Training and Travel Tips

What is the difference between BPI and Air2 on a BCD?

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BCD, Air 2, Scuba equipment

How do I know which BCD is right for me?

Going hoseless or a full-on regulator system, in some cases, the kids or your buddy run out of air. Best for divers who have a regulator with a first stage, the second stage (primary), and the octopus. The octopus is a backup to handoff. In cases, the kids or your buddy run out or are low on air. I recommend this setup for parents diving with kids, or for a Buddy you know is not efficient with air consumption. I also recommend this BCD setup if you are a rescue diver or if you’re a PADI dive pro. For two reasons, really, because it should have a bright yellow hose, easily recognizable to someone needing it, or in a bit of panic, more noticeable, so they do not have to search too hard or accidentally grab your primary.

The Air 2 is the best for easy diving

Also, the octopus is a longer hose, so you do not have that person you’re helping on top of you. The Air2 is great for recreational divers who have no one else to worry about and feel the likelihood of needing it is nil.  I say this because Air2 is a substitute in the event of an out-of-air situation for your primary. So with an Air2. You do not need an additional, long, cumbersome hose (octopus) on your scuba gear. You can streamline and enjoy the first and second stages only on your reg. The Air2 is a regulator attached to the very short hose that has to be bent and curved up into your mouth for you to use, and your primary would then be handed off to the person in need. It’s heavier and less comfortable in your mouth when assisting someone.

The Air2 I feel is best for streamlined ease of diving and can be complemented with the addition of an air integrated computer system, such as the ScubaPro G2 quick release, G2, or Aladin wrist computers that include a small transmitter that attaches to your first stage, eliminating the need for hoses, depth, and air gauges, and even include a digital compass. So you are then practically hoseless, lightweight, and streamlined.

A Hoseless BCD is freeing

I do use the hoseless setup when Tom and I have the rare opportunity to go diving and not be responsible for anyone but each other. It’s very freeing. Having said that, being the avid diver that I am, I have a tendency to be on the more cautious side. Even with that setup, I have a redundant air gauge attached. Tom and I have both experienced short interruptions in the transmitter signal during our dives. Someone’s strobes can cause it, and some cameras with Wi-Fi can, like SeaLife cameras and Ikelite video lights.

Also getting close to other divers with similar devices. I will say, this only lasts an instant and can be resolved by moving a few feet away from the interference. The light and camera interference I have found to be resolved by switching the hands I hold them in and moving the issue-causing device a little further away from the receiver. For example, if your receiver is worn on your left side with the computer on your left wrist, the camera or strobe causing the issue can be held in the right hand.

So make your BCD decision based on your needs, your buddy’s needs, your preferred level of comfort, and your budget. Gauges and BPI are the least expensive options.

I have used Scubapro for 35 years and stand by it for kids and adults. Scubapro recreational BCs generally only need to be serviced once every two years.

My favorite BCDs

My favorite BCDs are the Hydro-BPI, GO-BCD-air 2 for comfort and back support, and the Lighthawk for traveling light. All have integrated weight options;  for younger kids, the Rebel or the Glide X. All Pros, the Hydro Pro comes with two harnesses for pockets or streamlined for simple use with no pockets.

President of Kids Sea Camp & Family Dive Adventures, Margo Peyton, PADI MSDT Elite Instructor, 57474

Best practices and etiquette for underwater photographers

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Underwater photography, diving and photos, kids sea camp

Underwater Photographers’ proper practices when shooting

By Josh Comay and Margo Peyton: (Professional Dive Travel Photographers)

After years of speaking to frustrated guests, underwater photographers, and divers, we felt compelled to put helpful etiquette tips together for photographers. I have been diving for 30 years, and I asked my fellow photographer, Josh Comay, to assist me and share his tips as well. I will share this with families that travel with Kids Sea Camp and Family Dive Adventures going forward, and I hope you will share it too. If you have any helpful advice to add, please let me know, and I will add it to this best-practices list. (Learn to edit with Erin Quigley)

Josh and I are very conscious and courteous photographers, and we are very aware that on my dive trips, we are serving guests. So we stay out of the way, stay patient, and try our best to make lasting memories for everyone on the dive trip, giving them all free memories to last a lifetime. Many of these points are great points for diving in general. So please read, enjoy, and when you feel the need, pass it forward. (Learn to shoot with Alex Mustard)

Best 10 practices for underwater photographers

  1. Do not touch/harass/move any wildlife: This is always at the top of an etiquette list for good reason. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen people “escort” wildlife into a better position for their photo ops. (Josh)
  2. Diving with other underwater photographers: when a photographer finds something interesting, they should take their shots without chasing the subject or harming it. A pro should take only 3 shots or fewer using flash or strobe! (NO more than 3 shots with lights) If you want to know why, put your face in front of your camera with the lights on and shoot away. See how long it takes you to see again! If you can use natural light, then do so. Shooting upwards instead of down is helpful, along with making sure the natural light source is at your back and on your subject. Without lights, shoot away, but remember to share your subject with others. (Margo)
  3. Master your buoyancy: Be sure to spend at least some of your underwater time practicing perfect buoyancy without a camera – it will do wonders for when you are armed. (Josh)
  4. Watch your fins: Your buoyancy should be maintained not only while taking your photos, but also when you leave, and you should be aware of where your fins are. Don’t be that person who destroys the subject and its environment, or kicks the next diver on your way out. Look around before you move and move cautiously. Do not shove another photographer out of the way or intrude on their shot. Move on to something else if they are not sharing, and send them this if it continues. (Margo)
  5. Give people space. Don’t crowd other divers, whether they are shooters or not. If you need to wait for your turn, do it down current so you don’t introduce particulate into the frame. (Josh)
  6. Big animals: If you are on a big-animal dive and everyone is being positioned so each person can have a view and a shot, stay in your position. When the lead says stay put, then stay put. If something big shows up towards the end of the dive, remember that everyone has the same amount of time remaining as you do. Be courteous to each other and remember these points. (Margo)
  7. Drop the flutter: Flutter kick near sand, and muck can ruin the scene for everyone. Learning and using the frog kick is essential so you don’t silt out other divers and their shots. (Josh)
  8. Where are your weights? Placement of weights is also very helpful if you have a bigger rig that pulls you forward, and places weights in the back of your BCD. Or even use ankle weights or camera floats. Remember, you still have to be neutrally buoyant if you need to put your camera down or hand it off. Your camera should not be your weight. (Margo)
  9. Pay it forward. Let the next diver in line know what you were shooting, and wait for their positive identification. There’s nothing more annoying than waiting your turn only to have the previous diver swim off without showing you where the Pygmy is hiding. (Josh)
  10. Space on the boat is precious: Don’t leave camera equipment strewn about. If you are lucky enough to have an area designated for cameras on board, tuck your strobes and arms compactly and store your equipment with consideration for other shooters’ rigs. (Josh)

The next best 10

  1. Share the shot: Settle in and take a few shots, but be respectful of others who may also be waiting. If you arrive just ahead of non-shooters, consider showing them the subject first; after they swim off, you can take your time shooting. (Josh)
  2. Set expectations: Some people like to limit a dive to just 2 or 3 subjects. Some people like quickly shooting a shot or two of every possible species they encounter. Consider having an open conversation with the other underwater photographers aboard to discuss your style and expectations. Not everyone may always agree, but if you don’t bring it up, you’ll never know. (Josh)
  3. Macro or wide-angle? Discuss the next day’s dive sites with the boat crew the day before, or even early that morning. There is nothing like showing up with your 60mm macro lens only to find out you’re diving with whale sharks today. (Margo)
  4. Mind your bubbles, too. It’s frustrating, to say the least, to be at 40 ft, for example, working on a shot, only to have a diver go under you and ruin the shot with their bubbles. (Margo)
  5. Don’t forget your buddy. Having a camera does not exempt you from being a good buddy. Even during the most intense shooting, be sure to keep a close eye on your buddy, just as you would normally. (Josh)
  6. Work as a team: It’s best for Buddy teams to have one shooter and one spotter. This is ideal as one can keep an eye on the other. I have witnessed a buddy photographer who does not pay attention to gauges and forgets to look at air, depth, and time. Running out of air is not OK. Going into DECO is not ok. Be a good buddy and pay attention. (Margo)
  7. Manage your depth, time, and profiles: Plan your dive and dive your plan! The deepest part of your dive is at the start, and you should continue shallower as the dive goes on. Not up and down or the other way around. (Margo)
  8. Respect all fellow divers: Camera-carrying divers don’t have special privileges, nor do non-shooting divers. Similarly, whether shooting a simple point-and-click or the latest ultra-DSLR rig, everyone should be afforded the same opportunities to explore the amazing underwater world. (Josh)
  9. On the boat, before you leave: Make sure the crew has a solo rinse bucket for cameras only, with no soaps. Make sure that it’s announced to all divers and the camera bin is pointed out. Ask whether the camera bucket is filled with salt or fresh water. It should be fresh water. If it’s a crowded photo dive, rinse your camera, then remove it from the bin and place it on the camera table, or request a crate for larger rigs. (Margo)
  10. You should never: Throw, drop, or toss a camera in the camera bucket, and certainly do not place it on top of someone else’s! Those that have a small point-and-shoot with a rubberized housing, like SeaLife cameras, are more rugged but can easily damage a large, fragile rig. Be courteous to the more fragile setups. If you have a larger setup, then don’t hog the camera bin. Fold your lights to save space, place your rig on the table, or request a crate. Don’t clutter camera tables with anything but cameras. That’s what it is for. (Margo)

The last eight best

  1. Getting on and off the boats: Get ready, point your camera toward the dive helper on the table or in the bin, and get in the water. Allow them to hand the camera to the photographer before others jump in. When exiting, hand up your rig and then get out. People behind a photographer should be patient and wait for the camera handoff either way.
  2. Let the crew know your plan: Make sure you discuss with them whether you’re going deeper, staying longer, or staying deep or shallow. (Margo)
  3. Everyone has a right to enjoy the dive: When shooting divers, treat them as observers, like you would a fish. Do not continue asking him or her to constantly pose. Don’t interrupt a class to take photos. A safety stop is a great time to get a pose or two. Before entering the water, discuss with the other divers that you would like to take their picture and ask if it’s okay. (Margo)
  4. Many divers just don’t know any better and are completely unaware. It’s important to advise divers traveling with you on what is considered courteous. (Margo)
  5. Say what you mean, but don’t say it mean: If you experience someone who is ruining your dives, and you or others have nicely said something and issues still continue, talk to the crew or the captain. It is their job to create a harmonious dive for all. (Margo)
  6. Get your own boat. If you like to hog the marine life and shots, if you do not want to share, and feel it’s all about you, then charter your own private boat and crew. (Margo)
  7. Help others be better: divers and photographers. We did not get to be without someone coaching us. (Margo)
  8. Bubbles only: Take only pictures, leave only bubbles. (Margo) (See our amazing gallery)

How to equalize or clear your ears when diving?

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ear cleaning, kids and diving, scuba skills

What if you could prevent equalizing issues and never miss a dive again?

89% of divers do not equalize correctly, and 29% have had to stay out of the water for days, weeks, or even months due to problems caused by incorrect equalization. It’s hard to think that you could be part of the 6.3% of divers who now have permanent ear damage caused by pushing too hard and trying to force their ears to clear. This should be taught in your open-water class, or even in Discover Scuba, swimming, and snorkeling classes. It is the most common reason adults and kids do not continue diving or complete their courses, or dive after their courses.

As long as you have no physical reason you can’t equalize and have been advised by a doctor, this is not an activity you can partake in, then let’s make equalizing problems a thing of the past.

As beginner divers, we are taught to pinch our nostrils and blow against a blocked nose. This technique results in overpressure at the back of your throat, forcing air up into the Eustachian tubes and creating a ‘popping’ sound in your ears.  This works for many divers, but for others it does not work or can cause ear damage, nosebleeds, or headaches.

 This technique does not actively engage the muscles in opening the Eustachian tubes. If you do use this technique, make sure you do not maintain pressure for more than 3 seconds and do not blow too hard. Remember to ascend slowly, releasing the pressure if you feel pain, and before you blow.

There are 5 better, safer, and healthier ways to equalize

  1. Toynbee Maneuver: Pinch your nose and swallow at the same time.
  2. Lowry Technique: Pinch your nose, blow against your nose, and swallow at the same time.
  3. Edmonds Technique: Pinch your nose, blow against it while moving your jaw forward and downwards.
  4. Frenzel Maneuver: Pinch your nose and make the sound of the letter ‘K’ at the same time.
  5. Voluntary Tubal Opening Technique: Tense your throat and push your jaw forward and downwards.

These five techniques and maneuvers will change the way you dive for the rest of your diving life.

If you would like to learn more about equalizing and the potential issues you face if you don’t equalize correctly. As well as new and safer ways to clear your ears on a dive. DAN Ears is my number 1 resource for dive medicine and advice.

equalizing, diving, clearing your ears

Dive Vacation checklist for Kids Sea Camp

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Black divers, Asain divers, family dive vacations, kids sea camp

It’s time to prepare for vacation.

Here’s a great dive travel checklist—a detailed “know before you go” reminder for your next Kids Sea Camp adventure.

Trip planning 

  • Check the KSC calendar

  • Weather and clothing needs

  • Currency exchange or credit cards accepted

  • Call your credit card company and tell them you are out of the country

  • Valid passports

  • Medical treatments available

  • Check airline reservations

  • Distribute your international vacation plans to a friend or family member who needs to know

  • Travel insurance

  • Emergency phone number

Kids Sea Camp, diving with Kids, diving with family

Must-haves for your carry-on bag

  • Snacks

  • Reg and dive computer

  • Swim shorts

  • 2 extra shirts

  • Passports

  • Dive cards

Dive Travel Checklist  

  • Check all your equipment

  • Suppose your diving equipment has not been serviced in two years. Get it serviced!

  • Certification cards (for the whole family)

  • Dive computer batteries (make sure they work!)

  • Logbook

  • Bring an extra mask fog

  • Bring a spare mask

  • Prepare your new mask (use the overnight toothpaste process)

  • Super Glue

  • Bring a small first-aid kit, or ensure the dive shop has one on each boat and at the resort. (All Kids Sea Camp resorts do, by the way)

  • Extra sunscreen

  • Motion sickness pills

  • Aspirin

  • Nasal Decongestant

  • Meat Tenderizer

  • Dive lights

  • Gloves (If allowed)

The vacation is over list

  • Double-check all your family’s dive gear, including BCs, fins, masks, snorkels, and wetsuits. This is a no-brainer, but it assumes you will lose something if you don’t double-check all the gear.

  • Airline tickets: Check in online the day before

  • Check out all the new photos in the KSC gallery.

At home

  • Thoroughly rinse all gear and allow for proper drying

  • Repeat gear double-check

  • Put dive gear in an organized space (This makes the next dive trip easier to prepare for)

  • Replace used items with spare parts and medical supplies

  • Write a thank-you email to Kids Sea Camp for such a great vacation.

Philippines: The jewels of the visayas sea

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Kids Scuba, Family Scuba Diving Adventures, Kids Sea Camp, Margo Peyton, Whale Sharks, Family Scuba Diving Vacations, Family Dive Adventures, The Philippines

Welcome to the jewel of the Philippines

Our children’s world has become much larger as today’s technology helps us to engage “virtually” in ways we never dreamed possible. However, beyond our smartphones, there is still a big, beautiful, real world out there. It’s filled with the kind of learning and adventure that expands our hearts and minds in a way technology cannot. The adventure in the Philippines is a jewel of a diving vacation.

When we travel with our children, we provide them with personal experiences that they’ll carry with them for the rest of their lives. If you’re eager to plan your next scuba diving adventure as a family, here is the latest off-the-beaten-path treasure that Tom and I have just explored and that Kids Sea Camp has approved.

Islands in the Visayas Sea

Upon landing on the main island, Cebu, we were met with friendly smiles and helpful hands. Biggs Eggert with Sea Explorers provided us cool face cloths, bottled water, and hugs. We quickly headed to board a Banca boat, which reminded me of a giant bamboo water spider; it was spacious and smooth sailing, like a mystical chariot to our first dive location.

Malapascua has become well known as a premier dive destination fairly recently

This tiny island, just a little more than a mile long, is home to several villages that exist either directly or indirectly to support the growing dive tourism industry.

I have read that Malapascua is the only known place on Earth where one can dive with the endangered thresher sharks and, as I prefer, in a natural setting on seamount cleaning stations at Monad Shoal. Biggs said we would dive with the sharks at sunrise, and as crazy as that sounds, it was not hard at all. Jet lag combined well with the time lag, and we were wide awake and ready to dive at 5 A.M.!

Thresher sharks

Thresher sharks have been on my wishlist for many years, and seeing them on every dive far exceeded my expectations. The shoals also attract devil rays, pelagic fish, and hammerheads; more than enough to thrill any diver. Families can enjoy diving the coral gardens, coral walls as well as further-out sites including Gato Island and Kemod Shoal.

Malapascua has at least 20 dive operations and hotels situated along Bounty Beach; however, Tom and I found only two properties we would deem as family-friendly. Ocean Vida and Buena Vida both have connecting rooms, family-friendly food, and kid-friendly staff. Ocean Vida is oceanfront, and Buena Vida is right in the middle of the local village, hosting an amazing spa and restaurant that would please any palette. Gourmet breakfasts, vegan and vegetarian dishes and fresh seafood are featured.

Sea Explorers a PADI five-star IDC

Sea Explorers, a PADI five-star IDC, is our No. 1 pick for diving and island hopping throughout the islands of the Visayas Sea. Exceptional service and knowledge, smaller dive gear, tanks sized for kids, and a well-trained staff for all levels of divers. They easily accommodate big-rig photographers, single families, and large groups like ours. Each Banca boat offered hot coffee or tea, warm face cloths, fresh fruit, and baked bread upon returning from our dives. To top it all off, I never touched my gear; it was rinsed and set up perfectly adorned atop my nitrox tank, awaiting my return. Heaven! I have to say, nothing made the staff happier than to see the smile on our faces, and I guess that’s why the Sea Explorers’ tagline is “Dive with a smile,” because we certainly did.

Negros Island was our next stop

We were beyond surprised when we arrived at Pura Vida Homes. Fourteen luxurious two-bedroom villas are handcrafted with rich hardwoods and have breathtaking views of the mountains and sea. The resort sits on a beautiful beach with three infinity pools, a restaurant, a gym, a spa, and a wedding chapel.

Being that it was our 10th wedding anniversary, we could not resist the opportunity to renew our vows at sunrise. Owner Chris Heim was delighted to give me away. Biggs accepted as my maid of honor, and the local pastor presided, as his lovely daughter sang. I have no words for how special Sea Explorers made us feel throughout our trip. They treat everyone like family.

There were mountain villages to explore, and infinite pristine reefs teeming with fish to dive, like Apo Island, which provided endless views of colorful soft corals, punctuated with my favorite, turtles! We could have stayed a month and not been bored.

Whale sharks

On our way to Bohol aboard our Banca boat, Dako, we were able to dive in 35 feet of warm, clear water and observe these gentle giants feeding on krill. I had only been diving with whale sharks in the Galapagos, and it was fabulous in these much warmer waters. Kids and families can snorkel or dive anytime during their stay.

Amun Ini is a small 16-room, five-star dive resort and the most luxurious little gem we found yet. Family-owned and family-run.  Amun Ini means “This is mine,” and I can understand why, as anyone would want to claim it for themselves. A beautiful, private white sand beach, infinity pool, and large, spacious rooms greeted us at this eco-friendly, holistic, and organic scuba retreat.

Did I mention it’s kid-friendly?

The owner’s daughter and her husband are the gourmet chefs, who create local dishes that will tantalize your taste buds and make you feel like you’re dining in one of the top 10 restaurants in the world. Did I mention it’s kid-friendly? The chef’s two little girls, ages 3 and 5, joined us each day. I loved seeing the smiles on their faces when I told them about Kids Sea Camp and all the kids we would return with to play together in the ocean.

Beyond diving, I must mention the things Tom thought were more than noteworthy. Everyone in the Philippines plays basketball,  and they are really good at it too! Tom played a few games after diving with the dive team, and it was almost as good as the diving.

In addition, there are sunset massages, culinary classes, yoga, and kayaking. We also enjoyed the many hugs from some of the happiest children we encountered throughout our trip. These are humble people who prize family and each other above all things.

The diving had the most incredible, healthy, and vibrant reefs I have ever seen. Biggs asked me if I wanted to do some muck diving. I had read about this type of addictive diving, hunting for the tiniest of critters on the sandy bottom. I found tiger shrimp the size of a grain of rice, multicolored frogfish the size of a gumball, and pygmy seahorses, all well camouflaged to the eyes of any would-be predators.

Cabilao Island, our next stop via the Chocolate Hills

The hanging bridge and a zip line to stay at Pura Vida Cabilao. Another spectacular Sea Explorer resort with 2O spacious oceanfront suites, more breathtaking views, and completely surrounded by endless coral walls. The unlimited shore diving offered many opportunities to encounter a wide range of tiny critters, turtles, rays, sharks, and even schools of wild dolphins.

This boutique island resort offers a personal closeness that is perfect for small groups and the Kids Sea Camp. The dining offers a personalized touch with a menu prepared to please.

A welcoming, safe, and smile-driven island

All in all, we have given a good chunk of our hearts to the Philippines, as we found it to be one of the most welcoming, safe, and smile-driven places we have encountered to date. If you’re ready to take a break from your virtual world, I invite you to taste experience to the utmost, to teach your children to reach out without fear to explore a world that will bring their imagination to life.

Join us for an extraordinary journey to the Philippines. I encourage you to open your children’s eyes to humility, happiness, and a new way of looking at life that they will remember forever.

By Margo Peyton, President of Kids Sea Camp Inc. 

Kids Sea Camp Bonaire: Diving for The Teens

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Teen diver, Kids and Scuba, Bonaire, Kids Sea Camp

I can’t wait to go back

Although this was my second time participating in the Teen Diver group during Kids Sea Camp Bonaire, it was still an awesome week. I saw a lot of things I hadn’t seen in the water last year, and going back to the donkey sanctuary was pretty sweet. And even though Bonaire is a small island, I am never bored there, and I can’t wait to go back again.

The diving was really cool, yet again. There were many fish, and the water was warm and clear. I even had the experience of seeing my first manta. It was also nice to see Charlie the Tarpon again. That’s certainly one way to know you are at Buddy Dive in Bonaire.

Meeting new friends

While in Bonaire, I was able to see my old friends and make a few new ones. If you are a teenager and you’re sick of your friends back home (no offense to all of you), Kids Sea Camp is the place to be. You are guaranteed to make friends, especially in Bonaire, where many families go (mainly because it is the cheapest Kids Sea Camp, and what parents don’t like is going diving for as little money as possible?). The other good thing about Kids Sea Camp Bonaire and being a teen diver is that you are ALWAYS with your new friends. That is what makes Kids Sea Camp so much fun.

Bonaire is a great place for teens, especially for a Kids Sea Camp, because school just ended. I like to think of it as a way to celebrate the end of the school year. If you treat Bonaire like a celebration for any occasion, you and your friends are sure to have a great time.

Buddy Dive is a great place for us teens to have a good time because there is a lot for us to do at the resort, and there is a really good ice cream store two blocks away. Who doesn’t like good ice cream on a hot Caribbean day? We can also go swimming (pool or ocean) and jump off cliffs into the water (tell your parents it isn’t THAT high, but it’s high enough to get some good hang time).

Rogest

This year, we had the experience of Ron Steven (better known as Rogest) coming to Bonaire. Although Ron seems like the kind of guy who would appeal more to five-year-olds, I think he is one of the coolest people you can have a vacation with. He is funny, he will make you a better artist, and he is just a great source of entertainment. He also likes to embarrass you in a funny way that won’t make you too mad; you’ll end up laughing.

I would recommend Kids Sea Camp Bonaire to all of you teen divers. It is a fun place, and the diving is great whether you have been certified for 5 years or are still a beginner diver. And to the parents who have never been to Bonaire, it’s a fun place for you, too. Don’t even worry about your teens during the day, Buddy Dive and Kids Sea Camp make sure we are all safe and having a great time.

By: Ryan Seltz

Tips for better buoyancy and air consumption

by
Buoyancy, Kids Sea camp, scuba training for kids

Keys to better diving

  • Good buoyancy is key. Make sure you are neutrally buoyant, trim your gear so nothing is hanging or dragging below you, and try to evenly distribute your weights. 4lb on the left, then 4lb on the right. Move them around, ankle weights are also used, I use 1lb on each ankle when diving with my camera. Some BC’s, like my ScubaPro Lady Hawk, have pockets up high in the back. I often put a 1 lb in each of those pockets. A Peak performance buoyancy class will be a fun continuing education class, as it will teach you more about good buoyancy control.
  • Breathe slowly and deeply when you’re diving; don’t ever hold your breath. Short and shallow breaths can be dangerous and create dead air spaces.

Gear is important

  • Streamline your gear and have property-fitting equipment, nothing dangling or dragging. Make sure your equipment is in good working order and has been serviced regularly by your local dive shop.
  • Use proper kick cycles and don’t swim while diving (no hands needed). Make sure you’re using Scuba fins, not snorkel fins. Dive fins should be longer and fit comfortably. Go to your local dive shop and try on a few pairs. Some adults like me prefer full-foot fins; for kids, I recommend fins with straps for growing feet.
  • Make sure to be suited up as conditions dictate. Stay warm, choices of a shorty or long wet-suit, 2 mm, 3 mm, 5 mml and more are available depending on the temperature of the water your diving. In the Galapagos, I use a 5- or 7-mm long suit; in Bonaire, I use a 2-mm shorty. New wetsuits are more buoyant than older ones, and thickness makes a big difference as well. The thicker the suit, the more weight is needed. Long suits will require more weight than a shorty.

Be in good condition

  • Be in good physical health, and never dive when you’re not feeling well. Always consult your doctor about any medications you’re taking, as they could have different effects while diving. Make sure to fill out waivers truthfully so that, if something does happen, it will be easier to determine what is going on and to provide help faster and more efficiently.
  • Dive often. The more you dive, the more confident and comfortable you will become, and buoyancy will become easier.

Be a good buddy

  • Stay close to your buddy. Constantly chasing your buddy can use up more air on a dive and create stress.
  • Dive into a current at the start of a dive when you are not tired, so you can then dive with the current returning at the end of your dive. Make sure not to dive in strong currents. Check with your local dive shop or dive professional before entering the water to determine safe dive conditions. Always let someone know you are going diving, and never dive alone.

Relax, it’s just diving

  • Relax, enjoy your dive. Take only photos, leave only bubbles. Observe marine life and don’t touch anything living.
  • Take an advanced open water class, which covers a navigation dive, a deep dive, a buoyancy dive, a night dive, a photography dive, and a Fish ID dive. All of which will make you feel more confident in your direction, buoyancy, and knowledge of marine life, allowing you to feel more comfortable diving. There are other specialty dives you can take in an Advanced Open Water Class, such as Underwater Naturalist, Wreck, or even zombie dives. Visit www.padi.com for more information about courses.
  • Don’t overthink air consumption; the more you think about it, the more anxious you become, and the fewer chances there are for relaxation.
  • Take your family diving and enjoy diving with your kids. They will look to you as role models and strive to dive as you do. Be a good role model.
Have fun and be safe! I look forward to diving with you.
by Margo Peyton, President of Kids Sea Camp, PADI Instructor #57474

Kids Sea Camp Dive Vacation tips

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Buddy Dive, Bonaire, Kids Sea Camp

Tips for a better dive vacation!

It’s time — you have been waiting all year for the summer dive vacation. You’re so excited, so pumped up to head to your tropical vacation that you forget the sunscreen or worse, the passport. We have had families forget: Dive computers, cameras, passport and yes even the dates they are traveling. But you may be a bit rusty here are some vacation tips for diving this summer.

So take your time and prepare for your dive vacation. Plan a day to pack and make a list of all the important items you need to bring to make your holiday easy and fun. Over the years, Margo and I have noticed there are a few things to remember for a better dive vacation. Some of the items are easy to remember — some are less obvious.

Get ready for the adventure of the Kids Sea Camp summer!

  • Check your equipment! Make sure you have it all! We’ve never had anyone forget all their equipment, but a mask, their fins, a dive computer or even their BC. It happens.
  •  Make your equipment yours: Mark your equipment with your name or symbol before you’re on the boat. It all sorts of looks the same once you’re on the boat, and it helps the dive shop to organize your equipment.
  • Don’t forget toothpaste for your mask.
  • Bring a spare dive computer: All the resorts have dive computers, but they may not match your equipment.  So if you have an extra computer — bring it. It is the number one issue we find with our equipment — most of the time it’s a failing battery. But the dive show may not service your brand equipment.
  • Defog: And just in case, get your defog before heading to the island. All the dive boats have some, but we always make sure to have the defog with us. A clear mask is a good choice for a dive mask.
  • Pack your Certification Card and logbook.
  • Bring your boat items, like sunglasses, rain gear, and comfortable boat shoes.
  • Dive insurance: Margo and I carry Dan dive insurance all year round. Diving is a very safe recreational sport — but sometimes you just never know. And when it comes to our kids in a foreign country, we want the DAN protection.
  • Bring your medical items
  • Passports (Duh — right?) Well, Margo and I once got in such a hurry that we forgot our passports.
  • Check your flights the day before. We have a couple of families who have forgotten their flight dates. The story to get them to the airport is worth a beer or two.
  • Credit cards: Call before you leave and tell the company that you will be in a foreign country.
  • Ziploc bags
  • Baggage limits: Most airlines have a 50-pound weight limit for coach and one bag per person. First class normally weighs 70 pounds and includes two bags per person. We’re divers, so bringing our equipment is important. Just double-check the weight; the surcharge can run into the hundreds of dollars.
  • Passports (in case you have forgotten already)
  • Pack your patience: Expect delays —traveling to any island really is a delay waiting to happen. So have fun, be patient, and enjoy your Kids Sea Camp summer.
  • Buy travel insurance: Kids Sea Camp buys DAN travel insurance on every one of our trips. Margo and I both know we have been lucky with great weather over the years —but we also know we don’t control it. Things happen; it’s just that simple. Be prepare. Please note: Some credit cards offer very good travel insurance as part of the card membership.

Toothpaste and new dive mask

by
Bonaire, Diving with Kids, Tom Peyton

Preparing a new dive mask

The foggy mask: I had a client buy a new dive mask this week, and I told him to make sure to rub toothpaste on both sides of the mask lens before jumping into the water. It will help prevent the lens from fogging up.

He then asked a very simple question, “Why?”

I had no answer for him—I said it was tradition. He then asked, “But why is it the tradition?

I smiled and thought to myself how living with a Hall of Famer who really is a diving professor, Professor Margo of the department of Oceanic Adventures at Kids Sea Camp, makes me a little dumb at times. I have watched Margo put toothpaste in our new dive masks for years — she even puts it in the old ones at the beginning of the summer. And the dumb part  — I never once asked why. Not once did I ask why we are putting something I put on my teeth every day on an item that has no teeth? I just knew that when she didn’t use the toothpaste, my mask would fog up — very quickly — and I hate a foggy mask.

One good thing about myself is that once I realize just how stupid I’m acting or thinking, I tend correct my behavior, and I do this by gathering information. So here’s why my Oceanic Professor puts toothpaste on the lens of our mask almost every year, at the beginning of our diving season— new or not.

Toothpaste is a mild abrasive

Most newer masks, frames, skirts, and straps are made of silicone, which creates a film on the mask’s lens. The film on the lens blocks the defog from working properly. In fact, if the silicone residue is not removed, any amount of defogging work on the lens.

After the toothpaste

After you have cleaned off the toothpaste and you are heading to the boat, make sure to have some defog. There are many brands, and with the silicon residue removed, most of them will work. The fact of the matter is, all the dive boats have some form of defog, though most use a watered-down J&J baby shampoo.

Other forms of defogging

Spit: Real divers don’t use defog; they spend a lot of time draining their mouths, building up a large quantity of saliva, and projecting it into their masks. Many divers say this is the best form of defog, but the idea of my eyes breathing in all the wonderful germs from my mouth — just doesn’t work for me.

SeaDrops: Clean, quick, and easy to use — a few drops on the inside and the outside of the mask has gotten me close to a decade of “no fog” mask. Just remember to wash the drops out right before you jump off the boat. If you don’t clean the drops out of the mask properly, you could experience a severe burning sensation in your eyes — and the eye burn can really ruin a great dive. Why? Because all defog is a form of soap. That’s why most dive boats and shops use J&J Baby Shampoo  — it’s easier on the eyes.

Burn it off: Don’t do this at home unless you know a professional mask burner who has done it many times. You are basically burning off the thin film that protects the new lens. The danger, of course, is burning the entire soft silicone that makes your new mask so darn comfortable.

After the dive

Hit the dunk tank: Make sure you use freshwater to clean off all your dive equipment. Almost all our family of divers dunk their BCs in the sweetwater tub, but I have watched numerous divers forgo a quick rinse of their fins, mask, snorkel, and wetsuit. Remember, a clean mask doesn’t fog up as much, and clean gear lasts longer.

Tom Peyton, Vice President of Kids Sea Camp and Family Dive Adventures

Tips for a Happy Kids Sea Camp

by
Kids and scuba, Kids Sea Camp

It’s Christmas in May at Kids Sea Camp!

It’s May, but we are less than 30 days from the launch of the first Kids Sea Camp week. We are busy finalizing our family packs, forms, and payments for the start of our summer vacation season. You should be receiving the Family Dive boxes full of goodies for the trip. But here are a few things to do or think about before you enjoy your summer vacation with Kids Sea Camp.

Top 10 tips for a happy KSC summer

  1. Gear up: Either get your gear serviced ASAP. Having faulty gear ain’t no fun in the middle of the South Pacific. And even worse, unsafe. If you have older gear, take a look at our online store. We have numerous ways to “gear you up” and still save cash.
  2. Passports: Make sure they are up-to-date. You can get “rushed” service, but on this date, you’ll be cutting it close.
  3. Docs: Print out your documents and have them in place. That will remind you how close you are to the KSC summer. Expect us to email or call you if you are missing any of our FDA/KSC forms.
  4. Calendar: Mark on your Google calendar your travel dates, and then have alerts on your phone. Just in case you get too busy to remember, you’re going on vacation. It happens even to some of the smartest people we know. (See KSC Calendar)
  5. Questions: Call us at 803-419-2556 for any questions about the resorts and the diving your family will be experiencing. We will field any questions, and if we don’t know the answer, we will find it.
  6. Get a tan: I know. I know what you’re thinking. Doesn’t Tom think the sun causes skin cancer? Yes, I’m not telling you to get a burn. In fact, I recommend a little time in the sun before you’re on the island so you don’t burn. Sunscreen is great. But a little layer of gentle, healthy color sure can go a long way on the island.
  7. Practice island time: Before you go… get lazy. Do nothing for a day. Imagine not worrying about work. On average, it takes three days for a vacation to start easing stress and pressure. What does that mean? It means that the benefits of vacation don’t kick in until it’s half over. But if you practice being on island time before you’re on the island, maybe you can gain a day or two. Make your vacation dollars work for you. Relax now!
  8. Exercise: Our trips are adventure trips. You are out in the sun and the ocean all day on our trips. Now that being said, we don’t run a Kids Sea Camp Ironman contest, but the better shape you’re in, the more you will enjoy the week. You have 30 days until Utila, and then the Galapagos. Get busy, Kids Sea Campers, we want everyone happy and healthy on our trips.
  9. Educate: Get online, read about the resort, the island, or learn about the critters and animals you will see.
  10. Visualize: Imagine this year’s KSC vacation better than any before. Imagine great tropical weather, happy faces, young and old, amazing diving, and safe, secure travel. Margo and I always prepare for the best and pray for even better. And right now, Margo is probably daydreaming that this year’s Utila trip is as good as last year’s.