Family Stories

The silence before the storm of Zombies

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Zombie, Kids Sea Camp, Kids and diving, kids dive training

Where are the Zombies? As the boys drove up to the Kids Sea Camp office, I noticed the yellow crime tape wrapped around the small brick building. All the windows were either cracked or broken. To be honest, it looks like a bomb had gone off.

“Man,” I whispered under my breath. “The Zombies went nuts!”

“I told you it was off the hook, Tom,” Manny said as Tyler’s large, black 1995 Ford F250 pulled into the parking lot.

I walked under the crime scene tape as the guys followed behind me. Glass crunched and cracked, and we slowly walked around the office. Three of the ceiling fans were broken on the floor, desks were overturned, and pens and paper littered the small, once-cute office.

“Tom,” Tyler asked,” You Ok?”

I moved to my desk and bent down to pick up a small picture of Jen and Margo smiling and hugging after one of her horse shows. My thoughts raced to where my two favorite women in the world were. The loving thought was quickly replaced by questions: “Are they OK? Are they safe? Are they alive? Did they survive the Zombie attack?”

“Tyler, have you heard from Jen or Margo over the past 12 hours?” I asked as I continued to check the damage. It was a total loss. All the laptops and very big box Macs were smashed into large pieces.

“Uh, no,” Tyler paused as he spoke. Why?”

“Mike?” I asked,” Any texts from Jen?”

“Nope,” Mike responded.

“Nothing,” I walked outside the building and looked directly into the bright South Carolina sun, “Guys, we have a problem. Try now.”

We started sending short text messages to Jen and Margo to get any response. Nothing but silence. In the modern mobile world, the one thing that always works is texting. I thought to myself. For a few minutes, the boys texted a series of messages to both women. Still nothing. Not a single letter, not a single word.

All four of us stood their silence. I’m sure the younger much hipper than I men were thinking, “How can this happen? No texting. This must be the end times!

We all knew what was next we had to go to Utila! We had to follow the Zombies.

Galapagos Kids Sea Camp, the trip of a lifetime

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Top 5 dives for family, The Philippines, kids Sea Camp, kids and diving
Instructor loves her “Bucket List” Galapagos trip with Kids Sea Camp

I decided to hit one of my all-time “Bucket List” destinations. After 20 years as a diver, I was long overdue for a journey to the Galapagos Islands. Kids Sea Camp always uses top-notch locations and suppliers, so there was no one else to call but Margo Peyton. I’ve booked many dive group trips with her, but this one was a dream come true for me.

Kids Sea Camp Galapagos experience

Diving with whale sharks and schools of hammerheads is all part of the Kids Sea Camp Galapagos experience. So I knew booking through them would put my dive group and me on the best possible boats. I can say that the trip was magical from start to finish. Poor Margo had to have back surgery this summer. I was so honored to be asked to fill the group leader position – BONUS!! I got the most amazing kids as my dive buddies, and sharing this experience with them just added to the magic for me.

Arriving in San Cristobal, we were met at the airport by the dive guides for the Galapagos. We took the short ride to the harbor, where we actually had to step over lazing sea lions to get on the rib boat “Panga” and ride out to the motor yacht. We had some refreshments and a get-to-know-you orientation with the staff and boat. Then we headed out to an easy, shallow bay to complete the orientation dive. This dive made sure everyone was comfortable and that all equipment was in good condition and well-fitting.

Our dive buddy was a sea lion!

This was an amazing dive to kick off the week. Our dive buddy was a sea lion! He showed off in front of us for a full 40 minutes, twirling and swooping, whooshing by and then flopping onto the bottom, blowing bubbles and mouthing the tops of snorkels, investigating bubbles from the vents in hoods, and generally having a grand time with these silly-looking creatures with the metal tanks.

Back on the boat, we were treated to the first of many delicious meals before retiring to our comfortable and well-appointed cabins for the night.

Shark time at KSC

We had the chance to visit several islands during the week, the best of which, for me, were Darwin and Wolfe. Dive after dive, we were treated to schools of Hammerhead Sharks by the dozen. If we stayed still long enough, they would come closer, and we would get to see the details of their beautiful scalloped heads. Amongst the hammerheads, we would also see the different-shaped bodies of Galapagos Sharks, white-tip reef sharks, and sometimes even a Silky.

All these sharks made for the perfect location for the kids to earn their Project Aware – Shark Awareness Specialty. As well as learning about sharks, we learned about the threats to them, and we asked about every fishing vessel we saw: were they legal, and what fishing methods were they using? Fortunately, they all followed the strict regulations set out by the Marine Park. The Galapagos is a great place to be a shark!

Whale Shark sightings

The highlight of the week for us all was the Whale Shark sightings. These huge, beautiful creatures are quite something to experience up close, and there were several sightings for all divers during the week. As well as the sharks we were treated to many other sightings, a Manta Ray, many huge turtles and lots of Eagle Rays….. and the fish. Never before have I had poor visibility because I could barely see through the thousands of fish!

Of course, the Galapagos is famous for its unique wildlife, and we were lucky enough to see Marine Iguanas feeding on algae underwater and, on the same dive, Flightless Cormorants diving amongst us for fish. Tropical Fish and Penguins all on the same boat ride – this is rather like Alice’s Wonderland.

Kids Sea Camp, you run a tight ship

I made some great new friends amongst the Kids Sea Camp families on the trip. And we all enjoyed the excellent service from our friendly, helpful crew. I can honestly say that, in all my years of diving and across the many locations I have been to, this was truly the trip of a lifetime.

Thanks, Kids Sea Camp, you run a tight ship, and this was an incredible Galapagos family adventure.

And special thanks to Margo, KSC is truly the best when it comes to family travel.

By Lucy Dunbar, former owner of Columbia Scuba, in South Carolina 

 

 

The Beauty of Yap family dive adventure with Kids Sea Camp

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Yap, manta, Kids and scuba
Kids Sea Camp is at Manta Ray Bay in Yap

Margo, Tom, Jen Peyton, along with Fraser & Sophie Purdon, are leading Kids Sea Campers around the globe to Yap and Palau.  See more in our Facebook photo album. Yap sure gives us memories to last a lifetime.

We have learned the legend of Stone Money, walked through the villages of Yap, and met the beautiful people of this amazing little Island.  We have shared their home, their food, learned about their cultures, and enjoyed their company.

Arrive at Manta Ray Bay

Our rooms overlook the sea, and breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided on an ancient sailing vessel called the Mnuw. Sunsets on the Crows’ nets are spectacular. Taro Leaf Spa for relaxing after a tough day of diving, and fresh, frosty Yap beer served poolside during happy hour. The kids have enjoyed diving, beaches, educational hikes, Kayak tours, and Digital photo dives with their new SeaLife cameras.

How is that to start your diving career?

Sophie and Lilly earned their Jr. Open Water rating and completed their final dive with sharks and a Manta.  Mrs. Sarin and Mrs. MacDonald hit their 100 Dives here at Manta Ray Bay during Kids Sea Camp and were honored with Mantas saluting them overhead.

Morning coffee, off we go, 2 dives for adults and kids, a wonderful sunny day, lunch, and afternoon dives as a family. That’s not all, if you want more, we also enjoy dusk dives in the mangrove to spot the little Mandarin fish.

Still not done?

Dinner is waiting with slide shows of the day’s find. Night dives or snorkeling are always waiting for you. Tom Peyton got us singing and started the first Kids Sea Camp Youth Basketball club. Tyler is coaching, and dads are trying to find their game. Lying by the pool, the ladies sip their coconut drinks, soaking up the sun and thinking about the next activity.

Diving has been hard to beat

Macro and reef dives, Vertigo sharks, Goofnuw channel for manta, Napoleon rass, Munk head parrot fish, leaf fish, and more. Yellow wall and Cabbage Patch, Miil Cannel’s and Magic Kingdom, Gapow reef, and Lion fish wall, just to name a few.   Surface intervals are spent playing among wild dolphins. We watch them jump and spin alongside our boats, and yes, even jump in to have a closer look at the moms and babies, too.

Pilot whales, white tips, black tips, grey reefs, and Yap showed us sharks galore! But best of all are those beautiful Manta Rays that will dance in our heads for the rest of our days.

7 days have flown by, and we are sad to go. We will return to Yap again, but for now we look on to Palau… (See the KSC gallery)

The most amazing 7 days of my life

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Family stories, Kids Sea Camp, Family Blog
Kids Sea Camp, Palau, was the best trip of my life

The wake-up call pings in my ear, I slowly turn over to answer it, and it’s then that I realize that this will be the beginning of the most amazing 7 days I’ve ever spent as a diver. I’m in Palau, Micronesia- the eighth wonder of the world!

Palau, Kids Sea Camp, Family dive vacationsAlthough exhausted from the flight over from the west coast, through Honolulu, past Guam, Yap, and finally, after some 26 plus hours, we all arrived. Upon arrival, the tired guests are met with a warm welcome at the airport, then shuttled to the hotel, where they check in and go straight to bed.

Like Christmas morning

On Sunday morning, everyone jumps out of bed like a kid on Christmas morning. Anticipation is running at an all-time high because today we are going to the world-famous Jellyfish Lake. A quick boat ride, then a hike- 20 minutes uphill, 20 minutes downhill, and at last, you see it- a beautiful, pristine lake tucked deep away in the Rock Islands. A lake filled with thousands of prehistoric jellyfish that do not sting, but wait patiently to be joined for an afternoon swim.

Hundreds of years without any natural predators have enabled these angelic creatures to discard their protective stinging tentacles and live an almost uninterrupted life in Jellyfish Lake. We all don our masks, fins, and snorkels and slip into the water. Being surrounded by thousands and thousands of these amazing creatures is truly incredible. There are so many jellyfish surrounding us- all we have to do is reach out our hand, and we can feel one swimming by. This is something we will never forget.

Fun in the Mud

Just when we think this day can’t get any better, we are treated to a fantastic snorkel trip at Palau’s famous Milky Way reef. Seeing all the beautiful, tropical fish sends our hearts soaring- this is truly paradise, and we are so glad to be here. But the snorkeling isn’t the only cool thing about this spot- the shallowest point is made up of limestone mud, a wonderful, fascinating mixture that was once exported to spas and salons all over the world. However, due to conservation efforts to protect this beautiful land, one must now travel all the way to Palau to experience its wonderful healing effects. We all cover ourselves in the mud and relax while we bake ourselves in the sun.

Mud baths

Once the mud hardens, we slip off the boat and rinse off, asking one another, “Do I look ten years younger?” After our “mud baths,” we all head over to a beautiful white sandy beach where we enjoy a fantastic lunch and a birthday party. Stefan is turning 12 years old. The afternoon is filled with cake and ice cream, songs and laughter, screams of delight and, of course, a dip in the beautiful blue water.

The President of Palau

That night, everyone attended the Opening Ceremony, where we were all in for a wonderful surprise! The President of Palau, Johnson Toribiong, was in attendance along with the Minister of State, Minister of Tourism, Chief of Staff, and Palau Visitors Association board members. The President gave a wonderful speech and then took the time to come around and visit with each kid! What an honor! How many people ever get to say that they met the President? Dinner was fantastic, and then we all sat down and watched a great performance by the Ngermid dancers. This trip has already been amazing- and it’s only the first day!

Monday is our first “dive day,” and so everyone is up early to eat breakfast and then those who need to head over to the dive shop to get fitted for their SCUBA PRO rental gear. Everyone sets up their gear, then gets on the boat for their in-depth dive briefing. The adult and teen divers head out to begin their two-tank boat dives. Back at the resort, Sydney and Max are just starting the Jr. Open Water program. The SASY and Seal Team kids were having fun as well- learning skills which will help to make them great divers in the future, and having a blast painting. During the week, everyone gets a chance to paint and take home a beautiful masterpiece. Just something to remember the amazing week.

The SASY and SEAL TEAMS were in full stride

Sydney and Max were All-Stars passing with flying colors and earning their certification on Thursday. This was extra special because Friday was Family Day, which meant diving with their parents. The SASY and SEAL TEAMS were in full stride, learning the beginning stages of becoming a SCUBA diver. Graduating as Master SEALS were Sofia and Cam. Kids Sea Camp had total coverage with Nick and Tom from Sam’s Tours filming and taking pictures. Also flying around was Annie Crawley. Taking pictures and video of all the families, kids in programs, candid shots, and even working on a project of her own, “Dive into Your Imagination,” Ocean Annie.

The diving

The amazing week continued to get better as kids graduated, friendships forged, and stories traded. For the divers, this is where heaven fell into the sea. They enjoyed dives at the “German Channel,” which was home to Manta Rays and other large critters. “Blue Corner” housed big sharks, Eagle Rays, and more Manta’s. “The Drop Off” was an incredible wall with Butterflyfish, Wrasses, Angels of all kinds, brilliant colored coral, Moray eels, and much more. With each dive, the mantra was, “That was the best dive ever.”

As the week began to come to a close, each moment became increasingly precious. There was marine art throughout the week with Michael Gellinsky, treasure hunts for the SASY and SEAL TEAMS, informative talks with Sam’s Tours, and Ron ( Lei )from Palau. There was a movie night for the kids while adults went on a night dive.

The closing party

Friday arrived, and the much-anticipated Beach Party and Poems were finally here. This is always a wonderful way to wrap up a fun-filled week at Kids Sea Camp. These poems are always full of comedic and serious takes on the week’s events and individual antics. Talent is always abundant, filled with surprises and laughter.

Each family writes a poem about their experience while vying for a DC1200 SeaLife camera as the winning prize for the best poem. This year’s 1st place and the DC1200 SeaLife camera belong to Jennie. 2nd place and a DC Mini to John, and 3rd and 4th place, receiving a Body Glove dive bag. This contest is always tough to judge. To Kids Sea Camp, all are winners!

Saturday was tour day, and for most, a guided kayak tour through the Rock Islands sounded just right. Four hours of incredible sightseeing and exploration were breathtaking. The amazing tour ended at Mandarin Lake for some snorkeling. It was a perfect ending to a fabulous day. Saturday night was the closing ceremony at the Dive shop. Another feast, with awards to the SASY, SEALS, and Jr. Open Water grads.

New connections

As the night came to a close, all the families began to load onto the buses. Tears were shed. Long hugs were given. Emails and phone numbers were exchanged. Everyone knew that this week would never be forgotten, their new friends would be missed, and their lives would be forever changed. For tonight, they leave Palau, Micronesia.