Family Stories

“Diving into Memories: The Danks Family’s Legacy with KSC”

by
Kids Scuba, Family Scuba Diving Adventures, Kids Sea Camp, Margo Peyton

Margo often says there are only 17 summers.

She advises others to spend them wisely. Time is the only investment we continually make, yet we never know the balance in our account. The Danks family spends it wisely.

14 summers started in 2007

Kids Scuba, Family Scuba Diving Adventures, Kids Sea Camp, Margo Peyton, older diversAugust 2021, in St. Lucia, was a bittersweet trip for the Danks family. We had enjoyed – been thrilled – 14 consecutive summers together at Kids Sea Camp. Interrupted only by COVID the preceding summer. It was to be the last for the whole family. Three granddaughters had graduated and taken on new interests outside of scuba diving. At ages 19, 19, and 21, getting everyone to make time for summer vacations had become more challenging. But let us start at the beginning.

In 2007, when we learned about and booked our first  KSC through a friend of Margo’s, Heather Crowder. Our KSC adventures began in Curacao. Joe and I (Grandma and Grandpa) had just started scuba diving a few years before. Or two sons had also enthusiastically taken up diving.

The whole family loved Kids Sea Camp Curacao – granddaughters, then 4, 4, and 6, were enrolled in the Kids Sea Camp custom-designed SASY program for 4-7-year-olds. SASY included fun activities like swimming with dolphins, painting, snorkeling, and learning about the ocean through games and presentations. Our sons, David & Mark, were established divers, David’s wife, Mara, preferred snorkeling, and Sharon also enjoyed diving. We loved having the whole family together, and our precious time was spent on a scuba-diving family vacation. 

“Where are we going next year?”

The following year, Margo suggested  Roatan, and the pattern was solidified. The girls enjoyed mastering their swimming skills, snorkeling, and making new friends. Swimming with the dolphins and horseback riding were the girl’s favorite activities. We enjoyed our time together as a family and had plenty of time apart with our adult kids diving and exploring Roatan. On the first day, after the KSC treasure hunt, Ayden asked me, “Where are we going next year?” Her mother was appalled at the question, but Joe and I knew the family was hooked on Kids Sea Camps from that point forward.  

Goodies Boxes

Each year, Kids Sea Camp sends out goodie boxes filled with T-shirts, SCUBAPRO fins, masks & snorkel sets, tote bags, and other gifts for the kids. The boxes create so much excitement about their upcoming trip. We continued to Bonaire at Buddy Dive. At Buddy Dive, here, the girls were introduced to the PADI Seal Team and were able wear scuba gear made for youngsters. They loved the Donkey Sanctuary, turtle hatches, treasure hunts, and pizza movie night. Joe and I enjoyed the relaxed pace of Bonaire, its ease of diving. Buddy is the perfect place to visit with our grandkids, with the ocean just off the dock.  

In 2011, the Danks decided on Grand Cayman as Maia, the oldest, turned ten and became a PADI Jr. Open Water Diver that summer. Grand Cayman did not disappoint; pirates, tug-o-war, bonfires, a treasure hunt, and baby turtles were released. Maia was certified with her open-water dive on the Kitti Wake wreck. Ayden and Kiera were enrolled in the PADI Seal Team and enjoyed dives at Sting-Ray City that week, while Maia got to experience the world’s best 12 ft dive with her mom and dad.  

The Palau Adventure

The quality of service and level of safety that Tom and Margo provide on their trips convinced us to head across the Pacific in 2012 to Palau for our next KSC adventure. We spent two memorable weeks there, and the family was amazed by the diversity of sea life and the cultural interactions along the beautiful beaches and on boat rides. One memorable dive was at the Blue Corner. While the adults were hooked in at about 60 feet, Maia and the other certified kids were at 40 feet, and Ayden and Kiera were doing a Bubble Maker Dive at 6 feet with their instructors. The whole family was watching the shark show at the same time.

All the kids are certified

In the summer of 2013, Kiera and Ayden earned their long-awaited Junior Open Water certifications. It was an incredible memory and time to celebrate that all the kids were certified to dive. The family is so excited about diving together, and each summer, we plan another awesome dive adventure. We bounced back and forth between Caribbean sites, returning to Bonaire Buddy Dive Resort, St. Lucia Anse Chastanet, and the Cayman Islands. The bigger 10-14-day trips to the Pacific, including Yap at Manta Ray Bay, Palau again, Wakatobi (Indonesia), and Fiji all remarkable. All those incredible family adventures eventually led to that final trip as one big family in 2021 to St. Lucia, our 14th year of KSC. 

However,  as luck would have it, that would not be the end of traveling with Tom, Margo Peyton, and the Kids Sea Camp crew. It was just a change in how many of us traveled together. 2021 was a big summer for us; our granddaughter Kiera completed her DM in  Roatan under PADI Instructor Robbie Peyton and then went directly to the KSC IDC in Bonaire. She was joined by friends Kendal, Sydney, Melea, and Mara, who had been through the Kids Sea Camp journey as youngsters. Margo allowed Kiera to intern and teach in St. Lucia in 2021 and again in Belize in 2022. So many friendships, stories, and fond memories were created during that 15-year period.

18 trips later

To date, the Danks have made 18 total trips. The Kids Sea Camp crew provides a wonderful mentorship for the sport of scuba diving. Having spent valuable time with our kids and grandkids over the years, meeting like-minded families, and making lifelong memories, KSC became one of the best choices we made each year for the Danks family.

Tom and Margo have provided amazing, professional, caring leadership for this organization. They have been responsible for providing priceless opportunities for young divers. While our family has grown up. The Empty Nester trips with Margo and Tom have allowed us to continue traveling with them.

Congratulations, Peyton family, on your 25th anniversary of Kids Sea Camp. (See our new 2026 Catalog) Thank you for the cherished memories with our adult children and grandchildren. 

By Carol Danks

 

From Rookie to Reef Master, A Journey of Self Discovery Joining the Ocean’s Tribe.

by
Margo Peyton, Tom Peyton, Palau, Kids Sea Camp

By Olivia Rapisand

My journey started with a cold call to Tom Peyton 

It all started in 2016. Tom is the VP of a dive travel company, Kids Sea Camp Inc. I remember asking him whether he was currently offering scuba diving trips in Belize. Then he asked me, “Do you even know who we are?” I was a young, ambitious scuba-diving and fly-fishing sales agent. I worked for a company based in Texas and managed sales for 7 different resorts in Belize. I found Kids Sea Camp through my Google searches, it seemed like a good candidate for dive bookings so I gave them a call. I had assumed every tour operator would want to book Belize, considering the many incredible options I had to offer to adventure travelers. However, I had not realized how much I had yet to learn.

Meeting Tom

All that changed when I crossed paths with the likes of Tom Peyton. Tom is a very friendly and authentic sort of guy; he enjoys talking to most people. He shared countless stories about  Kids Sea Camp and what they meant to the dive industry. He was honest that getting Belize on Margo’s agenda would be a slim possibility. She is quite tough when it comes to selecting destinations for KSC. She has very specific points that must be met.

No Diving With Crocodiles

Apparently, back in 2010, Margo had given Belize a chance and picked a property that had been highly recommended to her, but did not cut the mustard, as they say. She requires strict adherence to PADI standards for depth limits and training for kids, along with safety protocols for both land and sea. The resort and dive operators must also have emergency contingency plans in place. Margo is very diligent in ensuring that rooms, boats, transfers, and all activities are adequately prepared to meet the quality and friendliness she expects. Tom gave me a few good, detailed reasons why Belize did not qualify. He said Margo did not have a good experience with crocodiles on the first go-round. That was #1, and the challenge was set. Little did I know that my quest to acquire Kids Sea Camp as a new “client” for our dive resorts in Belize would actually become a career path I never expected to be possible.

Fast forward a year, and I had continued to pester Tom for several reasons; he always took the time to share new and interesting things about the industry that helped me better understand what tour operators expected and needed from suppliers. He also took the time to walk me around the trade show floor and introduce me to many of his connections. The more I learned and absorbed, the more wondrous and intrigued I became with the diving industry as a whole. Tom introduced it as a close-knit family of like-minded people with a common thread.

I remember trying to get in front of Margo at one of the trade shows, and there was a line of people waiting to speak with her. Tom finally interrupted her and gave me a quick introduction. Here I was, walking around the show floor, trying to speak to vendors, and she had a lineup in front of her at her booth. I knew that was what I wanted to strive for, and I wanted to make sure I could cut the mustard to earn her trust. Tom was the key to making that happen for sure; I just needed to be patient. I wanted the family market, and it was one my company needed. In 2017, I decided to make an offer to Tom, so I invited him and Margo on a fully paid, 7-night FAM trip I hosted to come back to Belize and experience what I had to offer. It was quite a journey! (See, you can go next year)

A Life Changing FAM

Tom said he would talk to Margo and try to convince her to take a week to go back to Belize. Honestly, I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but I knew that I was very passionate about working with them, and Tom was on my side. I loved what Kids Sea Camp stood for as a company and its philosophies about engaging children in the underwater world and other cultures. I had a lot of work to do to prepare for their FAM: 7 nights and multiple domestic flights to 4 different resorts. I felt it would be a good match for KSC. Tom gave me some good tips on which components were necessary: connecting rooms, 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom villas, beach and ocean access, short boat rides to dive sites, good food, and on-site dive operations with a large enough dive staff to meet kid ratios in the water. I just wanted the FAM to be interesting, fun, and crocodile-free.

Knowing who Margo is today, I am sure she picked up on my inexperience as a diver (during our FAM trip). However, there was something she saw in me back then that really stuck like glue, and she quickly took me under her wing. Returning from our first dive, she plunked one of the KSC fleece beanies on my head after she saw me shivering on the dive boat. She also noticed my cheeks were quite red, so she pulled out her tube of sunblock and applied it to my face, just like my mom would have done when I was a child. Our dives that week were with a new crew; we had just hired a novice captain and a new boat crew. To be honest, it was a hot mess; Tom and Margo jumped right into leadership mode.

Margo’s Way

Margo was the only one of us with a safety sausage, which was needed when we surfaced with a zookeeper full of lionfish out in the blue and had to exit quickly. She monitored my air and time because we were all so excited about how many lionfish I was able to catch. In her Mama-Margo way, she gave us all a lecture after the dive about safety sausages and gave each member of the dive team one to keep. She also talked with them about the importance of navigation, checking currents, and finding diver bubbles based on wind and currents.

Lastly, she gave me a quick dissertation on watching my no-decompression limits and air consumption while better monitoring my depth and time. The new instructor with us also received a “Margo lesson” about safety and lionfish hunting. We all listened to her and took her advice seriously. We all enjoyed the beautiful walls, nurse sharks, loggerheads, and rays those days, and I was happy to say “no crocodiles”. To this day, Margo loves to tell the story about me lionfish hunting. She says I went from Holly Hobby to “Sheba the Sea Warrior”.

I was really worried that I had let them down in terms of the level of safety and care for dives. Margo had basically turned the FAM trip into a dive-staff training and management-consulting session for free. She really took the time to clarify what was needed, not only for KSC but also for the dive team to be successful. With that, friendship and trust were created. The experiences we had together that week created the foundation and admiration we share with one another today.

Working My First Kids Sea Camp Trip

We ran the first of many Belize KSC trips in the spring of 2018. Those 3 weeks were some of the most rewarding and educational experiences of my professional career to date. What amazed me most was actually seeing all the effort and hours of work that go into preparing a KSC trip. We had spent a year compiling all the details of each activity, meal, transfer, rooming list, and dive itinerary. It’s like planning a wedding: once the event begins, the families with their kids bring it to life. Seeing how Tom and Margo pull it all together as a team is awe-inspiring, and the real work starts when the guests arrive. They are like twin conductors, making sure everything runs on time and seamlessly.  At least they make it look that way.

The work that goes on in the background is never seen or heard by the guests. Learning how to create life-changing moments for the families, especially the kids, was something I knew I wanted to continue doing with KSC. Margo, Tom, and I came together during those weeks as a team to navigate some difficult situations. I had to learn to prioritize outcomes that would be best for their customers. Through the intensity of those unplanned moments, I realized that they had weathered many storms together, and the level of respect, trust, and expectations that the families who travel with them have for them is well earned. Our three weeks in Belize turned into huge success for their 125 guests and simultaneously was a boot-camp for my team and I.

Kids Sea Camp Magic

Returning to the corporate office, I felt warm and fuzzy about how incredible the three weeks I had just experienced were. Tom calls that feeling “The KSC Magic.”

I loved feeling the challenge while being pushed to my potential. After meeting Tom and Margo and being tested to meet or exceed their expectations, I left feeling an incredible sense of being valued. I wanted to be an important part of a team that enriched people’s lives, made ethical decisions, and made the best choices for happy outcomes. I wanted to be a part of the dream-making that Kids Sea Camp created on every trip. (See our 2026 Catalog)

Later that summer, I picked up the phone and spoke to Tom about the possibility of working with Kids Sea Camp.  He said that timing was the universe putting things in their place. Margo’s mom had just been diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer, and she needed help so she could spend more time with her mom for the time she had remaining.  Tom told me to give Margo a call, and when I did, I found out her mom had only been given 6 weeks. Margo wanted and needed to be with her as much as possible. I told her that I wanted to be that person to step into her fins so she could be where she was needed, and I did just that.

An Ocean Of Opportunity

I was at a point in my life where I was ready for “real” change. She opened the door to new possibilities, and I said YES! So I packed everything I could into my Jeep, drove with my dad from Texas to South Carolina, and moved in with them for the rest of the summer. I literally took a big breath and told my dad this was going to be one of the best decisions of my life. I don’t know how many of you have ever been around Tom or Margo, but you often feel that way when you spend any amount of time with them.

Kids Sea Camp Special Treatment

The world of working with KSC literally means you have the world on your shoulders! It means that every mom, dad, grandma, and grandpa, along with each child, is treated with thoughtful decisions as if they were your very own family. Each family is an individual consideration and requires attention to their detail, from the size of the scuba tank to dietary needs, special needs, birthday wishes, special occasions, and bed sizes. Then there are the room locations for bad knees, dive-gear valet services for shoulder replacements, private instructors, and guides for special requests. Creating and organizing private moments for proposals and anniversaries.

We’ve done it all. KSC bat mitzvah, underwater weddings, proposals, Lip dubs, singing, dancing, jungle biking, blow-karting, and the list goes on. The life moments that arise, like catering to someone who has been diagnosed with dementia and the family’s wish for their last dive together, or A mother with breast cancer whose last wish was to get certified with her 10-year-old son before she died. Families celebrate the lives of their parents, grandparents, and sometimes a sibling by diving for them as a family. They celebrate a life by getting their children or grandchildren certified and creating new memories together. Grandparents often want to share quality time and create lasting memories for their children and grandchildren. The connectivity and purpose of Kids Sea Camp are massive!

It’s A lot of Work

I am now an integral part of the behind-the-scenes hard work that comes to life on the trips! Margo was able to spend the better part of 9 months with her mom before she passed. She fully trusted me to step into her very large “fins” as Tom guided and nurtured me. Margo charted the course, set the sails, and handed over the wheel. This is now our 6th year together, and I will say my life has been incredible. From the families and suppliers I have met to the value I now feel and the level of adoration that I have for this family and KSC, the journey has exceeded my dreams.

Singing to Keep Your Job

Did I mention Tom Peyton is a rock star? He was the lead singer of his band and published a CD called Heart of the Rose on iTunes. He also had a play go off-Broadway. Are you thinking what that has to do with me? Well, when it came to speaking or singing publicly, let’s just say I wasn’t very good at it. To keep my job, Tom said I HAD TO SING! LOL, yes, that is right!

Tom said it would help break down barriers, build courage, and push me past my discomfort. He said it would make me feel free and help me shed unwanted stigma. So I figured I would let him have it. Tom and I run it together if we are on trips, or I run it on my own when I am not traveling with him. Even though he sings like a real rock star and I, well… I don’t; he encourages me and makes me feel like one. Needless to say, karaoke is a big part of KSC! The good thing about that is everyone’s having fun. Some people are like Tom, and wow, can they sing?

Some people are like me; maybe they are not the best, but they have the most fun doing it. So, if you’re ever on a trip with me, be prepared not to feel intimidated about singing but rather encouraged. If you have something to show, then, for sure, rise to the occasion with Tom.

Margo, Tom, and I have all worked together, running KSC weeks, working in the office, doing trade shows, overcoming global pandemics, creating new programs, finding new destinations, capturing stories, and making dreams come true. Margo has taught me so much about the nuts and bolts of running a travel company that focuses on family. Reviewing every waiver, reading all supplier contracts, negotiating with pricing, and even implementing safety standards for diving specifically for children. She has also taught me how to provide consulting to dive shops and resorts worldwide that want to establish kids’ programs and become more family-friendly.

PADI PRO

In 2021, I became a PADI Instructor at Buddy Dive Bonaire, which was an incredibly fulfilling journey. I now teach children and adults to scuba dive. I contribute to the next generation of kids and adults becoming PADI Pros through the curriculum Margo and I have implemented, as well as the mentorship and training we offer to young adults who join us for the internship programs for new DMs and Instructors.

One of the newest endeavors this past year has been underwater photography, and I love it! Margo has been hell-bent on making me a photo pro, so she gave me her personal Olympus setup from ‘Reef Photo & Video’ in Ft. Lauderdale after she bought herself a new one. It is so much fun now to get to shoot underwater photos together and of each other. She has spent a lot of time teaching me her skills and different techniques to get the perfect shot. I also learned from two other KSC photo pros, Josh Comay and Jesse Alpert, this year. If you had told me when I started with KSC that I would eventually work my way towards not only leading trips but also being the photographer for the trip, I would have thought you were out of your mind. But here I am, spreading my wings further than I ever thought they would go.

Getting Married to Sam

What’s the next chapter…. getting married December 14, 2024! My fiancé, Sam, whom I met after moving to South Carolina, became a diver at Anse Chastanet in St. Lucia in 2021. Of course, his initiation into the tribe involved singing karaoke with Tom. Sam tried to get away with Tequila, a one-word song, but Tom refused to let that pass. He had to encourage Sam’s inner child, and I will say successfully, so Sam is a nonstop karaoke star now.

The Family Tribe

Tom says Kids Sea Camp is a family, and Margo says it’s a tribe; either way, it’s hard to put into words how much gratitude and a sense of purpose I have felt being part of this family-tribe. A few short years ago, I was waiting in line at a trade show to speak with Margo while Tom taught me the ropes of the dive industry.

Thank you to Margo and Tom for trusting me and allowing me to grow within your family tribe. 

 

“A safe place to dive as a family”

by
Kids Scuba, Family Scuba Diving Adventures, Kids Sea Camp, Margo Peyton

Healing with Kids Sea Camp

My husband Doug and I have been scuba diving for the better part of 25 years. Before having kids, we enjoyed diving together around the world. Diving has always been a pleasant temporary escape from the everyday world for us. It provides a quiet peace we have not often found on the top side. Doug and I are retired US Marines. When we had our sons, we stopped diving like most families.

Kids Scuba, Family Scuba Diving Adventures, Kids Sea Camp, Margo PeytonWhen our youngest turned 10, the age PADI allows kids to become Jr. Open Water Divers, we heavily fostered both boys’ interest in becoming certified divers. Doug and I were very excited to have our boys as dive buddies; it was a long-awaited dream come true. Josh and Sam started their course at home, at our local dive shop, and then we flew to Jamaica to complete their PADI courses.  We quickly learned (before finding Kids Sea Camp)that most of the dive industry does not seem to cater to youth divers safely. Smaller gear and experience were hard to come by.

After the certification process we experienced in Jamaica, we felt it was rushed. Those dive instructors were not nurturing and clearly did not understand the difference between a child and an adult student.  After waiting over 10 years to dive with our kids, we wanted them to have a safe, fun, positive experience. We did not want them to be scared; unfortunately, that was precisely what had happened in Jamaica. After returning from that trip, we began searching for what we, as parents, considered a safer option.

Finding Kids Sea Camp

That is when we found Kids Sea Camp, and what a fantastic find it was. A place where families from around the world could come together and meet other like-minded families and enjoy a safe, fun scuba diving family vacation. There was plenty of time together with our boys to enjoy, while there was also time apart. Our first Kids Sea Camp was in the Cayman Islands in 2019. Josh and Sam met other certified divers to have fun and make new friends. They dove with knowledgeable, kid-friendly instructors who improved their diving skills and kept them safe. Throughout the trip, we all had fun with karaoke, Pirates, treasure hunts, and many other family activities. Doug and I had a worry-free trip and enjoyed scuba diving with our boys on the family dives and with other parents on the adult dives. Doug and I could not have been happier watching the kids bond, sing, dive, laugh, and enjoy daily. (See our gallery)

Sudden devastation

Sadly, shortly after that wonderful week, tragedy struck our family, and our oldest son, Josh, passed away. This devastated our family, and it was next to impossible to navigate the best way to move forward and experience joy again, for Sam’s sake. If that wasn’t enough, COVID showed up. An understatement would be to say it was a challenging time for us. Grief is not a straight line, and we all have our way of dealing with pain. As a family of three now, we have come together and supported each other, understanding that we each have our own path. One by one, we decided that it was time to live our lives while remembering our beloved Josh.

Remembering Josh with diving

Doug was the first to take a step forward and asked us to attend another Kids Sea Camp. This resonated with us because it was when our family last had a joyful time with our son, Josh. It would feel good to get back in the water again and experience that quiet, healing peace of the sea we all longed for.

Doug and I wanted to continue diving and hoped Sam would enjoy being our buddy. We agreed on St. Lucia Kids Sea Camp, where we met Margo and Tom. I was still deep in grief while Sam was 12. And was hesitant to dive after everything that we had been through. Margo paired him up one-on-one with a very nurturing Kids Sea Camp instructor. We relaxed, watched, and let the Kids Sea Camp magic unfold. Before we knew it, Sam was in the water (with me tagging along) on fabulous dives where he seemed to enjoy every minute. Doug and I enjoyed diving with Sam and his instructor throughout the trip. We have continued to go on more family dive trips with Kids Sea Camp, and we always dive with Sam whenever we want.

Kids Sea Camp kindness

As you can imagine, we had some difficulties throughout this time in our lives. But the KSC staff was always ready and willing to allow us the private space we needed whenever we needed it. Sometimes that meant not diving and doing other things together as a family; sometimes it meant diving with Sam on the kids’ boat and taking additional courses to learn more about diving. Nothing was ever forced on us; we were encouraged to go at our own pace, march to our drum, and do what we wanted when we wanted. (See our new Catalog)

Over the next few years, we became ready to live and experience more, so we decided to try Fiji. Margo told us about the world heritage sites and the amazing diversity in diving there. They shared the spiritual beliefs, nurturing behavior, and personality traits of Fijian culture. The thought of the music, beauty, and peace that Fiji could bring to our family convinced us to go. I loved the vibrant reefs and fabulous topside views. I had also begun to work in a fulfilling job back home, assisting homeless veterans; that, along with the support of my family, allowed me to progress in my grief journey. Diving is my peace, and I could do it every day. I love to think and daydream while seeing the underwater world. I am grateful for KSC and the world of destinations they offer.

Sam took longer to process our tragedy.

Sam was very young when we lost Josh, and losing your brother is a difficult and unique journey to work through. There were many times that Sam chose not to dive and to be in his own space, and that was okay. As much as we wanted him to embrace diving as we did, he needed to make his own decisions. Diving was not to be forced; we gave him the space and time to focus on what was more important to him. Doug and I love diving; it brings us peace and joy. After a few years, we decided to go on a trip with Tom and Margo without our son. He was now old enough to stay home. Sam took a week to decompress from his demanding school schedule, while Mom and Dad had a fabulous week diving in Little Cayman. That was one of the hardest things to do, and we missed him every day; however, it was healing for all 3 of us.

This past year, Sam decided to join us in Belize and enjoyed diving with the other teens and us. It was fantastic to see him enjoying diving again. I hope he will develop a love of diving that rivals mine, and we will keep offering him the opportunity to dive and travel with us. He needs to find his passion. Doug and I love traveling and diving with Kids Sea Camp and the staff. What this company offers to families is personal, unparalleled, and priceless.  Margo, Tom, and Olivia feel like family to us. We have made lifelong friends with too many other divers to mention.

Doug becomes an Instructor

PADI, Tom Peyton, Kids Scuba, family Scuba diveing vacationsDoug and Tom began the journey to become dive masters a year ago in the Philippines, and just recently, in 2024, Doug became a PADI instructor and will, hopefully, as we advance, be a special part of the caring dive team that helped our own family grow and heal.  I will tag along for my peace of mind, and we will buddy up with Sam when his schedule allows.

We will be forever grateful for the last week we shared with our beloved son, Josh. We have so many memories and photos to look back on from that first week and the eight additional trips we’ve been on with Kids Sea Camp. I hope to have many more. We continue to travel this grief journey, but we have KSC for peace, fun, new friendships, and opportunities.

By Jessica Donnell

Margo Peyton’s Journey to becoming a diving pioneer

by
Kids Sea Camp, diving with Kids, diving with family, Margo Peyton

Her father started it all

Margo Peyton grew up in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, a coastal haven with one of the most diverse marine environments in the US. Her father, Eddie Salvador, was a diver from the 1950s who poured his own lead weights and used an old Deco regulator with a J-valve and a homemade horse-collar BCD—back when gauges weren’t commonplace. Margo recalls her dad telling her that when breathing became labored, it was time to pull the wire on the J-valve and ascend to the surface using the 300 psi reserve in his tank. “What about your safety stop, Dad?” she’d ask. “There was no knowledge of that sort of thing back then,” he’d reply.

Kids Sea Camp is celebrating its 25th anniversary of providing unique, off-the-beaten-path diving experiences for families worldwide. This year marks a truly unforgettable milestone: Margo Peyton, the heart and soul of Kids Sea Camp, was inducted into the International Scuba Divers Hall of Fame on September 28, 2024. This prestigious honor recognizes Margo’s 36 years of diving, traveling, and advocating for our underwater world.

He tried to deter her passion for diving, fearing the many things that could go wrong in the 1980s when she began. Nevertheless, he bought her a Deco regulator with a J-valve in 1988, along with an SPG and octopus, which were becoming popular at the time. Margo loved the ocean and learning about marine animals. She spent every summer as a child on the boat with her dad and brother, who hunted for giant bluefin tuna and fished for bluefish, bass, and cod. Encountering massive pods of bluefin tuna, dolphins, orcas, and humpback whales was the norm for Margo.

She learned to love and respect the sea, becoming familiar with basking sharks, great whites, mako sharks, and blue sharks, among others. Her dad instilled in her an adventurous spirit, while her mom nurtured her compassionate heart for saving and protecting animals. Margo worked at the Provincetown Sea Aquarium, where she cared for rescued sea lions, loggerhead turtles, and even a pair of orphaned coyote pups. The aquarium became a second home, and it was there that Margo’s passion for animal rescue blossomed. Over the years, this has included seagulls, kittens, puppies, snakes, pigeons, horses, whales, crabs, rays, octopuses, turtles, and countless others.

Sink or swim

When Margo was just a young child, her father threw her overboard into a school of wild dolphins to teach her how to swim. His philosophy was “sink or swim.” Margo has been a pioneer in the dive industry, encouraging everyone to embrace the family market. Her efforts have resulted in over 8,000 children becoming certified divers without a single diving accident. Her tenacity, courage, strength, and passion for her own kids and the ocean have always been her driving force.

Margo’s dedication to safety alone would merit her prestigious awards. However, her true impact lies in the countless individuals who started as junior divers and have become PADI professionals. Margo’s passion for the “living classroom” she created has resonated with like-minded families around the globe. Her love for diving has shown thousands of couples that having children doesn’t have to mean the end of their diving days. In fact, it’s just the beginning of creating amazing family memories.

Margo’s mission

The concept of bringing together like-minded families who love the ocean, adventure, and travel was unprecedented in the dive industry. Margo had to prove to dive operators in a male-dominated industry that kids had value and that educating and training them was essential. She had to convince major equipment manufacturers that making kids’ dive gear—tiny tanks and wetsuits—was not only financially beneficial but also crucial for the future of diving. She saw a need and was on a mission to fulfill it.

I have personally witnessed Margo’s hard work throughout her 35-year career, whether in the office, at a trade show, or on the island. Margo takes on multiple roles during a typical week at Kids Sea Camp: underwater photographer, artist, MC, mediator, mentor, activities director, hotel consultant, dive team organizer, advisor, events planner, celebration coordinator, presenter, and even shuttle bus driver. As a PADI professional, she often oversees kids and adults in the water.

Daily check-ins

During lunch, Margo takes the time to follow up on daily events, such as cupcake decorating, go-karting, Seal Team demonstration dives, graduation dives, birthday cakes, poetry contests, and treasure-hunt prizes. Her favorite time is spent with the kids, discussing their day, their dreams, and their diving adventures, making sure they are having fun. Margo Peyton spends most of her days in the ocean, photographing the Seal Team or SASY program. In the evenings, she ensures everyone is happy with their day in the ocean and at the beach. During dinner, she loves to walk around and listen to families sharing stories about their day.

For Margo, one indicator of a job well done is the absence of cell phones at the dinner table, with unplugged kids happily chatting and adults enjoying each other’s company. She ends each day dedicating herself to sorting through the day’s images until nearly midnight. The images ensure that all families have a visual record of the incredible day’s events. Treasure hunts, horseback riding, sunset sailing—it’s all captured for the end-of-week slideshow.

Margo’s passion

Margo’s passion, courage, and determination to establish a kid- and family-friendly dive company in a male-dominated industry are remarkable. She didn’t achieve this alone; numerous courageous and visionary women. As well as the wise men, who also played crucial roles in bringing the company to life 25 years ago. Their contributions are integral to Margo’s journey. The support has been instrumental in her success. This is a celebration of their collective efforts and the progress they have made in the industry.

Today, Kids Sea Camp is a beacon of excellence in dive safety, old-fashioned family fun, and personalized service. Margo’s moment is a tribute to all the vendors and families who believed in her vision. The beauty of her moment continues to be built upon all the moments that families have shared with Margo.

By Tom Peyton, husband and KSC Vice President

Dream Vacation: “From Arizona to Anse Chastanet: A Dream Dive Adventure”

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Kids Sea Camp, dream vacation, kids and diving

KSC is ideal for families

By Heather Shell

If you’re reading this, our family’s story may resonate with your own. My name is Heather Shell, and I’ve been a certified scuba diver for over 30 years. Thirteen years ago, when I met my husband, Andrew, I gifted him a PADI Scuba Diving Course for his birthday. It would be an excellent way to grow closer through a shared passion for diving.

However, living in Arizona meant his initial dives took place in Lake Pleasant, which wasn’t ideal for showcasing the beauty of diving or a dream vacation. Nonetheless, he persevered, and over the next few years, we took diving trips to Mexico and Roatan. Our son, Ari, was very young, and we were unaware of programs like PADI SASY and Seal Team, so we left him at home during these trips. We longed for family vacations, so we set aside diving in favor of pursuits we could enjoy together. Consequently, when we considered enrolling Ari into a Scuba Camp at age 11, my husband and I hadn’t dived in eight years.

Last Hanukkah, we decided Ari wouldn’t attend another summer camp. Instead, we were envisioning a diving vacation together. We considered the impact of his missing summer camps with his friends against an incredible family diving experience. Consulting a travel agent, I initially thought Europe might be our starting point for diving adventures. However, planning a dream vacation there quickly became overwhelming with challenges beyond just acquiring passports. I admit arranging family trips is stressful, especially with Ari’s Celiac disease. The fear of limited gluten-free options, language barriers, and the need to explain cross-contamination risks at each meal could quickly spoil our travels.

Word of mouth recommendation

One evening, over dinner with friends Dirk and Amy Leverant, I expressed our struggles about organizing a trip that accommodated our dietary needs. They recommended a company they’d traveled with called Kids Sea Camp. Dirk and Amy shared their many family travel experiences with Kids Sea Camp, having explored destinations such as Roatan, the Cayman Islands, and Curacao. They spoke of their children’s enduring love for scuba diving and the unforgettable memories made on these trips, emphasizing how easy and stress-free Kids Sea Camp made the planning process.

Amy sent me a link to kidsseacamp.com, and the next day, I spoke with Margo Peyton, the owner, and her son, Robert. They suggested we join the dream vacation to St. Lucia in July 2024. Margo explained that she selects PADI 5-star resorts and thoroughly vets both the dive shops and their staff to ensure they are family-friendly and adhere to best practices for kids and diving. Kids Sea Camp has an on-site team that coordinates with hotels, restaurants, transfer companies, food and beverage managers, activity directors, and dive operations to ensure a seamless vacation.

KSC is ideal for families

Kids Sea Camp proved ideal for our family’s needs. As Ari earned his PADI Jr. Open Water certification at age 11, the camp offered a safe, inclusive environment where he could interact with peers of similar ages and skill levels. Meanwhile, Andrew and I enjoyed adult diving time with other passionate parents. In the afternoons, we reconnected as a family, sharing our experiences from the day. We reveled in Ari’s morning adventures and enjoyed family activities and afternoon dives.

We stayed at Anse Chastanet, a romantic luxury resort with black-sand beaches, beautiful views of the Pitons, and three restaurants catering to our dietary needs. It was everything Margo promised, a true dream vacation. The roomy, beautiful accommodations offered breathtaking views.

Kids Sea Camp prioritized safe, enjoyable diving experiences and catered to dietary needs. On our first evening, we met the dive shop staff, the Sea Camp team, the hotel crew, and, crucially, the head Chef, who assured us they were well informed about our needs and had carefully planned each meal. They even arranged a special gluten-free birthday cake for me.

Dirk and Amy’s recommendation for our family vacation couldn’t have been better. The KSC staff ensured our experience was inclusive and carefree from arrival to departure. Margo and her team were always welcoming and captured photos so we wouldn’t miss any moments. Margo & Tom spend months organizing these dive trips, collaborating closely with local teams, and bringing in presenters and educators like Cristina Zenato and her husband Kewin to engage young campers, enhancing our understanding of Caribbean ecosystems.

Building relationships

Tom Peyton famously says, “What makes Kids Sea Camp special is the relationships that are built,” and we witnessed this firsthand. We met Ken & Jacqueline Langen, who were on their second Kids Sea Camp adventure with their three sons: Ben, 16; Walter, 11; and William, 14. Our families connected quickly, sharing meals and excursions while our boys bonded at the beach. We discovered two of their boys, and Ken also had Celiac, deepening our connection. We were already planning next year’s trip together by the week’s end.

Our choice of Kids Sea Camp has left us beyond satisfied, and we feel incredibly fortunate to be a part of the Kids Sea Camp community!

 

A rare experience for children to witness

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Baby Turtle Hatch, Kids Sea Camp, st. lucia, kids and diving

​”A magical gift of a baby turtle hatching at Anse Chastanet during Kids Sea Camp”

​It is the first night of Kids Sea Camp under the stars of St Lucia. ​Mother Nature is giving us a magical ​welcome that night. ​It is thrilling to lead the kids through this ​rare and unique adventure. We pack the days with learning ​about the ocean and ​a list of fun Anse Chastanet activities. However, Mother Nature planned her learning and fun activity for this particular Kids Sea Camp trip, for all the kids who would become future ambassadors and protectors of her underwater world. 

​Margo and Tom, the owners of Kids Sea Camp, their photo pro, Brad, and Instructor Woody, brought their moms along on this memorable trip and sat down after introductions. I introduced the chef and GM, myself, and my dive team, and started the Q&A. Guests were excited about tomorrow’s diving and having fun with newfound friends. At Anse Chastanet, our dining is on the beach in the beautiful beach restaurant on the water’s edge. It’s lit with glimmering lanterns and shimmering light patterns along the shoreline. I heard a little girl exclaim she had found a baby turtle. I knew the nest we would be watching is close to ready, but tonight is the night, in the bright moonlight, with all the children present.

A magical night

I gathered ​all the kids and parents and spoke ​to ​them about what they would witness. “Welcome to what promises to be a ​​magical ​night of wonder ​for everyone! Tonight, a Kids Sea Camp miracle is taking place. ​We will be able to watch the baby turtles emerge from the sand and make their way to the ocean. It’s an incredible journey; it is thrilling to share it with you.”

The kids and their parents were on the edge of their seats. “What’s the most exciting part?” asked Noah.

“The most exciting part,” I replied, “is seeing how these tiny hatchlings find their way to the ocean. They face many challenges, but their determination is truly inspiring. We’ll learn about their journey tonight and see it unfold before our eyes.”

As dusk ​was not yet night, ​we ​stood ​around the nesting area, where gentle red lights lit the beach to avoid disturbing the baby turtle hatchlings. We​ waited, hoping the turtles would wait for the darkness to protect them. I explained to the kids, “Sea turtles usually hatch at night. The little ones emerged from their nests and headed toward the water, guided by the moon’s natural light.” The moon lit the beach, and there was a lot of artificial light. With her notebook ready, Ella asked, “How do the turtles know where to go?”

“Great question,” I said, “They are guided by the reflection of the moonlight on the water. The natural light helps them find their way to the ocean, away from predators and toward safety.”

We settled in, eyes scanning the sand for ​more signs of movement. The beach was quiet except for the rhythmic sound of the waves and the occasional call of a nightbird.

Baby turtles on the beach

The kids were holding their breath as tiny heads poked through the sand. It was a nest of baby ​leatherback sea turtles beginning their incredible journey. I saw the excitement on their faces and whispered, “Look, there they are!”

The hatchlings, no bigger than a child’s hand, began to wriggle and make their way across the sand. Their tiny flippers flapped and moved in unison as they instinctively followed the moonlight reflecting on the water. Ava clapped her hands softly, “They’re so tiny and determined!”

​Parents had cameras ready, capturing every moment of the baby turtle hatch. Watching ​the ​children, who had been making jokes earlier, were now wholly absorbed in the scene. “This is amazing,” ​one little boy said, his voice filled with awe.

They faced a few challenges as the ​98 hatchlings approached the ​water’s edge. ​​Gulls swooped down, and the ​children gasped. I reassured them, “Don’t worry. Despite the challenges, Nature has its way, and many of these hatchlings will make it to the water.”​ It was incredible how the birds knew what would happen in the next few moments. Their calls got louder as if they were ringing a bell.

Turtle facts

The hatchlings continued ​to push up through the sand as they began their journey, some moving faster than others. I noticed a little girl watching one particular hatchling green turtle, and Hawksbill turtles lay in June and hatch to pick it up. “Can we help it?” she asked, her concern evident.​ Leatherback turtles are endangered; generally, only one in a thousand will reach adulthood. 10-15% are eaten by crabs, birds, and reptiles on the beach, and only 25% survive their first few days in the ocean. Witnessing a baby leatherback turtle hatchling is an extremely rare moment. As adults, they can weigh up to 2,000 lb and 6.5′. In St. Lucia, as in most of the Caribbean, green turtles and Hawksbills lay in June and hatch in July & August. 

​The leatherback population has decreased worldwide by 40%. They are known to return to Grand Anse Beach in St. Lucia. But due to sand mining and poaching, they have migrated to other parts of the island, and this year. Anse Chastanet House Beach is the destination.

As ​each tiny turtle ​rose from the sand, we quickly collected them and put them in safety tubs to be released in a safer, turtle-friendly area, where they could not be poached or eaten and had a better chance of survival. 

I smiled at the kids, proud of their empathy and understanding. “You’ve all witnessed an extraordinary moment​ and participated in protecting future generations of leatherbacks. These hatchlings ​​will safely take their first ​swim into the ocean​ over the next few evenings. ​This part is just the beginning for them, and it’s a lesson to us on the importance of protecting their environment.”

Talking about turtle conservation

​During the next two days, turtle conservation was our topic. Releasing the baby turtles safely into the ocean. As each of the 98 hatchlings disappeared into the blue, we gathered to reflect on our unforgettable experience.

In closing, I shared my thoughts. “Those baby turtles have shown us the power of determination and the importance of protecting them and their habitat.”

The kids shared their thoughts and feelings, too. They each named a little turtle and wished it an easy journey and a safe return someday. ​​Sarah, still excited, said, “I can’t believe we saw them hatch and go to the sea. I want to help sea turtles and ensure they ​all have a safe place to live.”

​The other children nodded in agreement.​ At this Kids Sea Camp, as they do each year in St. Lucia, kids learn ​firsthand about ​turtle challenges, pollution, plastic, sand mining, and habitat destruction.

A​bby, usually full of jokes, was reflective. “It was amazing to see how ​hard they work just to rise out of the sand. It makes me want to do more to help ​save their habitat.”

New ocean protectors

​I listened to their comments with a smile. “I’m proud of each of you. This experience shows how important it is to care for our ocean environment. You’ve all taken a big step as future ocean protectors.”

The beach cleanup ensured that the beach is pristine and ready for next year’s hatchlings to be buried. ​Who knew the artificial lights made a difference? And how important the stars shining brightly above​ are to turtles? Anse Chastanet has always championed conservation in St. Lucia. They manage one of the first marine sanctuaries in St. Lucia.

New voices for the ocean

​Tom and Margo say, “Kids Sea Camp creates memories to last a lifetime.” I do feel honored to work with such a wonderful group of kids and their parents. ​I hope that those experiences will create voices and protectors for the future, and maybe a few more baby turtles will hatch. (See calendar events)

Gigi Merlusca, PADI Staff Instructor and former manager of Scuba St. Lucia at Anse Chastanet

Scuba diving was definitely not on my list.

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Kids Scuba, Family Scuba Diving Adventures, Kids Sea Camp, Margo Peyton, Family Dive Adventures, Scuba Diving, empty nester travelers

Kids Sea Camp mom learns to dive at age 61 and logs 90 dives in 6 countries in two years

By Betsy Meade

Scuba Diving, no way! My husband, Doug, and I recently retired after raising our four children. We both enjoy traveling, so we started to think about what the next stage of our lives together should look like. Doug is an active sportsperson who loves adventure, biking, and scuba diving. My travel habits favor sightseeing, beaches, and relaxing. I am willing to try new things, but scuba diving was not on my list.

I am not fond of swimming in the ocean at all. As a child, I was content to sit in the sun and play in the sand. As an adult, I occasionally ventured out into the waves, but I feared all the “creatures” I suspected would be waiting to torment me. On several trips, I attempted to snorkel but never quite got the hang of blowing water out of the snorkel and keeping water out of my mask. As an adult, I was still not interested in encountering any sea life. Scuba diving was not on my list of things to do.

Doug, on the other hand, has been scuba diving for over fifteen years. I spent many vacations happily sitting on beaches, while he scuba-dived during the day. He returned with great stories and pictures of his dives, and I was entertained by learning about his time underwater. Doug enjoyed diving but had mixed emotions, always leaving our family and me behind while on vacation. He often suggested that we get certified and join him, but I didn’t think the kids could do that. I certainly had no interest. So we remained content sitting on the beach until now.

I believed I could not enjoy scuba diving for many reasons; I am claustrophobic, and being underwater would scare me. My fear of not having immediate access to fresh air, and could not wrap my head around the idea that all I needed would be provided in a small metal capsule on my back. I was not a strong swimmer, so I thought currents and waves could be a problem, and the most significant piece of the pie was that I am afraid of sharks, fish, eels, or anything else that moves, stings, or bites.

My mentor, Margo Peyton

Margo Peyton, my neighbor and close friend, is the founder and owner of Kids Sea Camp. Mrs. Peyton would talk to me with so much passion, understanding, and determination about diving. Her beautiful pictures helped me debunk all my fears with her knowledge and experience. And she explained that having well-fitting, comfortable dive gear can make a huge difference in comfort, confidence, and the overall diving experience. She gave me a soft Scubapro mask called a Synergy TrueFit, sized just right for my small face.

Even the mask strap was necessary. She added a sports band that ensured the mask was easy to slip on, remove, and adjust—even underwater. She provided me with a smaller mouthpiece that was more comfortable. Then she outfitted me with comfortable, longer fins that prevented leg cramps and let me move through the water with scuba gear. I had no idea what a difference a fin could make. I was provided a comfy two-piece wetsuit that was easy to get in and out of, stylish, kept me warm, and protected me from stings and sunburn. The BCD was the key to my ultimate comfort. The fit was perfect and easy to use, and it supported my back as needed in the water. Having dependable, comfortable equipment I learned to use gave me so much confidence while I was scuba diving.

Facing my scuba fears

I booked my PADI Open Water class for July 2023 in Roatan, Honduras. I was still terrified of marine life when I arrived in Roatan. The night before my first class, I had tried to convince myself that scuba diving was not for me; all my troublesome thoughts, concerns, and excuses came rushing back. I didn’t want to disappoint Doug or Margo, so I got into the pool. It was my first class. Margo personally hand-picked my dive instructor to fit my needs and fears. I had the most patient, kind, and just wonderful instructor, Kiley Thueson, she was perfect for me.

Some skills were more challenging than others, but Kiley was patient, and I completed the requirements of my confined-water dives. I was excited but extremely nervous for my first open-water dive, as I would see fish. I took a giant stride into the ocean.

There was so much to think about—equalizing my ears, not holding my breath, monitoring my air, the dreaded mask removal skill, and swimming with fish. As I descended, the beauty of the corals and the blue hues of the ocean water amazed and calmed me. I was not afraid of those fish! They also seemed entirely uninterested in me.

Upon completing my first day of scuba diving, I was so proud of myself and started looking forward to the next day. However, after dinner, doubt and fear crept in again. I had to keep reminding myself, “I can do this!” Each day, I again forced myself to return to my class, determined to succeed and overcome more of my fears.

It took three days to become a PADI-certified open-water scuba diver at age 61. I was proud of myself for pushing through and enjoyed diving with Kiley and Doug for the rest of the trip. I enjoyed diving so much that five months later, we called Family Dive Adventures and went back to Roatan, this time to complete my Advanced Open Water certification with another Kids Sea Camp Instructor whom Margo hand-picked, Peter Kockisch. He is from Germany and worked with me on buoyancy, weight placement, fish identification, boat diving, navigation, and a deep dive.

Doug, my diving buddy

Then Doug and I went to St. Eustatius, and after that, we felt prepared for Indonesia. So we went to Lembeh Resort in Indonesia and then to Komodo aboard the Arenui with Margo and Tom. Again, we had private guides and learned so much. We did our first muck dives in Lembeh. Doug and I had to practice keeping our fins up, not stirring up the bottom, and destroying all visibility. And there certainly was a lot to see! We both started taking photos and having fun. In Komodo, we saw dragons on land and had private dives with whale sharks, manta rays, eagle rays, and even some reef sharks. Going on a few night dives required me to overcome a few more fears. Again, with proper equipment and planning, these were fun, too.

How’s that for overcoming fears? I am so very proud of myself. Doug and I are really enjoying this big blue new world we are exploring together. After Komodo, we went to Anse Chastanet in St. Lucia, dove wrecks, and learned to drift dive. Next, we are taking our daughter to Belize with Family Dive Adventures this spring to Blackbird Caye. I’m very excited for our daughter and looking forward to more new experiences, and I now love scuba diving.

Structure and attention to detail—particularly safety—are most important on Margo and Tom’s trips. This was a huge part of my success. Being part of that group and realizing that the instruction specifically addressed many of my concerns played a considerable role in building my comfort, confidence, and enjoyment of diving. Margo uses the same philosophy with her children’s programs.

Becoming certified scuba divers has changed our lives in so many ways. Doug and I explore the underwater world together as buddies. We have fun, travel, and meet new people.

Constantly blowing bubbles — now.

Experiencing this new world with my eyes was much better than looking at Doug’s pictures and listening to his stories. In the past year, I logged 90 dives in 6 countries and experienced a wide variety of sea life, including endless types of corals, sponges, and critters.

I am obsessed with diving now. With every dive, I am becoming a better, more confident diver. With each trip and each new experience, I learn more and overcome more fears. Having Doug as my dive buddy gives me more confidence because he always has my back.

Our calendars for 2025 and 2026 are already filling up with more Kids Sea Camp / Family Dive Adventure trips. We are off to Belize with Tom and Margo in the spring and then getting excited to be back on the Arenui with their Forgotten Islands Trip. While we regret missing out on 15 years of diving together, the last year has been so much fun, and we plan to continue to create new memories on future trips with Margo and Tom. In addition, we look forward to introducing our children and grandchildren to scuba diving with Kids Sea Camp.

I am so grateful to Margo for encouraging me to step out of my comfort zone and try something new. I never thought that at age 61, I could learn to scuba dive or that I would enjoy it so much.

Finding a perfect place to dive as a family

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Kids Sea Camp, diving with Kids, diving with family

​“Our only option for getting our kids certified to scuba dive was in the dark, kelp-filled, cold water​.”

​Michael and I, both raised in scuba-diving families, could not wait until our son, Trey, and daughter, Hutton, turned 12 so we could get ​them both SCUBA certified. We didn’t realize that the certification for Junior Open Water ​with PADI had changed to age 10!

​Michael and I went to our local Dive Shop in Hermosa Beach, CA, and our son, Trey, quickly completed the e-learning, confined, and pool work. All that was left were the ​four open-water dives. Now let me explain: it would ​have to be ​done off the coast of Palos Verdes, CA, in January – in dark, kelp-filled, cold water. ​(This is not the definition of kid-friendly, and not the perfect place to learn to dive.) While Trey was very comfortable in the ocean and a strong swimmer, he would also have to wear a thick 7 mm wetsuit, a hood, booties , and a great deal of lead weight. Well, ​he was not having ​any of it! We knew right away that this wouldn’t be the ​place for either child to learn to dive. The search for our family’s dive vacation began.

We found Kids Sea Camp

Kids Sea Camp, Kids and diving

Not giving up, we decided to look into group scuba trips to help us navigate and find kid-friendly dive sites around the world that would provide a safe, comfortable, and fun option for our kids to complete Jr. open water certificationsfor ​our kids.

That’s when we found Kids Sea Camp! It was exactly what we needed. A group of top scuba instructors arranged trips for ​families who wanted to explore the ​underwater world together. As a bonus, they were focused on families and ​offered incredible youth dive training programs and continued environmental education for all. Done. Is Kids Sea Camp the perfect place?

Kids Sea Camp has exceeded all our expectations. Both of our kids ​have been successfully certified​ at Kids Sea Camp, and we have  been on two one-week-long dive trips ​to Little Cayman​ (Little Cayman Beach Resort and St. Lucia​ at Anse Chastanet Resort) 

With each trip, we all become more confident and comfortable. Our family loves the balance that these trips give us as well. We get to have quality family time together, hours of diving, great meals, getting to know other families, and stolen private moments alone. ​Margo and Tom provide professional photographers throughout the week to capture each memorable moment of our family diving and the kids’ newfound friends.

Little Kids and Big Kids are everywhere

Scattered throughout the week, everyone (both big and small, young and old – like Tom, haha) has the option to enjoy activities such as jungle biking,​ sunset cruises, chocolate tasting, paddle boarding, treasure hunts,  hiking, volleyball (a family favorite!), karaoke (start practicing your song now!), various​ culinary delights and art classes.​

There is time together and time for making new friends with other like-minded families. We are so happy that our kids love diving, and as a family. The family can unplug and reconnect by exploring the underwater world together. 

We cannot recommend Kids Sea Camp enough! It’s one of those perfect vacation gems you almost don’t want to share with others lest they take your spot! But no, all jokes aside, we were always blown away when speaking with other KSC guests regarding how many years they have been diving with Margo and Tom. Some have been with KSC for more than five years! And I know we, too, will be among them. Now we have to agree upon the next perfect place for our family!

Thank you for all the memories (and incredible photography!) Margo, Tom, and the entire Kids Sea Camp crew!

Much love, The Morris Family (Kati, Michael, Trey, and Hutton​)

By Kati Haack Morris, KSC mom

Worlds Best Family Dive Adventure Vacations

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Peyton family, Kids Sea Camp, diving with Kids, diving with family

Kids Sea Camp an award-winning company

Margo Peyton created this multi-award-winning family adventure travel program, which has contributed to well over 8,100 kids’ and adults’ PADI scuba diving certifications. (see link)

Kids Sea Camp’s (KSC) motto is “Give them a week they will remember forever.” Based on the hundreds of testimonials from kids, teens, and parents who have participated in Kids Sea Camp trips. The company has created dive vacations that are memorable and magical: “Kids Sea Camp has changed my life, and I know it has done the same for others.”

“KSC holds a special place in my heart. It was my true catapult into the diving world.”

“The Kids Sea Camp team went out of their way to create memorable moments that will most certainly last a lifetime.”

Tom & Margo are great owners

Tom Peyton and Margo Peyton have hand-chosen PADI resorts and liveaboards in the Cayman Islands, Indonesia, Bonaire, Roatan, Galapagos, Red Sea, The Philippines, Fiji, Palau, Yap, St. Lucia, Dominica, Belize, Indonesia, Maldives, and more, to host their trips, while ensuring the highest level of standards and safety. Over the past 25 years, KSC has certified over 8,100 divers and has not had a single dive accident.

Staffed by highly qualified professionals. KSC is dedicated to introducing scuba diving, family vacations, and the ocean to kids, teenagers, and their parents. Depending on their age and experience, kids work on various certifications and skills, from snorkeling and SASY to Bubblemaker, SEAL Team, Junior Open Water, Open Water, Advanced Open Water, and PADI specialty and pro certifications.

KSC scuba-diving family vacations include unique activities at each destination. The program includes meals, diving, and other water and land activities such as blow-karting, jungle biking, paddle boarding, culinary classes, cultural presentations, marine presentations, and photography. Like-minded multigenerational families migrate every summer from around the globe to Kids Sea Camp Family dive vacations. These families enjoy making new friends, unplugging from everyday life, and reconnecting with each other.

A KSC dive vacation is the perfect adventure for families who love the ocean and enjoy meeting like-minded people worldwide.

Hassle-Free Trip Planning

Let Family Dive Adventures handle the logistics for your private group or family vacation. They will custom-design the vacation to meet your specific needs and trip type. The trips can include reunions, family holiday celebrations, and memorable romantic dive getaways. (See our KSC events)

The Kids Are Gone—Now What?

Have your kids flown the coop? Why not try an “Empty Nester Travel” vacation? In 2019, Margo and Tom Peyton started living their dreams out loud and put together these thrilling adult group trips. They offer high-end luxury at sumptuous resorts and luxurious liveaboards, like the Arenui. Margo and Tom take adult guests to Africa, Egypt, the Red Sea, Lembeh, Raja Ampat, the Forgotten Islands, Borneo, Komodo, Manado, Bangka, St. Eustatius, Belize, and many more advanced adult trips that tempt their travel palette. 

Contact Info: (803) 419-2556, familydivers.com, dive@familydivers.com

2024 International Scuba Diving Hall Of Fame Award. Margo Peyton (See link) will be inducted into the ISDH this September. The award is for her contributions to the future of diving through the education and dive training of over 8,100 youth divers. And for Margo’s continued commitment to safety for kids and their families.

Far beyond any imaginable expectation for a dive vacation

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The Arenui, Kids Sea Camp, Kids Scuba, Family Scuba Diving Adventures, Margo Peyton, Kids Scuba, Margo Peyton, Family Dive Adventures, group dive travel

The Amazing Arenui

Komodo, as a seasoned diver, traveler, and photographer, I expect any liveaboard I book to provide delicious food and the opportunity to dive into the best diving a destination has to offer. With Arenui, my experience far exceeded any imaginable expectations in the amazing adventure on the Komodo Islands.

The excitement was palpable as we transferred from the harbor dock to Arenui. All the guests were excited, as no one could have known how incredible the Arenui experience (Gallery link) would be. From the moment we boarded, everything felt so easy and accommodating.

A gallery on the ocean

Our cabins were ready and waiting for us to settle in and relax. A private tour of Arenui was offered and available on our individual schedule (See video). Walking around her, guests are surrounded by authentic works of art representing the wide and diverse styles from all over Indonesia.

While detailed and stylish wood carvings are found everywhere, be sure not to miss the amazing carvings in the staircase leading to the lower cabins. Many of these hand-carved wood wall panels feature intricate details and depict important stories from the Hindu faith.

The Arenui was built from 7 different types of wood (70% of which was recycled), and its natural beauty makes one feel relaxed and calm. No detail was spared, and splendor can be found in everything from the large handmade dining tables to the custom hinges and handles throughout. In the Sky Lounge area (upper deck), there is a stunning handmade support that resembles a typical Balinese entryway you might see in front of a home.

Each room is spacious and appointed with unique art representing the different provinces of Indonesia. In addition to unique storyboard wood carvings, each room is also adorned with elegant textiles and handicrafts. Each cabin has its own theme, which is reflected in the woven artwork and style of this magnificent private space for guests to relax. Whether in the dining room, the upper deck, or your stateroom, relaxation comes naturally as you drift away amid the Indonesian dreamscape.

Crew outnumber the guests

Kids Scuba, Family Scuba Diving Adventures, Kids Sea Camp, Margo PeytonA decadent ship deserves an even more impeccable crew, and team Arenui does not disappoint. To start with, the 22 serving crew members outnumber the 16 guests. If assistance is needed, whether in the dining room or on the dive deck, someone is always standing by. The crew consistently goes out of their way to ensure the guests are completely pampered and satisfied. All the crew feels like mind-readers, anticipating your needs and desires before you even realize them yourself.

Along with an excellent crew, there is a world-class kitchen ready to accommodate any dietary needs and lifestyle choices. Epic three- and four-course meals are served every day, accommodating all diets, including gluten-free, pescatarian, vegetarian, vegan, and other restrictions. Each meal is custom-made as servers and chefs quickly come to understand each guest’s wishes. In line with their tradition of indulgence, the Arenui serves Michelin-grade meals that far exceed the most demanding culinary desires.

The best diving ever

Everyone knows Indonesia is among the most biologically diverse places on the planet to dive. Diving from Arenui reflects that superbly during the Komodo trip. As each guest came back from each dive to claim, “it was their best dive ever.” The itinerary contained everything from large schools of fish, huge mantas, a variety of sharks, the most vibrant corals, and crazy critters in the muck. The diversity of fish and coral is mind-bending, with sites like Crystal Rock and Castle Rock overwhelming even the most experienced diver. In addition, the dive guides are so in tune with the environment that they can predict animal behavior, ensuring manta ray sightings. The guides also seem to have “bionic eyes” as their ability to spot super small critters is uncanny. It’s not uncommon for each dive to easily include a hundred or more different types of corals, fish, and nudibranchs.

Dive pangas go out with a guide and a group of just four divers at a time, giving everyone plenty of room on the boat and in the water. On the short ride out, guests relax in comfort while a staff member dons their fins. Before getting into the Komodo water, the team helps each diver don their dive kit. After the dive, the team assists divers by removing their weights and gear. They remove your fins underwater, so an easy climb into the boat is all that is required.

The staff never quits serving

When you return from a dive, the boat crew helps you remove your wetsuit and wash your gear while you drink tea or hot chocolate. The gear is then hung to dry and “magically” reappears at your station when it’s time to suit up again.

As with everything on the Arenui, it seems the staff has thought of everything, creating an unparalleled diving experience. In my opinion, this is 5 Diamond service, as Margo and Tom Peyton say. A dive trip on the Arenui is an experience like no other. The food, staff, diving, and boats far exceed the most discerning dive traveler. The quality and authenticity of the experience will undoubtedly satisfy all divers.

I believe that before departing on this trip, each guest contacted Margo and Tom, the owners of Kids Sea Camp, and booked multiple return flights. Arenui was Tom’s find, and it was an amazing one. This was Arenui’s first Kids Sea Camp, and, for obvious reasons, it was for kids aged 14 and up who are certified divers. The coming itinerary with Family Dive Adventures includes Alor, Komodo, Raja Ampat, and the Forgotten Islands. Both empty-nest adult trips and more KSC trips are available.

Arenui is a sure-to-please experience like no other. It’s no wonder these trips are often booked up to two years in advance. I look forward to sharing another incredible Arenui Adventures with families soon.

By Josh Comay

Please go to the photo gallery to see more of the infinite critters and seascapes captured.