there right now signing the contract. This ain’t right. I mean, I won the game last year! What else is a coach supposed to do?”

“Kaufman should be a good test for the KSC Cowboys,” coach Peyton responded to the news. “He will be missed. Kaufman was a great coach for our defense over the years.”

“He got a new car!

It was clear from this reporter’s view that Kaufman was beaming with the ardent test of facing his old coach. He drove off into the sunset in a new, shiny 2015 Challenger. Rumors that the red-and-black-stripe Challenger was included as a signing bonus for Kaufman’s one-year contract. There is no doubt that he signed a must-win contract.

“He got a new car!” Coach Travis responded with disbelief, “Amazing. Simply amazing. I don’t know what to think. What a crazy front office. I wish him all the luck in the world.”