Family Stories Archieven - Family Dive Adventures

The Ultimate Family Diving Vacation in St. Lucia

28 May 202619 May 2026 by k-Dushi

ST. Lucia, Kids and diving, scuba diving with kids, kids sea camp

A Luxurious Legacy of Love, Now Shared with the Next Generation

Imagine this: Years ago, you and your beloved escaped to the emerald shores of St. Lucia, where the majestic Pitons framed your honeymoon at Anse Chastanet Resort—a four-diamond utopia renowned worldwide for its romantic allure. Whispered vows, sunset toasts, and the gentle rhythm of the Caribbean Sea created memories etched in eternity. Now, fast-forward to today: That same paradise beckons once more, not just for you, but for the beautiful family born from that union. For two enchanting weeks each summer, Kids Sea Camp charters this luxurious haven exclusively for families, transforming it into a decadent playground where parents and children dive into adventure together. It’s a rare opportunity to celebrate life’s greatest gifts—love, legacy, and laughter—amidst the island’s timeless beauty.

From July 25 to August 1 and August 1 to 8, 2026, families from around the globe converge on Anse Chastanet for an irresistible blend of opulence and exploration. Whether your little ones are wide-eyed beginners or your teens are seasoned underwater enthusiasts, this event promises transformative moments that bind generations. Learn to scuba dive side by side, capture stunning underwater photography, and forge memories that will echo through lifetimes. Dive into the details and secure your slice of paradise.

Underwater Wonders: Where Novices Become Explorers and Experts Soar

St. Lucia’s crystalline waters are the ultimate classroom for family diving, and Anse Chastanet’s house reef marine park is your private gateway. For budding divers, gentle shallows teem with vibrant coral gardens and friendly marine life, making it the perfect spot for kids and parents to earn certifications together under expert guidance. Seasoned families will thrill to world-class sites: Plunge beneath the iconic Pitons for dramatic wall dives like Superman’s Flight, explore historic wrecks shrouded in mystery, and encounter schools of tropical fish dancing in the currents.

Young adventurers get the royal treatment with their own double-decker private boat, staffed by dedicated instructors from Scuba St. Lucia—the Caribbean’s premier team for family diving. With unmatched expertise, warm hearts, and infectious smiles, they ensure every child feels safe, empowered, and exhilarated. No heavy lifting here: Valet diving means your gear is handled with effortless courtesy, leaving you free to relax and revel in the adventure. Black-sand beaches offer effortless shore dives, where families might witness turtle hatchlings emerge under starlit skies or embark on mesmerizing night dives. Come discover the best of St. Lucia underwater—a symphony of turtles, trumpetfish, queen angels, eagle rays, and iridescent parrotfish that will leave you breathless.

Above the Waves: Indulgent Activities for Every Soul

Anse Chastanet isn’t just a dive resort; it’s a decadent sanctuary where land-based luxuries rival the sea’s splendor. Stroll volcanic black sand beaches, where the earth’s warmth meets the ocean’s embrace. Families bond over jungle biking through lush trails, paddleboarding across serene bays, or kayaking at dawn. Sunrise and sunset yoga sessions on the shore restore the spirit, while culinary delights await: Dive into chocolate labs for hands-on truffle-making or cupcake decorating classes that turn sweet treats into family masterpieces.

Thrill-seekers can conquer Piton hikes for panoramic views that steal your breath, while relaxed afternoons unfold with tennis matches, beach volleyball, art classes inspired by the island’s vibrant palette, or simply lounging in hammocks. The world-renowned spa offers rejuvenating treatments infused with local botanicals—perfect for parents seeking a moment of bliss amid the excitement.

Dining is an epicurean journey across four exquisite restaurants: Savor plant-based innovations at the vegetarian haven, spice up your evening with authentic Indian flavors, ascend to the romantic Tree House for elevated Caribbean fusion, or unwind at the Beach Grill with toes-in-the-sand grilled specialties. Each meal is a tantalizing delight, crafted from fresh, global-inspired ingredients that cater to every palate, ensuring no one leaves the table unsatisfied.

Elegant Escapes: Rooms That Whisper Luxury

Perched on lush hillsides with open-air designs, Anse Chastanet’s accommodations are among the most breathtaking in the Caribbean—and the world. Wake to uninterrupted vistas of the Pitons piercing the sky and the endless turquoise ocean below. Some suites feature whimsical swings or living trees integrated into the architecture, blending nature’s artistry with sophisticated elegance. Spacious, airy, and infused with island charm, these rooms offer a decadent retreat where families unwind in style after days of adventure.

For families with older children, elevate the experience further: Parents can retreat to the celestial heights of sister property Jade Mountain, a sanctuary of infinity pools and star-gazing sanctuaries, while young adults savor Anse Chastanet’s vibrant energy. Dine and dive together by day, then retire to your respective havens—creating the perfect balance of family connection and personal indulgence.

Why Resist? This is the Family Vacation of a Lifetime

In a world of ordinary getaways, Anse Chastanet’s Family Diving Takeover with Kids Sea Camp stands as an unparalleled masterpiece—decadent, transformative, and utterly irresistible. Here, honeymoon dreams evolve into family legacies, where the magic of St. Lucia unites generations in joy and discovery. With Scuba St. Lucia’s professional team leading the way, every moment is safe, seamless, and spectacular. Don’t miss this exclusive event—spaces fill quickly. Book now with us and let the adventure begin. Your family’s story awaits beneath the waves and beyond.

I’m a Sheep Herder

13 May 2026 by Tom Peyton

Herding Sheep at Kids Sea Camp. “Shaun the Sheep”

I’ve been obsessed with photographing sheep since seeing Dr. Alex Mustard’s famous photograph. I booked my Kids Sea Camp Philippines trip with Margo and Tom Peyton in 2020. When I learned that “Shaun the Sheep” could easily be found on most dives, I was excited about shooting this little sea slug. The guides at Amunini are incredible, and you can find almost anything you ask for, including the sheep! (Shout out to Reggie and Dave.) Finding Shaun the Sheep underwater is fun, but capturing a photo of one of the critters you could imagine is quite the challenge.

They are among the most difficult to capture because they live on a single green leaf growing on the sandy bottom. Furthermore, they tend to blend in with their environment, namely, the leaf they’re trying to eat.

Be patience

On the first dive, Reggie, my guide from Amuni Ini Divers, was excited because he found me one. Reggie pointed to a leaf with a green blob. I thought to myself, “Is that it? That can’t be it?” But it was!

After several shots, I finally saw the creature when I zoomed in on the viewfinder. It was tiny, green, and cute. I kept taking photos, but it was time to move on. A few seahorses, pygmy squid, and nudibranchs were nearby; if I have to give one piece of advice, it is to have patience and more patience! You must stop and take a decent photo of a sheep.

I’m a sheep herder

Upon finding Shaun, I spent 30 minutes on one leaf on my second dive! Kim, my lovely dive buddy and wife, was gone when I looked up. She finally decided to join another group, leaving me with Dave, my excellent Amun ini guide. Finally, Dave wrote on his slate, “Have you had enough of Shaun the Sheep?” Onto the seahorses we went. In the end, I ended up with some excellent photos. Nothing like Alex’s masterpiece. But it’s a work in progress.

I look forward to our next trip to Lembeh in January with Margo and Tom, with Family Dive Adventures and Murex Divers. Just call me the Sheep Herder of Indonesia.

By Marcio Curvello

What are sheep?

15 July 202613 May 2026 by Tom Peyton

Shaun the sheep, Kids Sea Camp, Margo (eyton

Counting Sheep and falling asleep

Sea slugs, Kids Sea Camp, diving with Kids, diving with family — Shaun the Sheep by Margo Peyton

I have been to the Philippines many times. It is my favorite place in the world to dive for many reasons. One is that I have the world’s best dive buddy who can spot almost any alien! Tom has become a treasure hunter, and at the end of most trips, everyone is following him. The Philippines is the #1 spot for finding Aliens. Another reason is that my sister, Biggsy, lives there, and she introduced me to my first muck dive and showed me my first sheep. Lastly, in all my 35 years of diving and traveling the world, it’s the only place I have fallen asleep and dreamt about. Now I fall asleep counting sheep.

What are sheep?

Last summer, we arrived at Amunini, and Marcio was chatting about this funny little sheep named Shaun. After the first day, Kewin also seemed to be all over that topic. “Sheep,” I said. “What are sheep?” Tom’s ears perked up, too. Biggsy and I buddied up on my first sheep dive, and she quickly waved me over. She pointed out a green leaf the size of a rose petal. Was that the sheep? She pointed to the leaf. I could see nothing with my naked eye. It looked like sand stuck to the leaf. I peered through my 60mm Macro lens and saw it. Shaun the Sheep. It was so tiny that it was gone if you did not remain perfectly still, and you had to reset again.

The size of a grain of sand

A single grain of rice was adult-sized. What’s so special about that? A flea is the same size, but this little guy was adorable. It had rosy cheeks, funny, wobbly ears, and it was green or white with pink. Kewin found one that was yellow and blue. This was incredible! We were all counting and herding sheep. I did find the same leaf in Roatan in August, and I found the cousin. (See the Gallery)

I am looking forward to my panda finding me some sheep.

Margo Peyton

From Tech diver to Kids Sea Camp Believer

13 May 202623 April 2026 by Margo Peyton

Tech Diver, Kids Sea Camp, Magic, kids and scuba

The Kids Sea Camp Magic, How it all began:

Written by Peter Kockisch, 2026

My superpower

When I was a child, I was completely fascinated by space. When anyone asked me what superpower I wanted, my answer would be “flying.” The thought of gliding weightlessly through space or simply lifting off the ground to visit faraway places on Earth fueled my imagination.

I was born in the former East Germany, in a tiny village with fewer than a hundred inhabitants, truly in the middle of nowhere. Growing up in such a quiet, rural place naturally connected me to animals and nature, but even then, I dreamed of exploring the world beyond those fields. I wanted to travel to see other continents and places that lay beyond the “wall.” In 1990, when I was six years old, East Germany underwent an unexpected transformation as it reunited with the West. At that age, I was far too young to grasp the significance of what was happening or to imagine the new opportunities this change would one day bring to me.

Learning to fly underwater

Fast forward fifteen years, and my passion for animals and nature had only grown stronger. It led me to work with elephants at one of Germany’s most renowned zoos, in Leipzig. In Germany, apprenticeships are highly regarded, lasting three years and combining hands-on practice with theoretical learning in school. After completing mine, I received a scholarship for further education that allowed me to fulfill a long-held dream- traveling farther than I had ever been. After my five-week internship in Thailand studying Asian elephants and the communities that lived alongside them, I seized the opportunity to fulfill another childhood dream: flying. I learned to fly underwater by completing my PADI Open Water Diver certification.

Hooked on underwater flight

On my way back to Germany, I couldn’t stop thinking about the incredible feeling of weightlessness and the deep connection I had experienced with water, nature, and wildlife. I was blown away. After a few years, that experience was still affecting me so much that I made the bold decision to quit my job working with elephants, after over a decade, to begin a new career as a dive instructor in Roatán, Honduras.

Meeting Margo

My new chapter began with Subway Watersports (now Turquoise Divers) at Turquoise Bay Dive & Beach Resort in Roatán. After the long slowdown during COVID in 2020, business was finally picking up again. It was around this time that I first heard about Kids Sea Camp and its founder, Margo Peyton. Daren, the dive shop manager at Subway Watersports, entrusted me with organizing the upcoming Kids Sea Camp event. At this time, he also gave me an unsettling warning about the owner, noting that she could be very particular about how things were done.

Tec-Divers often don’t enjoy the best reputation

Months later, after getting to know each other better, Margo and I looked back on the situation with a smile and some laughter, realizing that we had both entered the relationship with very mixed feelings. I had heard stories of Margo being rigorous and strict, which was intimidating, while she had heard that I was a Tec-Diver, which somewhat unsettled her. I have to admit that Tec-Divers often don’t enjoy the best reputation. They are sometimes seen as arrogant, self-focused, and ill-suited to working with children, largely because many have little interest in the work. So, it’s fair to say there wasn’t much enthusiasm on either side about me taking responsibility for the entire Kids Sea Camp week on the dive shop’s side, at least not until the week finally began.

Safety first, fun second

On the first day, I was nervous, mostly because of the heavy load of responsibility. I wasn’t the most experienced instructor at that time, and I would be working with so many children. Once I met the whole Kids Sea Camp team, all those worries disappeared, and I ended up loving every moment of the whole week. Margo and her husband, Tom, the company’s vice president, turned out to be some of the kindest people I had ever met, and they run a truly unique business model.

A clear vision for the company

However, they both have a very clear vision of how every program should be conducted, following their motto: safety first, fun second. Once I saw what a Kids Sea Camp week truly means, I fully understood why Margo sometimes has that reputation of being difficult and non-negotiable when it comes to child diver safety. Working with children in SCUBA is no joke, and it is a big responsibility that must be approached with the utmost detail and care. Margo has a flawless record and unmatched experience in the diving industry when it comes to teaching and diving with kids, and anyone who would even think to challenge that should not work with kids. From the moment the kids step into the water, every detail matters: supervision must be constant, instructor-to-student ratios kept low, and the course’s pace adjusted to each child’s needs.

Ratios matter when training kid divers

Margo provides detailed, clear information and instructions on ratios, depth, and level of care for students to all dive managers. Her standards are high because even the smallest mistake could have serious consequences. Even with all the responsibility, nothing compares to the joy of watching the children learn, grow, and experience the underwater world in a safe environment. Even more rewarding is watching their parents join them beneath the surface, sharing that magical world together as a family while creating memories that will last a lifetime.

At Kids Sea Camp, newly certified divers are supervised by their instructors for the full week, even after they complete their course. Parents are welcome to join and observe how instructors dive, communicate, and position themselves with the kids in the water, so they can learn and emulate these techniques. This helps parents improve their own dive skills so they can be good, safe dive buddies for their kids, making family dives fun and safe for all.

Kids Sea Camp changed my life

Kids Sea Camp’s slogan promises, “Give them a week they will remember forever”, yet the magic extends far beyond the children. After my first week in Roatan, I was instantly captivated. Since then, I’ve joined Kids Sea Camp adventures across the globe, from the Cayman Islands and Belize to Bonaire and even as far away as Fiji.

Of all the experiences in recreational, technical, and cave diving I have had, my time working with Kids Sea Camp has been the most transformative for my approach to teaching. One unforgettable chapter that shaped my perspective and influenced both me and my teaching style was when Margo asked me to begin teaching Leo, an 8-year-old boy with autism. Before enrolling in his PADI Junior Open Water Diver course, Margo and I worked together for over 3 years doing the PADI Seal Team and PADI Bubblemaker programs with him at his own pace. Something that was really helpful for Leo was getting to do the PADI Seal Team program in the ocean, instead of just in the pool, as is traditionally done in the PADI Seal Team program.

KSC instructors are special

Kids Sea Camp Instructors receive special waivers from PADI to take PADI Seal Team students into the ocean under very specific conditions, allowing them to explore the underwater world as long as conditions remain safe and conducive to their learning. This created the perfect environment for Leo to become comfortable with diving before his PADI Open Water course.

With Kids Sea Camp, the SASY and PADI Seal Team programs are fun and safe introductions to SCUBA for kids that are not quite old enough to get certified yet- starting at the age of 5. The PADI Seal Team program consists of skill-based “AquaMissions,” conducted in a confined environment, which helped to prepare Leo perfectly for his next adventure. What began as a lesson in basic diving skills for Leo quickly became a lesson in patience, empathy, and adaptability for me.

Waiting on Leo

Once Leo was ready, both mentally and physically, to begin his PADI Jr. Open Water Diver course, we started, as always, with equipment setup. Within just a few minutes, Leo was ready to move on to something else, asking if we could go play at the beach instead. I realized I would need to take a completely different approach to teaching this course than I was accustomed to with adults. This involved lots of breaks and starting over, but on his timeline, not mine. When we entered the water, I was very impressed by how well Leo had retained all the skills he had learned in the PADI Seal Team program.

For the more advanced skills, I adjusted my methods by breaking each skill down into smaller steps, incorporating frequent underwater games (such as treasure hunts, rock-paper-scissors, or simply letting him enjoy zero gravity), and watching the marine life around us. Incorporating regular breaks to keep him engaged and hydrated was also key.

Slowly and steadily is the way

We progressed slowly and steadily until we reached his biggest challenge: the fully flooded mask and the mask removal and replacement exercise. Common issues with this skill include accidentally inhaling through the nose or experiencing a burning sensation in the eyes from chlorine or saltwater. Leo struggled with the sensation and developed a mental and emotional block, which was not easy to overcome. The first time he failed the skill, we ascended together. When he became emotional, we went to play on the beach until he was ready to resume, as he requested.

The second time we tried, he was already anticipating the sting of salt water in his eyes and worrying about his nose. This resulted in this mental block growing, leading him to believe that he could not succeed, which made him want to quit entirely. It was heartbreaking to see him struggle so intensely over these skills. I realized my adaptive teaching methods would require some help from his parents, plus some more fine-tuning on my part.

It takes a village

We had a whole week of 1-on-1, which gave us lots of time to overcome these hurdles. By using some of the tips I received from both Leo’s mother and Margo, I quickly gained his trust and friendship. Throughout the week, we continued with more underwater games and reviewing easy skills he had already mastered to build his confidence each day. This helped to end each training session on a successful note. I worked on breaking the skills down into smaller components, practicing mask clearing and removal slowly on the surface before gradually moving deeper. With patience, encouragement, and plenty of positive reinforcement, Leo gradually gained confidence and ultimately performed the skills flawlessly. He was so excited that he wanted to try it again, immediately exuding pride and joy in his accomplishments.

Stay Positive

As an instructor of children, it can be challenging to decide the best way to teach a specific skill to achieve a positive, happy outcome with kids. We want children to feel safe, trust us, and maximize their enjoyment and sense of accomplishment every step of the way, which looks a little different for each child.

Sometimes this means slowing down the course flow and providing 1-on-1 attention. With Leo, I wanted to build his confidence and have him perform the skills reliably and comfortably. After working patiently with him over several trips on these skills, his confidence improved, and he was excited to continue his training. He just required a little extra guidance and encouragement.

Shouting for joy

I will never forget the moment he completed his confined-water dives. We looked at each other, shouting with joy through our ScubaPro regulators, and he gave me a big underwater hug. Even now, looking back on this moment brings me pure joy. After this, we faced further challenges at sea, which Leo successfully overcame thanks to the trust we had built between us. Ultimately, I was confidently able to certify Leo as a Junior Scuba Diver. His family and I, as well as Margo & Tom, were immensely proud of these achievements, especially given that at times it seemed uncertain whether he could meet all the performance requirements.

With the full support of Kids Sea Camp and his parents, Leo continued diving with me on several Kids Sea Camp trips as a PADI Junior Scuba Diver. With time and maturity, Leo gradually gained more confidence and ability until he was able to complete the rest of the PADI Junior Open Water course and upgrade his rating at the age of 12.

Empathy and Understanding are keys

This experience showed me the power and importance of patience, flexibility, empathy, and understanding. It taught me that effective teaching isn’t solely about technical proficiency. With children and diving, it’s about fostering trust, patience, and emotional safety, enabling every diver to discover their own potential, which goes beyond the surface. I have since encountered many similar cases in which adult students were on the verge of giving up.

Adult students need patience to

By remembering Leo and applying similar strategies I learned with him, I was able to continue their training and guide them to become confident, happy divers who were grateful that I had not given up on them. In the end, I feel deeply grateful to Leo, who showed me that patience, trust, adaptive techniques, and persistence are powerful tools for achieving seemingly impossible goals. Working with incredible students like Leo has shown me that safety is at the heart of every adventure, creating an environment where children can safely learn and enjoy their time in the water.

My Kids Sea Camp journey never ends

My journey with Kids Sea Camp began as a new PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor, eager to find my place in the dive industry. After being captivated by the “Kids Sea Camp magic,” my connection quickly deepened. Over time, this connection extended beyond travel, leading me to assist in the office and become part of the dedicated team that brings these unforgettable experiences to life.

Margo and Tom are inspiring

Along the way, after sharing many memorable experiences with Kids Sea Camp, my relationship with Margo and Tom has grown beyond a purely professional one, evolving into a genuine friendship in which we share personal experiences and visits beyond business gatherings. I am deeply grateful to Kids Sea Camp, and to both of them, for inspiring my professional growth, nurturing my love for teaching, and showing me just how transformative these underwater experiences can be for the children, their parents, and everyone who guides them.

As a little kid fascinated by space, I’ve always dreamed of flying while exploring faraway places. Working with Kids Sea Camp and flying over the ocean alongside young explorers lets me live that dream in a way I could never have imagined.

Our KSC Gallery

One Mom. One Kid. Zero Worries. A Kids Sea Camp Adventure.

15 July 202612 March 2026 by Margo Peyton

Kids Sea Camp, Single mom, diving with kids

MY SON AND I

I’ve been traveling solo with my son, Cassius “Cash,” since he was just four months old. Adventure has always been part of our shared language. As a mom, I taught him to freedive when he was very young, and over the years we’ve traveled often, exploring new places and spending countless hours in the water together. My own career has taken me on expeditions and field work for months at a time, so I’m no stranger to complex travel, remote destinations, or operating far from home. And yet, this past summer in the Philippines, traveling with Kids Sea Camp felt entirely different – in the best possible way.

Cash, now 12, was newly scuba certified, and this was our first official scuba trip together. The Scuba Mom in me loved that milestone came with a mix of excitement and anticipation, along with the quiet hope that my growing boy would love this next level of underwater exploration. Because let’s be honest, a great first scuba trip felt like my best shot at convincing my soon-to-be teenager that ocean adventures with his mom would still be a good idea long into the future. The stakes felt high – especially knowing that traveling solo with a child in a foreign country usually means staying several steps ahead, anticipating logistics, navigating unfamiliar systems, and managing details in real time. It’s always rewarding, but rarely effortless.

Kids Sea Camp, was it

From the moment we arrived, it was clear that every detail had been thoughtfully handled. Transfers, accommodations, meals, dive operations, guides, and schedules were all carefully managed. Everything was new and exciting for both Cash and me, yet I was spared the mental load and constant decision-making that usually comes with adventure travel. Kids Sea Camp’s deep familiarity, built over 26 years of operating in these destinations, meant there was no guessing and no learning things the hard way through trial and error. They know the people, the places, and the diving. Kid Sea Camp knows where to stay, where to dive, and how to move families through an experience that makes the most of every day and every dive. They have done it repeatedly.

The rare ability for Mom to relax

Our three-part journey began at Amun Ini Resort & Spa in Bohol, continued on to Pura Vida Homes, and then moved on to Salaya Beach Houses. Throughout the trip, we were incredibly well cared for by both Kids Sea Camp and Bigs Eggert. Bigs owns and operates the Amun Ini dive operation and serves as the on-the-ground coordinator for Kids Sea Camp in the Philippines. Her warmth, local knowledge, and steady presence made every stop feel seamless and genuinely welcoming. As a long-time local, she knows these places and the people, and she is a wonderful example of the long-standing relationships she has with trusted partners in Margo and Tom Peyton, through Kids Sea Camp, who have built and maintained year after year.

Our first dives together took place in the strikingly blue waters off Amun Ini, and Cash was immediately at ease. He was calm, confident, and fully present. That confidence was reinforced by the incredible team at Sea Explorers, whose PADI-trained guides specialize in working with kids. With a 1:2 guide-to-kid ratio and private guides whenever requested, we felt totally spoiled by the level of personal care. The diving was never rushed and always perfectly paced for young divers. Knowing that all the behind-the-scenes details were handled by seasoned professionals allowed me to step fully into my role as my son’s dive buddy. I was not the trip coordinator or details manager. Mom was simply able to dive with him, ready to experience it all together.

Cash diving with Whale Sharks

After several days of diving, delicious food, warm hospitality, and fun evening activities with the Kids Sea Camp group, we moved on to the next stage of the trip. Traveling together as a private group by vans and fast ferry, we headed to Pura Vida Beach & Dive Resort in Dauin for another full week with Kids Sea Camp. Two underwater experiences from the trip stand out most vividly. One was our whale shark experience at Oslob, a whale shark sanctuary. This was Cash’s first time diving with whale sharks, and watching him remain steady and composed as six to seven enormous whale sharks swam close around us was unforgettable.

The other moments came again and again over many dives. While exploring expansive coral gardens, Cash and I would catch each other’s eye underwater, sweep our arms wide to signal the scale of it all, then follow with the universal “mind blown” hand signal overhead. It felt like diving straight into Finding Nemo together. It was truly unbelievable to see so much life and color stretching as far as the eye could see.

Above the water, the Philippines left just as strong an impression. The local people were warm, welcoming, and engaging. Through cultural evening events arranged by Kids Sea Camp and hosted by Pura Vida Beach & Dive Resort, we experienced traditional dancing, stilt performances, and stick dances — and were even invited to take part ourselves. It made for many laughs and an unforgettable night, with all performances and food prepared by the incredible staff.

We weren’t just passing through. We connected meaningfully with the people and the place, and within our dive group, there was a genuine sense of community, as families from around the world shared meals, laughter, and moments that will stay with us long after the trip.

Kids Sea Camp is great for single Moms

One of the most reassuring aspects of the journey was that we were never truly on our own, unless we wanted to be. That balance matters. Anyone who has traveled solo with a child knows how easily unknowns can pull attention away from both enjoyment and safety. With Kids Sea Camp, those unknowns were already accounted for through decades of experience. The result is a level of confidence and ease that allows families to focus on what truly matters: diving well and safely, spending time together, and fully enjoying the whole experience.

This balance became especially meaningful when Cash came down with a stomach bug for a few days during the trip. Margo and Bigs immediately stepped up, helping coordinate for a doctor to come directly to the resort to see him. As a solo parent traveling internationally with my child, I found that level of advocacy and support to be a huge comfort and truly above and beyond.

The original Kids Sea Camp mom

The Kids Sea Camp leadership on our trip, including founder Margo Peyton, was exceptional. Margo is also a mom, and that perspective is woven into every detail of how Kids Sea Camp operates. With 26 years of experience, they have refined not just logistics, but care in creating an environment where families of every configuration are supported, guided, and able to be fully present.

Since he was very little, Cash has always been my favorite dive buddy. Taking that adventure to the next level, 60 feet below the surface, was profoundly meaningful for me. It came with pride, awe, gratitude, and a quiet awareness of how quickly time is passing. Thanks to Kids Sea Camp and their incredible collaborators, including Bigs, I was not tasked with managing the experience. Memories made, for both Cash and me, we were fully living it.

Even for someone deeply familiar with adventure travel and expedition life, traveling with Kids Sea Camp is a hard act to follow – and truly one of a kind in the diving industry. For families considering scuba-centric travel with their kids, this experience is not just seamless. It is exceptional. (See Event Calendar)

Kids Sea Camp is genuinely something special. I’m very grateful that we got to be part of this experience and to help share this perspective in this story. Margo, Cash, and I would absolutely love to join another KSC adventure in the future!

All the Best,
Mehgan

MEHGAN HEANEY-GRIER
Freediver • Explorer • Storyteller
mehganheaneygrier.com

It’s about family bonding, shared experiences

19 May 202621 January 2026 by Margo Peyton

ST. LUCIA, KIDS SEA CAMP, SCUBA AND KIDS, night diving, Family Scuba Diving Vacations, Family Dive Adventures, Scuba Diving, Kids and scuba

Kids Sea Camp changed my life

Hello, I’m Charlie. I just wanted to share with you why Kids Sea Camp has been so important to my family and me. My mom signed my brother Gus and me up for our first family dive vacation with Kids Sea Camp when I was 12, and Gus was 11. Since then, there have been many; I had no idea how much those trips would shape my life, not just as a diver, but as a person.

From a kid to an adult diver

Over the past nearly 14 years, I’ve been fortunate enough to travel with Margo and Tom. Their Kids Sea Camp dive team travels to destinations such as St. Lucia, Honduras, the Cayman Islands, and Belize. What began as a kid learning to scuba dive turned into a journey of growth, confidence, and family connection. These dive adventures have stayed with me into adulthood.

As a now 23-year-old looking back, it’s almost surreal to see how much I’ve grown while still feeling the same excitement and joy every time I return to a Kids Sea Camp family dive vacation. I remember standing in front of all the families for my first closing, nervously reciting a poem I wrote about diving just to win one of the really cool prizes given to anyone who read their poem at the end of the trip. Fast forward more than a decade, and I found myself in Belize watching my younger cousins do the exact same thing, experiencing that same joy, confidence, and sense of belonging that I felt all those years ago.

More than diving, it’s family bonding

Kids Sea Camp has always meant more to me than diving ever did. It’s about family bonding, shared experiences, and learning together. Some of my family’s most meaningful memories, photos, and stories come directly from these trips. Because of Kids Sea Camp, our family didn’t just learn to dive, we grew into confident, capable divers together, thanks to truly world-class training in an environment built on safety, encouragement, and fun.

One of the most meaningful parts of that journey has been watching my mom overcome her fear of diving. Early on, diving was extremely intimidating for her; she was filled with anxiety just thinking about going underwater. Margo, at Kids Sea Camp, created a space where she could learn at her own pace, feel supported by her private instructor, and slowly build confidence alongside us.

Over time, that fear turned into comfort and confidence. Eventually, diving turned into genuine enjoyment for her. Being able to share dives with my mom, who is calm on the boat, and being with her underwater has become one of the most special parts of these trips for me. Seeing her grow to enjoy and love diving with our family is something I’ll always be grateful for, and it’s a reminder of how Kids Sea Camp brings families together in a way that lasts far beyond the week itself.

Charlie Mosley, 2026

My Ultimate Dive Buddy

14 May 202623 October 2025 by Margo Peyton

A dedicated dad’s ultimate dream comes true at Kids Sea Camp.

“My kid’s a diver!” Shouting these words from a mountaintop has been a dream for 11 long years. The day my daughter, Hailey, was born, I began fantasizing about sharing my deep passion for the ocean with her. I couldn’t imagine a better dive buddy — swimming along, hand in hand, discovering the secrets of the sea. Throughout her toddler years, some dads in my circle of friends lamented that their adventurous pastimes would have to take a back seat to parenting. “What a cop out,” I thought.

The plan was simple

Make travel and diving irresistible to her. I started early, with each bedtime story focused on fantastical sea creatures, miraculous mermaids, and amazing underwater adventures. As she grew, we watched every kid-friendly dive-related movie I could find. Soon she was naming marine life,e and swimming in the ocean became second nature. When I spoke to her third-grade class on career day about being editor of Sport Diver magazine, I watched her beam with pride. The plan was working, albeit far too slowly for my impatient heart. Then Kids Sea Camp (KSC) changed everything.

The Patron Saint of family diving, Margo Peyton

Our introduction to Kids Sea Camp, a unique family dive vacation that combined everything an ocean-loving family could ask for, was at Cobalt Coast Resort in the Cayman Islands. Hailey was then 4 years old. KSC offered world-class diving for adults, kid-tailored activities for kids aged 4-17, PADI certifications, and specialty courses. They also provide daily educational, cultural, and social events for all. KSC’s SASY program was the perfect indoctrination into the dive life for Hailey. Being around diving kids, hearing their stories, and making new friends from around the world fanned her spark of interest into a flame. It didn’t hurt that KSC founder and patron saint of family diving, Margo Peyton, made a point of spending personal time in the ocean with Hailey. Thanks to Peyton’s irresistible enthusiasm for training the next generation of divers, once timid Hailey gained enough confidence, and the hook had been set.

Joining the dive tribe

A few years later, we returned to Kids Sea Camp at Buddy Dive Resort on Bonaire, where 8-year-old Hailey joined the PADI Seal Team program. The mini scuba rig gave her the experience of a diver, breathing through a regulator. She completed all 5 aqua missions, and I enjoyed my first dive with her under the dock. What a breakthrough. I continued her momentum, freediving on family vacations and spending as much time as possible getting to know the ocean. When she was 10, ready to become a Junior Open Water Diver, we booked KSC’s Thanksgiving week at Anse Chastanet, St. Lucia. This exquisite and secluded luxury resort with an onsite PADI 5-star dive operation, Scuba St. Lucia, was perfect for the entire family. The time was right for Hailey to join the dive tribe.

I’ve always believed that anticipation is one of the best things about travel. Adding a life-changing event like Hailey’s certification only intensified that joy. Months before we began putting together her first scuba kit, we tried on wetsuits, fit-tested the Scubapro masks and fins, all provided by KSC. I was her dive buddy with gear. A few weeks before takeoff, we dove into the PADI E-Learning materials, watching her absorb the physics of diving and safety protocols was as much a learning experience for me as it was for her. When the venerable dive table came into play, I broke out in a cold sweat. Thankfully, Hailey helped me remember my fundamentals, and she passed with ease.

Anse Chastanet

Arriving at Anse Chastanet is a rejuvenation. Surrounded by 600 acres of thriving rainforest, the intimate 49-room resort spills down a lush mountainside to a pristine volcanic beach embracing a crystalline bay that shelters a rich marine reserve. Fragrant tropical flowers adorn trees, tables, and the staff. The view across the bay from our room, framing the island’s famed twin peaks, Gros and Petit Piton, against the Caribbean sunset, defies description. This experience would surely set Hailey’s dive trip expectations to impossibly high levels. Then again, that’s what Kids Sea Camp is all about. (See our Calendar of KSC events)

One of my favorite things about Kids Sea Camp is the relaxed, family vibe. Strangers don’t stay that way for long, especially the children. Friendships form instantly when you’re diving headfirst into new adventures together. Plus, there are lizards to chase, beaches to comb, stars to count, and cannonballs to launch off the top deck of the dive boat. When training begins, the kids slip into a blissful routine of discovery, both underwater and inside themselves. Over 30 years of organizing group travel events around the globe, Margo has created a unique and valuable culture in the diving world. She is building a tribe of like-minded families from different walks of life who share a common love for the ocean — and kinship.

Kids Sea Camp makes travel simple

Traveling to exotic locales with children and grandparents in tow can pose many challenges. Kids Sea Camp makes it simple, safe, and sanguine. There’s a reason why we consistently meet families on their third, sixth, and even eighth KSC adventure. Bonding is an understatement. Relationships born here endure for years. The experience is just that powerful.

On this trip, we invited my mother-in-law, Marsha, a newly certified diver herself, to join us. The possibility of a three-generation dive could not be missed. So, as Hailey was completing her final confined water dive under the careful guidance of Scuba St. Lucia’s instructors, we achieved the trifecta. Loose on the house reef after her required skills were completed, parents, grandparents, brothers, and sisters joined for their first dive together.

Holding Hailey’s tiny hand as we toured the reef was euphoric. She led the way, pointing out colorful reef fish and hidden critters while Marsha and I followed, enraptured by the experience. Near the end of the dive, Hailey and I shared a moment alone, kneeling in the sand, practicing signals. I am not ashamed to admit that I shed a few manly tears of joy.

I finally had my dive buddy.

My long-awaited fantasy had become a reality. But there was one unexpected and equally wonderful side effect. Heather, my wife of more than 26 years, has long suffered an unrealistic fear of marine life, despite being a competitive swimmer and water polo player in her youth. Nothing proved more powerful than watching her own daughter become a diver. During Hailey’s final open-water check-out dive, with parents joining, Heather followed the group on a snorkel. When we surfaced, the most surprising words came out of her mouth: “I’m ready to try scuba diving.” To my good fortune, Margo was within earshot. Hugs ensued. (And a few more manly tears.) Guess who’s getting certified at Kids Sea Camp next year?

By Eric Michael

I could be a parent and diver at KSC

13 May 202623 October 2025 by Margo Peyton

Mom and daughter divers, Bonaire, Kids Sea Camp

Kids Sea Camp is a dream come true

Like many divers, my dive adventures paused once I had kids. It wasn’t until I learned about Kids Sea Camp that I discovered I could be a parent and go diving. The entire trip itinerary was crafted around experiences that focused on fun and learning for the children. All the while, the parents were out exploring the ocean. When I learned my 10-year-old daughter could also get Junior Open Water certified and become my dive buddy, it was like a dream come true.

As luck would have it, Kids Sea Camp was celebrating its 25th anniversary at Buddy Dive Camp. The resort itself was also celebrating its 45th anniversary in Bonaire this August 2025. My daughter and I embarked on the ultimate mother-daughter adventure.

ATHENA DIVES IN

We landed on a Caribbean island located about 50 miles off the coast of Venezuela. Athena and I were excited to explore the gemstone-blue ocean. I knew this time together, just the two of us, was a tremendous gift. What we didn’t yet know was that Kids Sea Camp wasn’t just a dive vacation; it was a supportive community. The whole itinerary was intentionally crafted for connection.

It was apparent from the opening dinner at Blennie’s restaurant, where we were introduced to th, Woody (a police officer from Connecticut who was also a dive instructor), and later, to the hilarious M.C. Woody (a police officer from Connecticut who was also a dive instructor), and we later learned at karaoke night, a talented opera singer. As we settled into our chairs, unsure of what to expect, Woody passed around a mic to have all the families share “two truths and a lie” about themselves, and the rest of us had to guess the lie. It was an entertaining way to get to know our fellow travelers from the moment we arrived.

The mic was passed to us, and I recognized Athena’s nervousness mixed with excitement as she stood before the crowd to speak. She sat back down, smiling proudly as the guests clapped encouragingly. It was the first of many moments at Kids Sea Camp when we stretched ourselves, and getting out of our comfort zones helped us feel more connected to ourselves and each other.

More than diving

What a sunset sail. A brave act for me was hopping on a swing without a belt and pushing off over the open water. And where Athena joined the rest of the kids at the end to jump off and swim back to shore (it’s a KSC tradition). There was learning to ride a blow-kart (like a go-kart but with sails added, so it is purely wind-powered). The poetry contest where Athena wrote and then performed her poem. Kids Sea Camp karaoke! I didn’t want to be my thing, but I did it anyway when my new friend Jessica. She asked me to join her to sing “I Will Survive” because I couldn’t leave her hanging. I’ll admit, it was kind of fun despite my being terrible. Tom came up to me afterward with a big grin and said, “See, it’s not just about diving.” He was right.

A business built on friendships

One of the best parts of Kids Sea Camp is the friendships made. Margo and Tom set the tone by building the company around relationships. For example, they’ve been coming to Buddy Dive Camp for 20 years because of their longstanding friendship with the Dutch owners, Paul and Michelle, who have young children of their own who also now dive. The KSC staff are largely friends and family, such as Woody, the dive instructor, and Bigs, one of our photographers in Bonaire, who also hosts KSC at her dive resort in the Philippines.

Athena made fast friends with another 10-year-old girl in her Junior Open Water course named Hadley, who was on her second KSC. Apart from being dive buddies, they made plans to meet for dinner and at the pool after the PADI instruction was over, and before the trip ended. We even made plans with Hadley’s parents, Jessica and Bryan, to meet at another Kids Sea Camp in 2026.

The KSC bubble

Our cell phones and iPads languished because we were so immersed in the world that Kids Sea Camp created. A world of exploring nature, stretching ourselves, playing, learning, and making real connections. Honestly, it felt like a bubble from the outside world, where living an online life, cruelty, and polarization seemed normalized.

It was a glimpse into what is possible, the kind of world we might create if only we put more intention into connecting, more focus on being curious about the world and each other, and make it a point to give back where we can (KSC gives dive scholarships and grants through Ocean Wishes, which Margo co-founded).

We made it to the end of the week, and I got to join Athena on her first open water dive after she had completed days of instruction leading up to that moment. She squeezed my hand underwater and then swam over to give her dive buddy, Hadley, the “OK” sign to let her know she was there.

Becoming a dive buddy

My chest tightened. I realized it’s a balance between being hands-on and giving another person room to grow, stretching one’s limits without going too far, to build a girl who wasn’t so little anymore. As a mother, I was realizing how it’s a balance between being hands-on and giving another person room to grow, stretching one’s limits without going too far to gain confidence and discover one’s potential. And it struck me that there was so much mothering energy baked into Kids Sea Camp. I saw it in so many ways.

Take, for example, Margo, a Woman Diver Hall of Famer who received the PADI lifetime achievement award for dive education for kids, who seemed to have energy for everyone, especially when they are in the water. Her vigilant watch over the guests (kids and adults alike), checking gauges and gesturing for us to see the underwater creature she had discovered, was unwavering.

Or when my dive buddy C.P., a trailblazer who became the first woman publisher of a dive magazine in the 80s, shared her best dive tips with me and brought me her extra dive skins because she knew I got cold the day before. I saw it in big ways. Like when Tom and Margo shared their partnership with the Reef Restoration Program to help restore the coral. Kids Sea Camp is all about care.

That’s precisely the kind of energy the world needs right now.

Lost in my thoughts, I felt a hand on my arm. It was Athena, giving me the “OK” signal to see how I was doing. I flashed her a smile, signaled “OK,” and gestured towards the surface. It was time for us to go back up.

By Holly Corbett

More than just a vacation

15 July 202614 October 2025 by Margo Peyton

Margo Peyton, Kids and diving, Family Scuba Vacations, Family Scuba Diving Vacations, Family Dive Adventures, Scuba Diving, Kids and scuba

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. Kids Sea Camp is a love letter to my own children, Robbie and Jennifer. And now to my precious grandson, amazing 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 is a calling to instill the values that matter most—love, life, family, respect, and kindness. But back then, I never imagined how they would graduate from high school, head to college, and build lives of their own before they spread their wings. They have 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.

Kids Sea Camp, the living classroom

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 holds value and villages thrive without electricity or running water. And 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. As we cut back on plastic and pollution, eat sustainably, and create 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.

A very large family reunion

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, 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 who teach kids (and adults) about marine ecosystems, shark conservation, and sustainable practices.

Hand-picked resorts

We’ve certified over 8,100 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. All are chosen for their family-focused environments, where safety is paramount, and every dive feels like a shared discovery. (See our Calendar of events)

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. (See our dive team)

Turning 60

Now, at 60, Tom and I are embracing grandparenthood with Zayne (who is 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 husband from a small town reminds me how these experiences opened their hearts to the world.

Kids Sea Camp is the big unplugged

Kids Sea Camp is the best choice because it’s designed to give you those irreplaceable moments. In a fast-paced world, Kids Sea Camp quiets the noise. We are 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. (see link)

Decades of diving with Kids Sea Camp

13 May 20268 October 2025 by Margo Peyton

REFLECTIONS ON KIDS SEA CAMP’S 25TH ANNIVERSARY

When you’re invited to an anniversary celebration, you expect memories to be shared, jokes to be cracked, and glasses to be raised. I wasn’t prepared, however, for just how nostalgic I would become. Or for how much I’d want to reminisce with anyone. Anyone who would listen about the years that became decades spent on the Kids Sea Camp journey.

Buddies with Buddy Dive

Since we were also celebrating the partnership with Buddy Dive Resort in Bonaire, I found myself retelling the story of the delightful and decisive dinner we had with owner and patriarch Martien van der Valk 20 years earlier. It was there that Margo shared her vision, and he embraced it wholeheartedly (good wine was involved). The concept of a Kids Sea Camp centers on diving experiences for the whole family. The idea was far from a “no-brainer” at the time. It wasn’t long before women found their place in diving, let alone children! And as much as everyone talked about growing the sport of scuba diving, adding women and children to the plan was a big leap of faith for most. (See KSC calendar of events)

It wasn’t until the 1980s that we moved from NAVY Dive table calculations to dive computers, from “horse collar” BCs to BCDs, and from basic black to colored dive equipment and wetsuits. Underwater cameras were large, and strobe lights were larger. And you had 36 opportunities to get the shot with one roll of Kodak film. Dive operations were just beginning to partner with resorts to offer dive travel opportunities with more creature comforts than divers were accustomed to locally. This transformative time for diving was accomplished primarily face-to-face, on landlines, and with 800 numbers (online searches and bookings, social media, WhatsApp, and Zoom were Many years away). (See KSC gallery)

Martien van der Valk sees the vision

But forward-thinking entrepreneurs like Martien and his family understood the vision. It helped that we all had young children of our own. We were in the dive travel industry and wanted to share what we loved with them. Were there other parents who wanted to continue diving and traveling but didn’t want to leave their kids behind? Would they be interested in “giving them a week they would remember forever”? Well, it turns out, yes, there were, and yes, they would!

PADI also saw the potential and began offering more and more age-appropriate kids’ dive courses and certifications that focused on safety, learning, and fun. The kids were our real-life, real-time market research. So, on the very first Kids Sea Camp dinner, when they formed their own kids’ table, when they sprang out of bed early every morning, when they kept in touch with their new friends, and when they told their parents where they wanted to meet up the following summer, Margo knew she was on to something!

Time in the bottle

Inspired by the old Jim Croce song about saving time in a bottle, I titled one of my early articles accordingly. I knew the moments were precious. I knew that the days were long, but the years would fly by. And my six-year-old daughter somehow became a 32-year-old mother of three today. I honestly cannot wait until they, too, will enjoy these foundational experiences that will become an integral part of who they are.

It’s not just the underwater adventures that open their little minds up to a whole new world. It’s getting out of their neighborhood bubbles and meeting families from different worlds who share a global humanity. Their love for our water planet that they may not find among their friends at home. I am blown away by the stories of how Kids Sea Camp has become a life-changing experience for other kids.

From 7 kids the first year to over 8,100 kids certified by the 25th year. You can only imagine the ripple effects felt in every corner of the world. Over 50 of these kids have become PADI divemasters, 30 dive instructors, and counting. These KSC alumni will be training the next generation of divers for decades to come. Margo has also been a consistent mentoring presence in too many young lives to mention. I am particularly inspired by the number of young adults she engages in various roles over dozens of weeks each year, as interns, instructors, and contributors in their particular areas of expertise.

Tom sees the larger picture

Each one has carved out a special place in the Kids Sea Camp Family, which also features VP and founder of Ocean Wishes, a 501(c)(3), and husband Tom Peyton. Tom never lets us lose sight of the big picture in every little moment. Especially when leading karaoke nights or afternoon volleyball challenges. Son Robbie has risen through the KSC ranks to become a PADI OWSI, MSDT instructor, and technical diver. He’s been involved in sales and training at KSC for years. But to me, he’ll always be Young Robbie. Showing his friends how you can be just as fun-loving and safe playing underwater as you are on land.

I so enjoyed this special week, when Martien’s granddaughter Noortje pursued advanced certification, and Granddaughter Pleun began her PADI Jr. Open Water course. There were 100 attendees enjoying their 1st, 10th, or 20th Kids Sea Camp adventure during one of two back-to-back weeks. I was particularly taken with a 10-year-old girl named Athena. She was so very enthusiastic about getting her PADI Jr. Open Water certification during her very first Kids Sea Camp. A mother/daughter trip that I knew would be a special “time in a bottle” moment for her diving/journalist mom, Holly. So here I was, a Gramma, with over 40 years of diving under my belt. I was bonding with a pearl of a girl—the whole world her oyster. I couldn’t help but wonder what she might have to say about Kids Sea Camp on their 50th Anniversary!

By Carolyn Pascal

Visit kidsseacamp.com for more information or click on the link to Athena’s beautiful story, “Becoming a diver.”