Fiji Archives - Family Dive Adventures

Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort

Fiji, KIds Sea Camp, Kids and diving, Family diving vacations, Family Dive Adventures, Scuba Diving

Introduction

The best 5-star all-inclusive luxury resort in Fiji and the South Pacific

The award-winning Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort was voted the best 5-star all-inclusive luxury resort in Fiji and the South Pacific. Many of our guests return year after year to enjoy the unique sincerity of our authentic Fijian hospitality.

Overlooking beautiful Savusavu Bay, the Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort features just 25 luxurious bures. 5-star accommodation and service amidst quintessential Fiji island serenity.

More Info

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Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Resort was built on the site of a former coconut plantation. The lush 17-acre property features 25 luxuriously appointed Bures set on the shores of beautiful Savusavu Bay, with views of the coral reefs and the mountains beyond—a quintessential South Pacific setting.

Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort in Fiji is a place where natural beauty, iTaukei culture, and warm hospitality meet. As a well-known family eco-resort and leader in marine experiences, we are closely connected to the vibrant reefs and private islands around us. Inspired by the spirit of Fiji’s friendly north, we are dedicated to tradition and nature, inviting you to create lasting memories and enjoy meaningful experiences.

Here, families can feel the special warmth of the people from Fiji’s friendly north. When you arrive, you’ll be welcomed with big smiles and a cheerful BULA! You can relax in our peaceful setting, take part in our award-winning programs, and enjoy attentive childcare. There are many ways to experience Fijian life here, and every moment is filled with real warmth and hospitality.

The bure accommodations are very well-appointed and feature many luxurious touches, including deluxe king beds, oversized bathrooms, and private decks. They are perfectly designed for both couples and families. Please make sure to check with us on what is available when you book.

For the kids at Jean-Michel Cousteau: Free Fijian nanny for young children aged seven and under. Free Bula Buddy Club for kids ages 8+. Fun activities for kids from 9 am to 8 pm daily. There is a water slide, tennis court, pool, basketball, soccer, and tons of Bula fun. Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort also offers ocean education, sasy as bubble maker, JOW, OW, and dive programs are available.

Package Includes

Our individual Fiji Family Dive vacation packages

Package inclusions: Meet and greet at Nadi & Savusavu Domestic Airport, individual bure accommodation, all a la carte meals, – a la carte breakfast, gourmet lunch & dinner daily, adult & children’s menus, non-alcoholic beverages, mocktails, specialty loose-leaf teas, espresso coffees, afternoon tea, most resort activities including three off-site excursions scheduled weekly, daily family & adult boat snorkel trips with a resident marine biologist, snorkel equipment, yoga, Wi-Fi, daily wash & fold laundry service, nightly evening entertainment, *VAT & STT taxes & return vehicle transfers from Savusavu Airport to the resort. Daily Bula Club for children, 8:30 am – 9 P.M., Fijian buddy for children 6-12 yrs on a maximum 1-5 ratio, and an exclusive nanny daily from 830am – 6:30 PM for each child under 6 years at time of travel, plus one dedicated nanny per bure from 6:30 PM – 9 P.M. Teenagers have a dedicated activities staff member from 8:30 AM – 6 P.M. (Package inclusions are subject to change; contact us for the most up-to-date inclusions). Jean-Michel Cousteau.

2026 Prices (Pricing varies per room)

April 1st -June 19th, 2026: Stay 7 nights or more nights and receive 2 nights free. Dive and Rejuvenation package (Certified divers), minimum 5-night stay, which includes (2) 1-hour bobo massage and 2x 1-tank dives per bure
August 1st to 19th, December 19th 2026: Stay 7 nights or more nights and receive (2) nights free.
November 1st to December 19th 2026: Dive and Rejuvenation package (Certified divers) minimum 5-night stay, which includes (2) 1-hour bobo massage and (2) 1-tank dives per bur

Please call us for custom trips 1-803-419-2556

Accommodations

BURES & VILLA
Nestled in a pristine ocean setting, our traditional Fijian-style bures provide a haven for families seeking accommodation in Fiji. Immerse yourself in the warmth of the South Pacific, lulled by the whispers of palm trees and the sounds of turquoise waves. Discover a gateway to paradise, enriched with Fijian spirit and the charm of a bure.

GARDEN VIEW BURES
A tranquil haven awaits just beyond, nestled within lush tropical gardens. Step into our serene garden retreat, where eco-conscious Fijian thatch roofs, high cathedral ceilings, and vesi timber floors create a peaceful sanctuary. Enjoy gentle island breezes flowing through screened louvres, revealing panoramic views of vibrant foliage and colorful blooms on expansive lawns. Ideal for couples or families with up to two children, these bures offer a serene tropical escape, inviting you to embrace the essence of island bliss.

DELUXE OCEANFRONT 2-BEDROOM BURES
A Luxurious Haven of Peace and Natural Beauty: Surrounded by elegant palms and overlooking the turquoise waters of Savusavu Bay, our Deluxe Oceanfront 2-Bedroom Bures seamlessly blend contemporary luxury with Fijian culture. Each spacious bedroom features an ensuite bathroom, providing flexibility for two couples or families with children.
The second bedroom boasts a private entrance and connects conveniently to the master bedroom. Enjoy tranquil relaxation with a hammock, chaise lounges, and outdoor deck furniture amidst this stunning Fijian backdrop.

PREMIER OCEANFRONT 2-BEDROOM VILLA, POOL & SPA
Fiji’s Most Luxurious Private Retreat: Experience ultimate comfort and coastal elegance in our Premier Oceanfront 2-Bedroom Villa, a secluded Fijian retreat. Perfect for both seasoned travelers and younger guests, this villa offers a personal paradise at the tip of a pristine peninsula, standing out among the finest villas in Fiji.
Indoor and outdoor living blend seamlessly on an expansive deck. The master suite features a solid Fijian hardwood four-poster bed and a sunken double bathroom suite with a Jacuzzi spa. Floor-to-ceiling sliding doors open to scenic garden views and a cascading waterfall.
Relax by the horizon-edge pool or in the open-air bure that includes an inviting daybed. Inside, the air-conditioned living area features a discreet kitchen for effortless dining. Set in a breathtaking coastal location, this villa offers unparalleled privacy and natural beauty.

Diving / Diving Site(s)

Fiji offers some of the best diving in the world

The Diving

Connect with Oceanic Wonders and Underwater Biodiversity of the Outer Islands of Fiji. Escape the hustle of life above the water’s surface at the Jean-Michel Cousteau Dive Centre, a serene haven beneath the waves. Immerse yourself in the tranquil beauty of sunlight dancing above and the incredible depths below.

Whether you explore our secluded reefs or join an expert-led underwater expedition, you’ll uncover the best-kept secrets recommended by locals for an unforgettable aquatic journey. Experience the thrill of encountering marine wonders at our diving resort.

Dive Training

LEARN TO DIVE IN FIJI: Guests aged 10 and older can embark on an unforgettable diving adventure. At the Jean-Michel Cousteau Dive Centre, you can explore the fundamentals of scuba diving. From the age of 10 to 80, discover the secrets of the underwater world guided by expert instructors in breathtaking marine surroundings.

Dive Sites

Namena Marine Reserve
Ranked among the world’s top ten dive destinations, the Namena Marine Reserve invites adventurers to discover its vibrant marine life, just a short boat ride away. Witness migratory cetaceans such as bottlenose dolphins and majestic whale species, including pilot, minke, sperm, and humpback whales.

Dreamhouse
This site is ideal for pelagic encounters on clear days with the right currents. Dreamhouse attracts divers with sightings of barracudas, grey reef sharks, and white tip sharks. Gorgonian sea fans sway along the drop-off edges, while turtles glide gracefully through the currents. This location is recommended for seasoned divers.

Dreadlocks
Known for its vibrant microorganisms and colorful soft corals, Dreadlocks in Savusavu Bay offers a journey into a coral wonderland. This site features striking yellow soft corals and a bustling community of reef fish, making it suitable for divers of all levels. Explore depths of up to 18 meters for 50 minutes.

Dining / Restaurant(s)

One Fiji's best dining experience

Experience traditional favorites and innovative dishes that highlight the unique harvest of Fiji. At Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, Fiji, you can enjoy vibrant island cuisine alongside Asian-inspired cultural experiences. The contemporary menus feature fresh produce from the resort’s lush gardens and showcase traditional island flavors, ranging from sun-filled breakfasts to indulgent pastries—perfect for fueling your adventures throughout the day. Discover one of the best restaurants in Fiji and indulge in exceptional fine dining experiences while savoring the island’s culinary delights.

Family & Kids Dining
The main restaurant offers a sophisticated atmosphere for couples, while the family restaurant provides a relaxed setting for parents and children. Kids can dine at the Bula Club or in the family restaurant, with nearby nannies available for assistance. Enjoy al fresco dining amidst the stunning South Pacific backdrop, creating memorable experiences for the entire family.

Private Dining
Enhance your dining experience in Fiji with exclusive settings. Enjoy private dining, where you can savor meals from light breakfasts to sunset gatherings at the pier, beachside at Raikiwasa or Lali bures, poolside decks, or our private island. Delight in traditional Fijian food during a picnic at Lesiaceva Point or a private BBQ, crafting unforgettable memories for couples and adults.

Activities

Other than some of the best diving in the world

Water slide
Paddleboarding
Kayaking
Basketball
Hiking
Snorkeling
Village tour
Creating “Fiji Time” — learning to do nothing

Know Before You Go

Flying to Fiji

Savusavu: The ‘Land of the Bula Spirit’

From the moment you arrive at Nadi International Airport, you can feel the warmth of Fiji time. “Bula” is more than just a greeting; it’s a heartfelt welcome from our staff, who are ready to assist you as you make your way to your Fiji Airways domestic flight. Your journey continues to Vanua Levu, where Savusavu offers you the chance to experience Fiji’s true essence.

Fly to Savusavu, Vanua Levu with Fiji Airways

With direct flights from the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan to Fiji’s Nadi International Airport (NAN), you can seamlessly plan your tropical getaway at the Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, Fiji. This can all be arranged on a single ticket, which includes a short domestic flight to Savusavu (SVU) with Fiji Airways. Alternatively, guests can fly from Nadi to Labasa (LBS), also on Vanua Levu.

Top Flight Options

Best Connection: Fiji Airways is the most popular choice, often partnering with American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, or JetBlue. You can usually book this as a single ticket with a layover in Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), or Dallas (DFW).

Photos & Videos

More Fiji Photos

25 Years of Diving into Family Adventures

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.

One 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!

Kids Scuba Programs for all ages

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

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

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.

Fast 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!

The 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

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

When 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

These 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”

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

August 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 14^{th 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

Margo Peyton’s Journey to becoming a diving pioneer

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

Her father started it all

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

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

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

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

Sink or swim

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

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

Margo’s mission

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

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

Daily check-ins

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

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

Margo’s passion

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

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

By Tom Peyton, husband and KSC Vice President

Worlds Best Family Dive Adventure Vacations

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

Kids Sea Camp an award-winning company

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

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

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

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

Tom & Margo are great owners

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

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

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

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

Hassle-Free Trip Planning

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

The Kids Are Gone—Now What?

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

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

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

Kids can dive with sharks in Fiji at Jean Michele Cousteau Resort

Fiji, Kids Sea Camp, Kids and scuba diving, family vacation, Family Dive Adventures, Scuba Diving

Fiji is one of the world’s best places to scuba dive with your kids.

If you’re looking for a luxury family holiday without compromising on quality, the Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort at Savusavu Bay awaits. In a tranquil setting surrounded by a marine sanctuary, secluded beaches, and mountainous scenery. The resort offers you and your kids the perfect balance between relaxation, recreation, and an interactive, authentic experience with Fijian culture.

Easy diving for kids

Fiji is one of my favorite places to take kids scuba diving. It has shallow, safe areas to dive in, with calm, clear, easy-to-train marine environments that are ideal for kids. We offer SASY for kids aged 4-7 to learn to swim and snorkel, as well as PADI Seal Team for kids aged 8-9 to begin learning about scuba diving in 12 feet of water through Aqua Missions. We use 1 instructor per 2 kids in the water for these programs. Fiji is perfect for families to scuba dive together, learn to dive, and learn about the ocean.

Famous shark diving

Jean-Michel has been involved with the Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort in Fiji, an environmentally and culturally oriented family resort, conceived as a model to prove to the business community the economic benefits of environmental concern and design. To expand the impact of ecological tourism, he created the Jean-Michel Cousteau Dive Centre, a flagship dive operation at the eco-friendly resort in Fiji. He is currently forming an action partnership to expand this ecologically responsible model to other sites. We offer the Ocean Futures program for kids, along with underwater photography, Shark Aware, and night diving. Kids Sea Camp takes kids diving with sharks worldwide, and Fiji is famous for its shark diving.

At Jean Michel Cousteau Resort, we take families out to the World Heritage sites to dive and enjoy reefs teeming with soft and hard corals, along with the white tip, black tip, and reef sharks. Kids Sea Camp and Family Dive Adventures have been bringing families on dive vacations to Fiji for 15 years. With over 7,800 certified youth divers, we are ranked the world’s #1 for family scuba diving vacations. Fiji is one of our top 5 destinations to take kids scuba diving with Fiji sharks.

Bula club for younger kids

Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, kids aged 9 and under will have access to our award-winning Bula Club, where they can dive into a range of fun and educational activities while you enjoy a little dive time. Located a short walk from the center of the resort, facilities include a family and junior pool with a water slide, a nursery bure, toddler mushroom cascading pool, trampoline, jungle gym, and flying fox, not to mention a fabulous treehouse on the grounds. In addition, the Bula Club offers a range of activities tailored toward different age groups. This means children can look forward to spending their days learning about Fijian culture or arts and crafts, exploring coral reefs, helping with mangrove replantation projects, or baking with a sun oven.

Our Bula Club reflects the resort’s commitment to children as the future caretakers of the earth and its oceans. Each day offers unforgettable adventures and enriching activities that teach our younger guests about Fijian Culture and the island environment. Unlike other resorts, we cater to babies and toddlers, as well as older children. Each child under 6 will be assigned their own personal nanny from 9 am-9 pm, while children 6-12 years will be assigned a Fiji buddy. Bula Club is complimentary for all families staying at the resort. Fiji photo gallery

More than just diving

For families who want to explore a little more of Fiji, we offer a number of excursions to sites of interest around the resort, from a trip to the local market to a traditional Fijian village experience at Nukubalavu. Some of our popular offsite activities for older children include daily diving, kayaking, a rainforest and waterfall walk, a mangrove tour, and a sword carving demonstration, as well as visits to the local village and schools. If the kids still have energy to burn off, they can participate in photography classes or sea life presentations, while parents laze by the pool or visit our spa for a relaxing massage.

At Jean Michel Cousteau Resort, there is so much to do for families. Scuba diving, paddle boarding, kayaking, hiking, village tours, medicine walk, culinary classes, pearl diving, island hopping, and spa services. The resort has a water park, a tree house, a private white-sand beach, and a Bulla club.

Everyone sings in Fiji

If you love music, then Fiji is the place that will soothe your soul from the moment you arrive. You will be welcomed with big smiles and soft voices as you are sung to, and throughout your stay, you will enjoy children from the village dancing and singing for you, along with many of the Fijian villagers. You can enjoy some cava with the Ratu and learn about this beautiful culture.

Getting to Fiji

Fiji is for families. A direct nonstop flight out of LAX to NAD on Fiji Air is approximately 10 hours and 45 minutes. The flights generally depart from LAX at 10 pm or so and arrive in Fiji early morning, around 5 am. Kids sleep on the flight and wake up ready to go. Let us guide you on your next best family dive vacation to Fiji. When it comes to your kids, deep down you want the best! That’s Kids Sea Camp.

Grandmother uses KSC for quality family time

Grandmother divers, family dive vacations, kids sea camp

Discovering Kids Sea Camp is a real gift to my family

My two adult sons, Danny and Chris, are divers, and they convinced me, 25 years ago, to become a PADI-certified diver. When they married their wives, Celenie and Stela, they also joined the adventures and became divers. Over the years, I had made taking dive trips with my sons and their wives a top priority for quality family time.

When my grandkids came along, much to my sadness, the family dive trips came to an end. Then one day, as I was thumbing through Scuba Diving Magazine, dreaming of taking dive adventures with my grandkids, I discovered Kids Sea Camp.

I immediately called and shared my find with my sons, and suggested we start taking family dive trips again. They were all for it, and in 2013, we were off on our first trip — to Palau Royal Resort and diving with Sam’s Tours and Kids Sea Camp.

The grandkids were 3, 7, 7 & 10. Benjamin, Sophia, and Hunter started SASY with Margo, while Jackson, at age 10, joined the PADI Jr. Open Water Diver class. We, the adult kids, felt like we had gone to heaven. We enjoyed diving during the days while the kids had fun learning with other kids. It was absolutely PERFECT for everyone! There are times set when adults and kids dive or snorkel together, too. Because of owner Margo Peyton’s expertise, instructor training, and perfect safety record with kids, she is granted a special waiver to dive in the ocean with PADI Seal Team kids aged 8 & 9 worldwide.

Kids Sea Camp in Fiji

We have traveled with Kids Sea Camp to Fiji, where the kids had run of the entire resort, and while Benji was still in SASY, Hunter and Sophia advanced to the PADI Seal Team classes. We had lots of interaction with the local people, and everyone on staff was not only helpful, warm, and hospitable but also genuinely interested in our experience. When we were leaving Fiji, my grandkids were crying and hugging the very special people they had come to know and love. Hunter even said (while sobbing), “How can I possibly leave these people?” You know your grandkids have had a life-changing experience when their emotional reactions are so intense, and they don’t want to leave.

In the summer of 2017, we traveled to Kids Sea Camp Philippines with Sea Explorers. My second grandson, Hunter, became a PADI Jr diver and joined Jackson diving with the other certified kids. We now have 3 generations of divers in our family, diving together.

It seemed impossible to top Palau or Fiji, but Margo & Tom managed to do it yet again. As always. The Pura Vida Homes resort was luxurious, and the staff and service were nothing short of excellent. I had a torn ankle tendon prior to the trip, and a divemaster was always right there on the ladder to help me take off my equipment and hand it up. The Banka boats were the coolest and most spacious dive boats I have ever been on.

Whale sharks in Oslob

We all went to Oslob Island, where we swam and dove with EIGHT whale sharks!! An absolutely mind-blowing experience and a memory created that we, as a family, will never, ever forget. How many families get to have an experience like that?

Each trip is better than the last. Kids Sea Camp sets the bar high with dive operators. Margo runs her trips with expert organization, safety, and professionalism. I love the many interesting and fun outings, events, and activities planned for us to enjoy as a family, out of the water.

All of our trips have been, as the MasterCard commercial says, “priceless.”

I know for absolute certainty that our next trip will be another amazing adventure filled with precious family time, diving, and unforgettable memories.

Sophia and Benji are next to get certified, then we will all be a family of divers again. Owners Margo & Tom Peyton provide a very personal experience, from planning your trip to assisting you every step along the way. Tom and Margo arrange visits to local schools or villages, provide special-needs care and special-occasion surprises, give educational presentations, and so much great family time.

In Palau, Margo set up a spectacular helicopter ride over the Rock Islands for us. The result of all the personal service is why we keep coming back! It’s impossible to put into words how these unique family dive adventures have bonded our family and created memories for me with my grandkids that will last them a lifetime.

We have experienced fascinating cultures and explored new worlds so very different than our own. Each of these trips has expanded our knowledge, appreciation, acceptance, and love of people from all over the world. At the end of each trip, Margo Peyton and Brad Holland have left us memories to last a lifetime, documented in their photo gallery on www.familydivers.com.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Tom and Margo, Peyton, for creating Kids Sea Camp, the gift of being able to dive and travel with my kids and grandkids.

Story by Vicki Singley