Destination: Bonaire

25 Years of Diving into Family Adventures

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Kids and diving, kids sea camp, Family dive vacations

A 25-year celebration marks a significant milestone for me

Margo Peyton. My journey began 25 years ago as a single mom working as a dive travel agent. I yearned to share my love of the ocean with my two children. My passion was rooted in my childhood in Provincetown, MA., surrounded by the wonders of the sea—seals, whales, dolphins, sharks, turtles, and giant bluefin tuna. I grew up immersed in its rhythms. I wanted that same connection for my kids.

With a degree in travel and tourism, a lifelong love of the ocean, and a father who was a scuba diver, I embarked on a global adventure in the 1980s. I explored incredible marine environments, diving in spectacular locations. But when I became a mom, I discovered a void: there were no adventures designed for kids, no dive programs, and no family-friendly resorts. How could this be? My challenge was clear.

I set out to create what didn’t exist.

KSC in the news, Margo Peyton, Tom PeytonOne by one, I forged partnerships with family-owned and family-run resorts and liveaboards willing to cater to families: Curaçao’s ​-Ocean Encounters, Bonaire’s ​-Buddy Dive, ​Roatan with AKR, Mayan Divers, Turquoise Bay, Kimpton, Grand Cayman’s ​-DiveTech, Little Cayman​ & Cayman Brac’s ​-Reef Divers, ​Utila with Troy Bodden, St. Lucia’s ​-Anse Chastanet, Palau’s ​-Sam’s Tours, Yap’s, Manta Ray Bay, Galapagos with Explorer Ventures, Belize’s ​-Blackbird Caye, ​The Philippines with ​-Sea Explorers, Indonesia with Murex Dive Resorts, Wakatobi and The Arenui. ​St. Eustatius- Golden Rock, Fiji, Castaway Island, JMC, and many others in Costa Rica, the Maldives, St. Vincent, and Dominica. I sought safer choices, family-friendly crews, delicious food, comfortable rooms, and meticulous attention to detail.

Scubapro stepped up to sponsor smaller dive gear, and Sealife sponsored underwater cameras. PADI created exceptional youth-friendly programs like SASY, SEAL Team, and Junior Diver certifications. Around the world, we grew, and like-minded families bonded, forming a thriving dive tribe. I created a legacy of unforgettable memories for my children, giving them a global perspective beyond their wildest dreams.

A living classroom

Kids Sea Camp has become a living classroom for families, often spanning three generations on any given trip. Where once there were parents like me, now grandparents join their adult children and grandchildren to share the magic of the underwater world. For 25 years, I’ve connected not only my kids to the world but families of the world.

My life has been miraculous for a little girl who grew up in a time when women rarely owned companies or traveled extensively with children, let alone negotiated international contracts and partnerships. I am grateful to all the resort owners, dive operators, equipment manufacturers, and publications that believed in and supported my vision for family growth within the dive industry.

When we work together, trust one another, and unite around shared dreams and goals, we can create something truly amazing. Kids Sea Camp is a testament to that collaborative spirit. It’s a story of shared passion, unwavering dedication, and the profound impact of diving in to connect families.

Building lasting connections

This journey has been about more than just underwater adventures; it’s about building lasting connections, fostering environmental stewardship, and empowering families to explore the world together. It’s about creating a community where shared experiences forge unbreakable bonds and where the love of the ocean unites us all.​  Because of Kids Sea Camp, my family has grown.  I met and married Tom Peyton almost 2 decades ago, and as a family, we have built bonds and lasting friendships with our operators, clients, and suppliers worldwide. Tom has contributed to expanding Kids Sea Camp trips by adding sporting events, culinary classes, and special-needs options. Now, he has developed empty-nest trips for all the parents and grandparents who have enjoyed traveling with us. I’ve expanded Family Dive Adventures to accommodate all the many individual family dive vacations to the many destinations we offer.

We are still growing

For our 25th celebration, we are looking forward to the future with excitement and anticipation. In 2026, we’ll reach another incredible milestone: the first-ever World Kids Sea Camp event in the Philippines! Participants from six countries will converge for a single, unforgettable experience, truly connecting the dots through diving.

This event represents the culmination of a dream, a celebration of the global dive family we’ve built together. It’s a testament to the power of shared passion and the enduring magic of Kids Sea Camp. Join us as we continue to dive into family adventures for generations to come! Here’s to the next 25 years of Kids Sea Camp!

 

25 year Press Release

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

Kids Sea Camp Celebrates 25 Years of Transforming Family Diving

Columbia, SC – January 23, 2025

Kids Sea Camp, the premier provider of family-friendly dive vacations, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Founded in 2000 by Margo Peyton, Kids Sea Camp has become the leader in ocean education and family dive vacations. Margo has traveled the world searching for the most family-friendly PADI 5-star resorts and operators with whom she partners for her custom-created diving events, offered in 13 countries and spanning 29 trips. These trips bring together like-minded families from around the globe to experience scuba diving, dive training, local culture, and family-friendly accommodations and activities.

Bonaire and the Philippines

With over 8,100 PADI certifications for youth divers and countless incredible adventures. Kids Sea Camp is celebrating its 25th anniversary with special events. The festivities will kick off at Buddy Dive Resort in Bonaire in August. During trips to the Philippines with Sea Explorers Dauin and Amun ini and in Belize at Blackbird Cay we will continue to celebrate.

Each event will feature a multi-night stay, diving, PADI dive training courses, Treasure hunts, three meals daily, live music and entertainment, special presenters, activities, and swag. Kids Sea Camp also invites families to join them for a series of educational workshops and presentations on marine conservation, underwater photography, and dive safety.

“We are so excited to celebrate our 25th anniversary with our incredible community of divers,” said Tom Peyton, Vice President of Kids Sea Camp. “It’s been a long journey since our first trip in 2000. We are proud to be a leader in providing families with unique and unforgettable dive experiences.”

To learn more about Kids Sea Camp and its 25th anniversary events, please visit https://familydivers.com/kids-sea-camp-event-calendar/.

About Kids Sea Camp

Kids Sea Camp is a leading provider of family-friendly dive vacations. Kids Sea Camp offers a variety of programs for divers of all ages and experience levels. The company is committed to providing its customers with safe, fun, and educational dive experiences.

Media Contact

Tom Peyton
Vice President, Kids Sea Camp

The Kids Sea Camp gallery has over 200,000 aqua-based images

 

Margo’s favorite places to dive with kids

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Family dive adventures, sasy training, kids and scuba, diving with young kids, margo peyton, Family Scuba Diving Vacations, Kids Sea Camp, Scuba Diving, Kids and scuba

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Finding My Favorite Dive Destination? It’s Impossible!

For 26 years, clients have asked me, “Margo, what is your favorite dive destination?” As a mother, and now a grandmother, a PADI scuba instructor, and a lifelong ocean lover (I was born in Provincetown, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod!), my response has always been, “All of them!” Each destination I’ve personally chosen for Kids Sea Camp holds a special place in my heart.

Cayman Islands: Perfect for First-Time Family Dive Trips

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

As a young mother, I fell in love with the Cayman Islands as my son, Robbie, was born in Grand Cayman! I know the islands well, having worked both as a divemaster and a travel agent for many years while living there. With its easy access from the US (multiple daily, direct, nonstop flights!), strong safety record, and family-friendly resorts like Little Cayman Beach Resort and Cayman Brac Beach Resort, it had to be at the top of my list for young divers.

The diving is easy for all levels, with picture-perfect turquoise waters and sugar-white sand beaches you dream about on a cold winter’s day. The picturesque beaches are perfect for building sandcastles, playing volleyball, and relaxing!

Underwater, you’ll find turtles, tarpon, dolphins, and sharks, along with dramatic walls, fascinating wrecks like Captain Keith Tibbetts, and shallow reefs perfect for new divers. The resorts offer spacious guest rooms that give parents privacy while keeping kids close. And don’t forget the exciting land adventures like exploring pirate caves or hiking the bluffs!

The best Caribbean bar food

The food and service at both resorts are excellent, with plenty of family-friendly choices. The chefs create amazing made-from-scratch cakes, pies, and cookies, and there’s even a make-your-own sundae bar! The restaurants serve everything from steaks and lobster to fresh fish and vegetarian delights.

Getting around is easy, whether you rent a car or explore by bike. There’s a spa on each property, and believe it or not, tennis and basketball courts! Relax by the large oceanfront pools, swing in a hammock on the beach, or join in the fun with treasure hunts, pizza and movie nights, and pool games. I enjoy photographing and feeding the giant iguanas, collecting coconuts, and enjoying those lazy afternoons on the beach. There are quaint shops and other restaurants to explore, as well as exceptional flora and birdlife to learn about. The Cayman Islands are known for their history and culture as well as their diving.

Bonaire: Buddy Dive Resort Kids Sea Camp

Bonaire stole my heart with its laid-back charm, friendly donkeys roaming freely, flocks of pink flamingos, and incredible marine life – from wild dolphins and manta rays (yes, manta rays in Bonaire!) to massive tarpon and countless octopus.

My favorite part of the day? Jumping off the dock with my kids when they were young divers to explore the calm, shallow reefs. The white sandy bottom, just 15-20 feet below, felt like a natural guardrail, allowing kids to gain confidence and independence in a safe environment. Bonaire is one of my top picks for large families, with 1, 2, and 3-bedroom villas at reasonable prices and easy access from the States.

Buddy Dive Resort is family-owned and extremely kid-friendly, with an in-ocean training area that minimizes pool time. Besides diving, my favorite activity is Blow Karting (land sailing) – a total blast for adults and kids! There’s also a sunset cruise, walking the plank, karaoke, and live music. Buddy Dive sits right on the oceanfront, offering some of the most effortless diving for families. There are guided shore dives and boat dives just minutes away. And that jump-off-the-dock diving is the best!

When my kids were older, they both had instructor training with Buddy Dive. That was an amazing gift for me to witness and be a part of. Buddy Dive offers internship programs, Reef Renewal, and tech diver training for older kids and divers who want to further their dive training for future careers or fun. Our Buddy Dive Kids Sea Camp offers a variety of training courses during the week for adults and kids. SASY, Seal Team, JOW, AOW, Rescue, Jr. Divemaster, Divemaster, and Instructor courses have all been incorporated into our program.

St. Lucia: Kids Sea Camp Luxury and Adventure

St. Lucia is pure magic! It is one of the most romantic places in the Caribbean. Tom and I love to return to St. Lucia every year. We look forward to being pampered, enjoying some couples’ time, and bringing Kids Sea Camp to a luxurious, romantic place like Anse Chastanet. It’s a dream come true!

When Mrs. Karolin and Nick Troubetzkoy invited me to bring Kids Sea Camp to their world-famous resort, I felt like Dorothy clicking her ruby slippers in The Wizard of Oz! We have the entire resort to ourselves! Some families with older kids ages 15+ also stay at Jade Mountain, Anse Chastanet. That is just another level of romance and one of my favorite places on Earth to stay with Tom.

Imagine exploring vibrant reefs, encountering seahorses, and baby turtles hatching right on the beach. The dinner options let you indulge in world-class cuisine at four incredible restaurants. There’s Emeralds (a vegan restaurant), Balawoo (a treehouse restaurant with breathtaking views), the Jungle Grill, and Apsara Indian restaurant, all featuring Creole and Caribbean flavors.

The accommodations are breathtaking

This resort wowed me from the moment I stepped into my room. The accommodations are breathtaking, with options of one- or two-bedroom units overlooking the magical Pitons and the spectacular ocean, or beachfront bungalows surrounded by lush gardens. Each room is exquisitely decorated at this 4 Diamond resort. The service is out-of-this-world, exceeding expectations at every turn. It’s a constant stream of happy moments in St. Lucia because you are served beyond your expectations at every turn.

Being able to have the kids make and decorate cupcakes with the head pastry chef, as well as the chocolate tasting with the chocolatier! OMG, if you love chocolate, you have arrived in heaven. The chocolate lab, chocolate hands, and foot massage, etc, are beyond enjoyable.

The diving is simply spectacular. From awesome wrecks, local house reef or night dives exploring beautiful walls to the vibrant soft coral gardens, Scuba St. Lucia offers something for everyone. Oh, and you do not need to touch your gear because this is 4-diamond diving, and everything is done for you. It’s called Valet Diving. Then there is the jazzy sunset cruise and live steel drum band, the karaoke and beach BBQ, and I can go on and on and on. This family week in St. Lucia is truly decadent. Every member of the family is pampered and spoiled, and the kids never want to leave!

Belize: Island Paradise and Marine Conservation

Blackbird Caye Resort in Belize, our newest gem (added in 2023), is a private island paradise. We’ve been taking families to Belize since 2011. This perfect location, with its proximity to incredible dive sites, was a game-changer. Imagine being just a 3-minute boat ride from the Wit Concrete Wreck (which can even be done as a shore dive!). The resort is only 6 minutes from the famous Elbow dive site! The Blue Hole, a must-do for any diver, is just an hour away.

My favorite here is the incredible number of eagle ray encounters, along with a big favorite of mine: the loggerhead turtles, which are not shy! Others like to hunt lionfish or go topside; my husband loves to go fly-fishing while I’m off enjoying dives with the kids. The boats are big, spacious, and comfy.

With its pristine white-sand beaches dotted with charming seaside bungalows, its incredible diving, and a focus on marine conservation, Blackbird Caye has become a favorite! Thanks to the owners Garen and Simonyan’s passion for kids and the ocean, it’s a dream come true for eco-conscious families. Garen, a newer dad himself, has integrated educational experiences from the Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association into the kids’ activities. There is marine life learning and excursions as well as presentations throughout the week. The food is delicious, and all meals are made from scratch. Family-style meals are served in the beach restaurant. The sunsets are well spent at the beach bar and pool, reminiscing about the day and resting up for the next day’s adventures.

Belize has so much to offer both non-divers and divers. We can book both pre- and post-trips to the jungle or ruins.

The Philippines diving with whale sharks

The Philippines holds a special place in my heart. I was greeted with a hug and a flower necklace at the airport in Manila. I knew I was in for something special. A quick hop flight over to Dumaguete, and we are in Dauin. This resort has 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom units, black-sand beaches, multiple pools, and the most fantastic dive boats I have ever seen. They look like giant water spiders! These boats are made of bamboo, spacious, and offer valet diving, which basically means you do nothing. Hot chocolate, coffee, tea, biscuits, and cookies are served after every dive. Each dive group of 4 people has its own dive guide. The Filipinos are so much fun and love kids.

We get a very special dive that not many in the world get to do: the Whale Sharks of Oslob, which we do on our own private boat and with our own staff. We have a very special Kids Sea Camp Whale Shark Day. It’s one of the few times I can say that we guarantee you will dive or snorkel with a whale shark in Oslob. It’s just a huge wow. I’ve experienced 5 at a time.

Welcome to Apo Island

At Apo Island, the reefs are so beautiful that I actually cried underwater. At 18, the first time I saw reefs this healthy, it was overwhelming. There is a mountain school, a village tour, the Chocolate Hills, zip lining, and many top-side cultural activities planned for the Kids Sea Camp trip. I have packed it with local culinary delights, music, and fun for the entire family.

Planning ahead for the Philippines

We’re planning our Philippines vacation further in advance. The trip has multiple locations, since families travel so far; we maximize their stay with a few trip options. This year, I’ve arranged 6 nights at Pura Vida Homes with Sea Explorers, and 6 nights on Bohol Island at Amun Ini. Both offer opportunities to see whalesharks, macro, and topside fun. From Amun Ini, families can see the world’s smallest monkey, the Tarsier. A cute little furry critter with eyes that look like large AI-generated orbs. For 2026, we are off to Dauin and Cabilao. You can give me a call. I will happily spend as much time as you want telling you about the Philippines. The rooms are beautiful and spacious, and each resort offers incredible cuisine. (See our calendar events)

Indonesia: Luxury Liveaboards and Unforgettable Experiences

For the ultimate dive adventure, Indonesia is a must. Our luxurious liveaboard trips aboard the Arenui offer unparalleled service and exquisite cuisine, all while having access to some of the world’s most pristine dive sites, including Komodo, Raja Ampat, and the Forgotten Islands. The Arenui is truly “perfection,” as described by one of our long-time clients, Marcio Curvelo. With its stunning hand-carved interiors, fine linens, and state-of-the-art dive equipment, the ship redefines luxury dive travel. We offer land excursions, diving, paddleboarding, kayaking, and pre- and post-Bali add-ons to create a truly unforgettable experience.

Why I Choose Each Destination

I hand-pick each Kids Sea Camp location with families in mind. We work closely with each resort and dive operator to create unique experiences. The destinations have their own appeal and unique experiences. All the KSC weeks create a magical family diving experience that gives the kids memories to last a lifetime.

Ready to plan your family dive adventure?

Check out KSC weeks (see link) or read heartwarming stories from our families. (see link)

Family Dive Vacations with Kids Sea Camp is Always Our First Choice

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Kids Sea Camp, Family Dive Adventure, kids and diving, families that love diving

I ain’t going diving

When I first started dating my husband Mark, I remember one of our first dates, picking him up from Shaw’s Cove in Laguna Beach. The waves crashed against the shore as I waited for Mark to emerge from the inky blackness of the Pacific. He was night diving, one of his many “gear-intensive” hobbies that initially intimidated me. Snowboarding, mountain biking, scuba diving—activities that seemed a world away from my own. Watching his figure rise from the depths, I remember thinking, “I will never do that.”

Kids Scuba, Family Scuba Diving Adventures, Kids Sea Camp, Margo PeytonBut never say never! Thirteen years and hundreds of dives later, we were seasoned divers exploring underwater worlds from Fiji to the Galapagos. With his passion for underwater photography, Mark had even traveled to the Bahamas to participate in shark photography expeditions, capturing incredible images of tiger sharks, hammerheads, and even the gentle giants of the sea—whale sharks.

“Give them a week; they will remember forever

In 2016, amidst the dazzling displays of dive gear and exotic destinations at the Long Beach Scuba Show, one booth stopped us. A banner proclaimed, “Give them a week; they will remember forever,” and we knew we had to find out more. It was Kids Sea Camp, and it promised family dive vacations that combined underwater exploration with cultural experiences and adventure activities. Our kids, Lucas and Lucy, were 12 and 6 then. We’d always leave them with family when we traveled, but sharing our love of diving sparked an irresistible excitement. (See the KSC gallery)

Our first Kids Sea Camp adventure took us to Buddy Dive on the beautiful island of Bonaire in 2017. The island welcomed us with water that was so clear and blue that it felt like swimming in a dream. Lucas, all of 13, enrolled in the Kids Sea Camp PADI Jr. Open Water program with other kids his age. This Junior Open Water Certification allows kids aged 10-14 to dive to 40 feet with a PADI pro or a certified parent. Seven-year-old Lucy joined the SASY program, designed for kids aged 4-7 to master snorkeling on the surface and learn about the ocean with other kids.

KSC is perfection in Bonaire

The Kids Sea Camp format was perfect. Each morning, we’d drop the kids off at their 8:00 A.M. scuba class with other kids their age, then hop on an adult-only boat for a day of diving with like-minded parents. The kids, meanwhile, were busy with all sorts of activities—blow-karting, jungle biking, kayaking, and of course, learning the fundamentals of scuba diving. In the afternoons, we’d reunite as a family, often ending the day with drinks on the beach, watching a horde of kids diving and splashing in the crystal blue water. There was something magical about seeing them put down their iPads and phones, engage with other kids, and genuinely appreciate paradise.

Bonaire ​i​s not just about diving. We visited the Donkey Sanctuary. The sanctuary cares for over 700 rescued donkeys, including a nursery. Kids Sea Camps’ visits help keep the facility open and provide food, water, and medical care to the island’s population. The kids are loaded into trucks and armed with bread and carrots to feed the curious donkeys. Nothing is funnier than watching one of your kids get a full face lick by a donkey, or better yet, lose a flip-flop to an over-ambitious creature.  We ​also enjoyed sailing on a sunset cruise aboard an authentic pirate ship, with rum punches in our hands​ and plenty of jumping off the plank upon our return.

Welcome to Roatan

We also ventured to Kids Sea Camp Roatan, Honduras. We enjoyed another incredible week of diving, zip-lining through the jungle, and visiting Gumbalimba Park. In this privately owned eco-adventure park, we interacted with iguanas, macaws, and white-faced monkeys. Lucas did his first night dive and even got to dive with reef sharks, all with private instructors and experienced kid-friendly staff. Lucy, at 8, transitioned to the PADI SEAL program, the next step to becoming a junior open water diver, which prepares kids with basic skills and buoyancy through fun Aqua missions. The kids even received free SCUBAPRO dive gear, including BCD, fins, masks, and snorkels!

We loved the safety, quality, and ease of traveling with Kids Sea Camp so much that we also took our family to Grand Cayman. One of the highlights was Stingray City, a nature preserve in 10 feet of shallow, clear water where we swam with stingrays. Grand Cayman is also home to a turtle sanctuary with over 2,000 turtles. Lucy got to interact with baby turtles in a shallow pool.

Back to Bonaire

In June, we returned to beautiful Bonaire. This time, we were able to dive together as a family—a long-awaited dream come true! Lucas joined the PADI Advanced Open Water program with other teenagers. He completed a night, Peak Performance Buoyancy, boat, photo, and shore dive to earn his PADI certification. Lucy finally became a PADI Junior open-water diver earlier in the week, so we had plenty of time to dive together as a family and with her new dive buddies. As a mother, watching your 11-year-old confidently descend to 40 feet is a heart-warming experience. Witnessing your 16-year-old diving comfortably and easily in 80 feet of water is even more so. In addition to diving, donkeys, and dock diving, Bonaire is also known for its kite and windsurfing. The kids even got to pilot land-based blow-karts and cruise around a tire-lined track. Kids Sea Camp offers a full week of engaging activities with plenty of time together and apart.

In my opinion, there’s nothing better than Caribbean sunsets, salty ocean breezes, and night skies brimming with stars. We’re blessed to share our love of the ocean with our children and take them on underwater safaris to undersea fantasy worlds. Between the scuba diving, family karaoke contests, and sandy, exhausted kids, I couldn’t ask for a better family vacation than Kids Sea Camp provides each year.

Kids Sea Camp is always our first choice

Our family continues to choose Kids Sea Camp as our #1 choice for family vacations. Lucy completed her PADI Advanced Open Water course in the Philippines. ​The whale sharks were a wow! We dove as a family in Oslob, coming face-to-face with whale sharks in calm, clear water. And how do you ​possibly top that? Palau for our very first Kids Sea Camp liveaboard trip! Outstanding! ​Manta, sharks, wild dolphins, and the Rock Islands. We’ve created memories with Kids Sea Camp to last a lifetime​ and continue each year.

By the Chapman Family

 

Kids Scuba Programs for all ages

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Kids Sea Camp, diving with Kids, diving with family

Kids’ scuba programs at every destination

PADI Seal Team is an excellent program for kids aged 8-10. Kids Sea Camp Inc. offers one of the few 6-day scuba programs in the world that is conducted in the ocean. Our ratio of instructors to kids is one instructor for every two kids. The PADI Seal Team is an enjoyable program PADI created in 2001, based on fun, educational Aqua Missions in the pool. At Kids Sea Camp, we provide SeaLife Cameras for Photo Missions, fun ocean dives for Fish ID Missions, and night pool missions.

We dive everywhere

There are select locations: St. Lucia Kids Sea Camp Inc. with Scuba St. Lucia and Anse Chastanet; Buddy Dive Bonaire; Sea Explorers in the Philippines; and Reef Divers in the Cayman Islands. We take Seal Team kids scuba diving in the ocean and experience the underwater world with mom and dad. Over the past 25 years, we have taught over 4,000 Seals.

As a mom, I wanted a safe and fun way to introduce my kids to a world I loved and wanted to share with them. Kids’ Sea Camp is a great way to teach your children about the underwater world. Many local dive shops offer PADI Seal Team dives and classes, so ask your local dive shop about getting your little ones in the water. Kids have to be 8 years of age to start the scuba programs.

Scuba Rangers

There is also SSI Scuba Rangers, which I know is another excellent kids’ scuba program, although I have not taught it. What’s important for parents to know: Ask good questions. In my opinion, the ratio of instructors to kids in the water should be 1 instructor to 2 kids. Each operator has mandates and guidelines to follow, but you can always ask for a private class if you like my more conservative ratios.

Demand assurance

Ensure your kids want to participate; they should be excited and eager to learn. Discuss clear diving activities with your child’s doctor and ensure they are both mentally and physically fit to participate. Ensure the instructor you pair with your child is kid-friendly. The instructor needs a comfortable level of kid-teaching experience. Ask them how much experience they have. If your child falls in love with the program, keep encouraging them and continue to the PADI Master Seal Program.

Our seals and sassy

PADI seals can dive a max depth of 12 ft with an instructor. Master Seals have a max depth of 12ft with an Instructor. Experienced instructors can acquire waivers to take kids into the ocean. There are a lot of hoops to jump through to make this happen.

Kids Sea Camp has created a bunny slope for the dive industry. It’s been incredible to see how many of them have grown up to love the ocean and further their careers in diving. We have certified over 50 divemasters and contributed to 36+ instructors who started as little SASY or Seals. Many get into environmental sciences, Marine biology, dive law, and other marine careers that make a difference.

By Margo Peyton

Inspiring the next generation of divers

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Kids Scuba, Family Scuba Diving Adventures, Kids Sea Camp, Margo Peyton, Kids and scuba training

A scuba instructor’s philosophy when teaching kids to scuba dive.

Hello, my name is Margo Peyton. I have enjoyed teaching kids about the underwater world for 26 years. My philosophy as a scuba instructor when teaching kids is to inspire an appreciation and respect for our underwater world. I proactively share my joy, love, and understanding of the fragile marine environment they have committed to learning about. Scuba instructors are similar to other educators, coaches, and adventure guides. We have the transformative power to change a life for the better daily, one family at a time.

I must remember that in today’s world, the effort my students’ parents make to secure access to scuba-diving experiences for their children can be costly and challenging. As an instructor who teaches in the most desirable dive destinations around the globe, I try to make sure I am welcoming and attentive to each student as they arrive, nervous, excited, and hungry to embark on the journey to becoming a diver.

There are a few good points I’ve learned along the way when diving and teaching kids.

1. Share your passion with your students: Tell them what you love about diving and why. I like to talk about zero gravity, being present in the moment, and leaving the surface of my busy world behind.

2. Go Slow: Tell them what you’re going to tell them, tell them, and then tell them what you told them. Use analogies that will inspire and interest kids or make them laugh. Slow down your briefing and add some personal, friendly touches or experiences. Give plenty of time for Q&A. Go slower when demonstrating, descending, guiding, and ascending.

3. Those Tiny Little Ears: Most kids have no idea what equalizing feels like when learning to dive. They have shorter eustachian tubes than adults. I explain to kids what it feels like to land an airplane because all my students experience it when flying. So they get that analogy. I also explained that when they chew gum or swallow in the plane, they equalize the pressure in their ears, and I showed them how to do that with gentle pressure, holding their noses, wiggling their jaws, etc. I see the light bulb click in their eyes at that moment of understanding. It’s crucial to descend slowly, use a line to help them with this process, and over-emphasize pain as a complete stop. I could do a full story on ears, but most importantly, it can take up to 10 minutes for some kids to descend safely as young divers.  

4. Instructors can and should ask for assistance when needed: If you have not taught kids or don’t do so very often, ask for a certified helper. Students should never be left alone for any reason, and kids need more attention and time than adult divers.  They must be reminded to stay hydrated, apply sunscreen, take shorter breaks, and have additional assistance with carrying and setting up heavy gear. I have a comfort level with no more than two kids at a time, so that is my ratio as an instructor. One hand for each child. If I have three or more, I ask for assistance.

Five more important points

5. Stay super Close:  Staying close to kids! This means being able to reach out and touch them. It means understanding that kids can be like mosquitoes underwater. They can move fast, love zero gravity, and fly in any direction. Kids are wowed and distracted by the colors, fish, and each other. They love exploring how fast or slow they move underwater and enjoy being upside down and doing somersaults. I advise you to stay close enough so they can contact you when needed. I like my students close enough to hold on to during training dives, current dives, first-time night dives, and wall dives. 

6. Create Good Communication: It’s fun to communicate with kids underwater and teach them about marine life. Always have slates to draw on. I enjoy their writing and communication with me now, as kids should. Have a quick-release clip to attach to your Scubapro wet notes book and pencil to my students’ backpacks. I love their drawings of a fish, which they want to ask me about later, and reviewing their questions that tell a story of their dives. I love teaching kids signs and signals and letting them create new ones to share with their parents. This is one of the most excellent tools to give to kids and parents. Once they start diving together, writing notes can create bonds, preserve memories, and relieve stress. 

7. Ask your students questions: Building trust and getting to know your students a little better can make a difference in your dive. I ask how they feel and what they are excited to learn and see today. Ask the kids multiple times if they are too cold, hungry, or hot. Remember to ask if they are nervous and comfortable. I brief and debrief, then ask if they have any questions, and make sure they feel every question is essential and has been answered.

8. Be Patient and allow more time for everything: I run a junior open water class at every Kids Sea Camp as a week-long course. If you’re used to teaching adults, when teaching kids, get out of your head and ensure that everything runs smoothly, efficiently, and as planned. Then, you can make learning fun, take your time, and create memories to last a lifetime with kids.  

9 Turn around and have eyes on your students at all times: This is the one thing I find myself teaching and advising instructors the most. You could not take kids to a mall, carnival, or fair and walk in front of them for more than 2 min without turning around and expecting them to follow. The underwater world is like a giant aquarium full of fantastic aliens and critters to be memorized by. The corals, walls, and water are all distractions. Kids need constant oversight. My best instructors spend most of the dive diving backward. You are too far away if you can not see each child’s eyes clearly.

10: #1 question you will have to answer: Why repeatedly? Be prepared to answer this question in detail and often. Think about giving positive, inspiring, and safety-conscious answers. Do I have to take my mask off? Why do I have to wear a wetsuit? Do I have to wear a snorkel? Why can’t I touch that fish? Can I dive deeper? These questions must be answered with care, patience, and thoughtfulness. Try not to give answers that will scare kids. 

Most importantly, with kids, you can be the person who changes their lives, inspires their passion, and forever changes their love of the ocean. You are creating a memory that will last a lifetime and have a lasting effect on someone’s world that you may never know about. So make it a positive change.

Margo Peyton Family Dive Adventures and Kids Sea Camp Inc (Our mission)

“From singing to Lip Dubs a family I never expected to be a part of”.

by
Kids Sea Camp, kids and diving, empty nesters, family and diving.

Our Family Under The Sea

I first fell in love with the undersea world when I was seven. OK, I am fudging that a little bit because I can’t remember exactly how young I was, only that I was very young and that it was in that kindergarten- or elementary-school-age window that I saw, on television, my first-ever Jacques Cousteau Undersea Special. I was immediately hooked on the idea of becoming a diver. From that moment on, I knew that somehow, someway, I would get certified to dive and that it would become a big part of my life.

Kids Scuba, Family Scuba Diving Adventures, Kids Sea Camp, Margo PeytonFast forward to 1994, when I finished medical school and, for the first time in my life, had a real income. I finally took the first step toward that long-held dream and became a certified open-water diver. A few years later, I got my girlfriend, Saundra, hooked on the sport. We became lifelong buddies when I proposed underwater during a dive trip in Guanaja, Honduras (we even had goldfish bowls as centerpieces instead of flowers at our wedding!). 

Married to the sea

Saundra and I dove worldwide whenever we could, and like many other couples, the undersea world became one of the most important things we did together.

In 2005, our diving careers had to pause with the arrival of our firstborn child, Sam. Then, in 2009, twins Adam and Lauren showed up, and we became a family of five. We still managed to dive every once in a while, but nowhere near as often as we had or as we wished, and we had to leave the kids at home.

Sasy and Seals

When Sam was 8, we learned about an SCUBA program for children offered by our local dive shop, and I don’t think you could have contained my excitement when I learned that kids could get certified at age 10! We immediately signed her up, and she took to it with more exuberance than I could have hoped. We later learned from Margo Peyton that Kids Sea Camp and many dive shops also offer the SASY snorkel program for kids ages 4-7 and the PADI Seal Team for kids ages 8 & 9.

However, Kids Sea Camp is one of the few in the world to take those kids to the ocean. Most dive shops offer those programs daily and in a pool. Margo has made an entire week of fun out of them for youngsters, so moms and dads can go diving while younger kids are having a blast in the undersea world.

Needless to say, as soon as Sam was 10, we got her certified, but like so many others, we quickly found that diving with kids is not as easy as getting them certified. Few operators were willing to accept the liability of diving with children, and those who did often lacked the experience or skills to make parents feel completely comfortable.

Finding Margo

And so it was in 2018 that, like so many others who came before us, Saundra and I found ourselves one evening entering that fateful combination of words into the Google search bar: ‘diving with children’. Of course, we landed immediately on the one and only Margo Peyton, and our lives were forever changed for the better.

Kids Sea Camp immediately appealed to us, but with our kids attending a private school whose holiday calendar seemed to be offset by every other school system in the country, none of the dates aligned well with our availability. Margo was undeterred. She set us up for a week at Buddy Dive in Bonaire, a location Saundra and I knew well. And so, in April of 2018, we found ourselves on our first-ever Family Dive Adventure. Sam dove with us and our private guide, arranged by Margo, while the twins took their first Seal course and took to the sport as enthusiastically as their big sister had.

More than friends

The next year, we found a KSC week that worked with our school schedule, so we jumped at the chance to attend a Cayman Islands Kids Sea Camp. There, we met three people who have become some of our closest friends: Tom, Margo, and Olivia. (See gallery)

Over the years, we have been on seven more KSC trips to the Galapagos, Cayman Islands, Bonaire, St. Lucia, Roatan, the Philippines, and the Turks & Caicos. All have been extraordinary. Over that time, our children have become exceptional divers. When we took them to the Galapagos, the dive boat staff commented privately to me on how impressed they were with Adam and Lauren, two fourteen-year-olds of small stature who could dive as well as any adult in challenging conditions. I replied that it is entirely attributable to the incredible program that Margo and Tom have developed. Without the two of them guiding and hosting us, I would never have felt comfortable letting my children dive on a liveaboard or anywhere else!

Scuba training, Kids and scuba, Kids Sea camp, Kids Sea CampThe struggle of 2020

Of course, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing with beautiful sunsets, and the year 2020 brought not only the COVID-19 pandemic. But 2020 also brought us a diagnosis of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma for Lauren at the worst possible time. The love and friendship of Margo, Tom, and Olivia during those difficult months meant the world to us and is a shining example of how they view their relationships with their customers as more than just business interactions but as real investments in people and long-lasting connections. 

What makes it so personal? Tom’s KSC karaoke, singing with Sam, and encouraging her and me to share our voices with the world. Then, the entire KSC team helped me create a surprise Lip Dub in St. Lucia for my wife on our anniversary. What a fantastic memory they left us with. We have made many new friends and enjoy reconnecting with them and meeting others on each trip. Kids Sea Camp and the undersea world have become a part of a family that was never expected. 

Empty Nesters, here we come

 We continue to travel with Kids Sea Camp as a family, Sandra and I. We also enjoyed an Empty Nester trip to Indonesia with Margo and Tom, a photo-intensive journey we both enjoyed. I’ve been exploring underwater photography, and that trip to Lembeh gave me a glimpse of our future. It will be a little while before we are empty nesters, but when we are, Margo and Tom have given us a glimpse into what it could look like. We have already booked a 2029 “Why Not” trip aboard the Arenui with them. (See Calendar)

Kids Sea Camp is very much like an extended family. “Give them a week, and they will remember forever.” Give yourself an experience you will cherish, and open your family to limitless possibilities in the undersea world.

By Jeff Sankoff

Mother leads her family to the sea

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The treasure of Kids Sea Camp

I have always loved the sea, would read about it, dream about it, and aspire to live beside it one day.

“I can see the sea!!” shouts seven-year-old me from behind the car. It was the highlight of my year. Growing up in inner-city London, UK, our summer trip to Margate, on the coast, was a much-anticipated event. All three children in the back seat competed to be the first to see the sea! I always won!

Meeting Dave

sea, Kids Sea Camp, kids and diving, family dive adventuresWhen I met my unique, excellent, and fabulous husband, we didn’t share many common interests. We were far too competitive to take up each other’s hobbies. So we resolved to start something new together. Our honeymoon was in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, and we decided to learn to scuba dive. Imagine our shock when we were presented with books and exams on our honeymoon! (Way before e-learning!). We learned together. And both of us became utterly mesmerized by the underwater world, the beauty, the color, the action of the reef, and the peace in our hearts. The strands of love woven together to create our family tapestry had begun to take shape. Scuba diving was one of those strands.

Dave and I traveled the world on every vacation to dive. We also took up diving in the cold and murky waters of the UK. Loving to be at one with the sea in all its forms: cold, warm, crystal clear, murky green. We loved the camaraderie of diving. The discussions about our underwater adventures. The concern from all of us is for protecting the environment. And the lack of concern for what we might look like as we came out of the ocean, with hair everywhere and snot pouring out of our noses! Diving is a great leveler!

Finding Kids Sea Camp

Fast forward a few years, and we live in Eswatini, a landlocked country in Southern Africa, with two small children. We continued diving. It became more complicated trying to find places where childcare was available to cover the diving parents . I was delighted when a friend from America visited and brought “Scuba Diving” magazine, which Dave and I devoured from front to back. I was drawn to an advert for “Kids Sea Camp,” which sounded like the perfect vacation for our little family! My children, Holly and Zebedee, were only 1 and 2 at the time, but I cut out the advert and saved it, and it came with us halfway across the world as we set up our new home in Bermuda. (See our event calendar)

When Holly turned four, I saw the advert and asked about Kids’ Sea Camp trips. So began our journey into diving as a family and in strengthening that strand of the rope of love that binds us together. I hoped my children would love the ocean as we did, and hopefully even scuba diving, but I had yet to learn how much they would love it!

Our first Kids Sea Camp

We went to Curacao on our first Kids Sea Camp family dive vacation, and after that, there was no question of seeking out other vacations since we had found the winning deal! Kids’ Sea Camp family vacations are amazing! It is an actual holiday for parents, who get to spend time with other like-minded parents who share similar values, a love for the ocean and the environment, and a desire to share this with their children.

The parent boats are a haven of hilarity and fun, which can be enjoyed knowing that your children are having their absolute blast doing PADI SASY, PADI SEAL, or diving on the kids’ boat with the incredibly highly experienced Kids Sea Camp dive team that not only supervised our kids but mentored them, taught them, and became like family to them.  From Margo and Tom to Woody, Olivia, and many others, they have inspired, encouraged, and nurtured our kids to love diving and travel.

The kids loved KSC

Watching Holly and Zebedee, then 4 and 5, being taught all sorts of childhood fun by the older children brought me so much joy. They would be carefully watched as they jumped off the dock, ran around the beach, and did crazy stuff like learning new high-five maneuvers from teenagers! It was heartwarming to see “the village raising the child,” and the other children vacationing with us were so kind and loving. It just made for an amazing couple of weeks for all of us!

We were hooked!

Children see things differently from adults and learn alongside other children, furthering their dive education while having so much fun and framing diving with a new perspective. Diving becomes the child’s hobby and the parents’ since they control their decisions, diving, and responses. The children come off the boat full of excitement at what they have seen, what they have done, and what they have achieved. KSC kids share their experiences, forming friendships that can continue throughout the year. The children vacation together and have a great time. They switch the tables around in restaurants so they can eat together, and their world is shared through each other’s eyes, not just the parents’.

The kids connect

Meanwhile, the parents love watching their children connect, enjoying crab racing, shell collecting, sunsets, basketball, hammocks, and hilarity while they sit at the bar and chat through the day, laughing, joking, and sharing some of the challenges of parenthood. Some of my best friends, with whom I have shared the most from my heart, are friends from Kids Sea Camp. I have learned so much from such fascinating people and the challenges they have overcome. I would love to spend the whole year with them, but if it is just a couple of weeks, I will aim to repeat it every year!!

Kids Sea Camp has been much more than a dive vacation to our family. It’s been a place to meet interesting new people and a place to meet old friends with whom we had spent previous Kids Sea Camp weeks. It is a place for children to come together, be kids again, and learn valuable skills while enjoying the fun of new and old friendships. Kids Sea Camp is a space where you feel physically and emotionally safe. It’s great to see old faces you trust, who you know will look after your children, underwater and above the water. It’s a space where you can connect with friends and feel safe to share your anxieties or concerns, as well as your high points and celebrations. Kids Sea Camp is a place to learn from other parents and gain different perspectives on how to approach things.

Oodles of fun

Kids Scuba, Family Scuba Diving Adventures, Kids Sea Camp, Margo Peyton, Philippines family dive tripsThese are the reasons we have gone back to Kids Sea Camp time and time again. The key to a vacation is fun, and Kids Sea Camp has oodles of it. The key to fun is building relationships, and there are plenty of opportunities at Kids Sea Camp.

The side benefits of traveling the world, experiencing other cultures, and occasionally being uncomfortable are, of course, all there as well. Still, they are not limited to Kids Sea Camp and are just a function of traveling with children. However, Kids Sea Camp can make it all stress-free, easy, and safer.

When we returned from Palau on Continental, most of our group was on this same flight. The children started playing together, playing cards, coloring, sharing stories from the week, and keeping one another entertained. We had so many comments from others on the flight about how much of a joy it was to watch them. And asked, “Are you all a big family?” The air stewardesses came and handed out ice cream from first class to everyone! These moments are unique, but at Kids Sea Camp, Tom and Margo Peyton create them in abundance.

Loving KSC is easy

There are not enough positive words to express my love for everything Kids Sea Camp has provided for our family. My children, Zebedee and Holly, both live by the ocean in Australia.  Holly became a Divemaster and an instructor through Kids Sea Camp. She is now a PADI Course Director at 21, with over 2000 dives. Holly is working full-time as a dive instructor in Queensland, Australia, whilst also studying at university. She and her partner have set up their own dive company. Learning from and working with Margo and Tom Peyton at Kids Sea Camp was invaluable. They provided a wealth of experience and generously shared their home, hearts, and time. We are so very grateful for the direction provided. Zebedee also loves to dive, but you are more likely to find him out on a surf break in the early mornings than donning scuba gear. (See our Catalog)

Happy 26th Birthday, Kids Sea Camp! A quarter of a century well spent shaping a future generation of ocean enthusiasts and environmental protectors. Thank You!!

By Cathy Wakely

 

“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

 

“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