Dive Training

How Kids Sea Camp Trains Your Children

Kids Sea Camp and Family Dive Adventures offer a full range of dive training and vacation services. The flagship program is Kids Sea Camp, which has 25 years of operation as of 2025 and has contributed to over 8,000 new diver certifications. We are experts in dive training for certifications for youth, kids, young adults, and older adults. Diving with kids is one of the best things in the world.

In 2000, Margo created Kids Sea Camp to cater to families wanting to share their vacation experiences or with other like-minded families. There was a huge need to assist families in the scuba diving community, and Margo wanted to fill that need. She realized many parents and grandparents wanted to take dive vacations with their families. They wanted beautiful destinations where the kids would be safe, have fun, and be able to create memories that would last a lifetime. Kids Sea Camp offers safe environments where families learn to dive and experience the underwater world together, a fun place to build friendships and bonds with other families worldwide.

The resorts and dive operators we work with provide staffing for the events: 100% of the programs are run by dive operators and hotel staff, not Kids Sea Camp staff. The dive operator staff includes PADI active divemasters and instructor staff who train and dive daily with kids, typically while parents are out diving. These five-star PADI dive shops are experts in dive training.

What is Kids Sea Camp? Kids Sea Camp is a family scuba diving vacation for like-minded families that want more than just a vacation. Our company is a family vacation that brings together adults ages 18 to 80 and kids ages 4 to 17 worldwide, with two common threads: their love for the ocean and diving and their love of family.

Our ratios for instructors and kids are generally two kids per instructor in a course for kids up to 12. 12+ ratios are based on PADI standards, such as one instructor with four kids in a class and with certified kids, one instructor for every five kids not in a course.

Kids Sea Camp teaches kids to be responsible, safe, and confident divers. We create adventures for families of all ages, sizes, and cultural backgrounds. At Kids Sea Camp, families come together and embark on journeys to places they may never have imagined and in ways they could have only imagined. During our week, parents and kids can dive safely and spend time together and apart. Kids Sea Camp family weeks offer all PADI dive programs for kids. 15 of the PADI courses are ACA accredited (college credits)

Padi programs are now offered online through eLearning.  Start your diving certification course now. Get the bookwork and tests out of the way, and we will do the rest when you arrive. Click on Kids Sea Camp as your dive store.

PADI Training offered to Kids at Kids Sea Camp:

Jr. Advanced Open Water, Jr. Rescue, Jr. Divemaster & PADI Specialty Courses. After receiving a Junior Open Water certification, divers ages 12 and older may continue to gain experience and explore deeper depths by enrolling in Jr. Adventure Diver, Jr. Advanced Open Water, Jr. Rescue Diver, or at age 15-17 PADI Jr. Divemaster or one of many PADI specialty courses.

Below is a complete list of certification courses and experiences young divers can take with us. Please note: specific programs and classes are not available in all areas. We have also added direct links to the certifications. See this link for the Complete Course Catalog.

  • Ages 5 – 7, SASY
  • Age 6 or older, PADI Discover Mermaid Experience, PADI Basic Mermaid Course

Ages 8 to 10
PADI Seal Team:  Aspiring young divers ages 8+ (the first stage of scuba diving, experienced in an enclosed shallow environment)

Other certifications ages 12 or older

Divers ages 12 and older can become Jr. Master Scuba Divers, the highest rating a recreational diver under age 15 can achieve. 

The PADI Seal Team is for young divers looking for action-packed fun in a pool by doing exciting scuba aqua missions. Have you ever wondered what it’s like to dive with flashlights, take digital pictures underwater, or float effortlessly like an astronaut? AquaMissions introduces you to wreck, navigation, buoyancy, underwater photography, environmental awareness, and more.

Here’s your chance to do some cool stuff in the pool, meet friends, and share in the adventure of the underwater world. The best part of the Specialty AquaMissions is that they reinforce safe diving skills while the kids have fun. PADI Seals get to sample a wide variety of dives. In addition, it provides parents with a structured program that lets their children develop skills, learn about the aquatic environment, and have a lot of good, clean fun. This is also an excellent way to introduce kids to scuba diving before full.

The PADI Seal Team program is broken into two parts. The first part, Seal Team, consisting of AquaMissions 1 – 5, teaches kids the basics of diving – things like buoyancy control, mask clearing, regulator recovery, etc. Each young diver will attend two Seal Team sessions to complete all 5 AquaMissions. After building a solid foundation of scuba skills, kids move on to part two – the Master Seal Team. The Master Seal Team is entire of specialty AquaMissions, usually lasting about an hour. After attending 10 Specialty AquaMissions, the young diver earns their Master Seal Team certification.

The PADI Seal Team helps children learn responsibility and teaches them about the aquatic environment. It is a fun experience conducted by certified, trained PADI Professionals.

SASY for kids ages 5-7 (snorkeling) PADI Training programs from SASY age 5-7 SASY click here

JR. Advanced Open Water, age 12-14: During the PADI® Advanced Open Water course, you’ll explore new places with a PADI Instructor. The system is all about advancing your skills, not making risky dives. There’s no exam; it’s all about honing your skills and trying new things. 

The Advanced Open Water course includes five dives: 1 deep dive, one navigation dive, and three specialty dives. Divers can choose whatever specialty devices interest them (underwater imaging, fish identification, night diving, etc.). That said, some specialty dives have age restrictions. The minimum age is 12. 

Open Water Certification for young adults ages 15+, Along with a host of specialties offered for kids that are certified divers ages 10-17.

Rescue, Dive Master, All PADI specialties ( Adults and Kids)

New Training: The Kids Sea Camp Diver

PADI has approved its first Kids Sea Diver Specialty course. The certification, developed by PADI and KSC founder Margo Peyton, is designed to help families dive together and become better dive buddies.

Kids Sea Camp, Margo Peyton, kids and diving, family vacations

The certification assists parents and other adult family members who want to update and refresh some of the introductory skills divers learned during previous dive training. The program provides education for those wishing to become more aware of environmental issues and concerns impacting the regions they are currently diving.

A KSC reboot, by going through the course, a new Kids Sea Camp Diver will show mastery in both diving and be a well-trained and confident parent and child buddy team. Divers will have training and education in environmental stewardship and watermanship. There will be an emphasis throughout the course on safety, teamwork, and conservation.

The goals of the Kids Sea Camp Diver distinctive specialty training

  • Reinforcement of the “Good Buddy” principles and practices for adults and kids diving together.
  • Refresh divers with basic signs and skills learned in open water courses and update skills and technique changes since their certification.
  • Educate parents and adults about the benefits of continuing education in diving.
  • Encourage interest in leadership roles that promote responsible diving and safer dive planning.
  • Discuss local eco-issues and concerns, customs and traditions, and how this has impacted the local environments—examples: overfishing, land run-off, plastic introduction, and depletion of marine animals.
  • Identify local environmental issues, discuss solutions, and create awareness.

After 24 years of helping and caring for your families and the ocean, we are encouraged that PADI has seen value in our goal to update and educate families to become better ambassadors of our underwater world.

Other PADI specialties – Taste the fun and adventure

In addition to these PADI dive training courses, we have guest speakers and presenters. Marine conservation topics are scheduled throughout the week. Photo and video clinics and free demo cameras with SeaLife, featuring the newest line of digital underwater cameras, are available with some packages. Poetry is also a part of our family time at the end of each week. Parents present a family poem and may receive prizes. Photo contests and sponsor-supported treasure hunts are also part of our Kids Sea Camp program weeks.

PADI-e-learning-banner

KIDS AGED 5+ SASY

The wonderful world of invertebrates: Kids learn about anemones, jellyfish, and corals. Students learn how anemones fight off dehydration and what those weird tentacles are for.

The fantastic world of marine mammals: Youth learn about how these once-land animals adapted to an aquatic environment and their mysterious and elaborate forms of communication. Did you know sea otters are the only marine mammals using tools? Did you know that sea turtles come out of the sea to lay their eggs?

Ocean Explorers: Participants learn about the oceans and how they were formed. Meet the animals that dwell in the ocean and learn how animals that live in the open water hide. See why pollution is so dangerous and understand how to identify an animal by looking at its dead remains on a beach.

KIDS AGE 10+

Learn all about different animals and how they adapt to their environment. Compare shape, color, and external features; a habitat’s temperature, sounds, and smells are fundamental while identifying their main characteristics, habitat and organism diversity; types of movement, rays, sharks, turtles, and more; Types of coating; variety in shape; different environments; diversity feeding and behaviors; reproduction; adaptation to environment.

How do species behave when their environment changes? How do species develop and change with human interaction? What can we do to conserve the oceans? Kids learn about the diversity of sharks and rays in a fun way. Their multiple shapes, teeth, skin, reproduction, and even incidents with humans are all approached in interactive and positive ways.

Animal exploitation: We’ll explore how and why some ocean animals are being exploited, and we’ll help kids learn what they can do to assist in conservation efforts.

Play with mathematics with us: It’s fun! Scuba math is part of our daily routines, and we don’t even realize it. We use it to measure how much air our tanks hold, how bodies are affected at different depths, how much time we can dive at specific depths, and how long a turtle can hold its breath.

TEENS AGES 12+

The diversity of relationships between man and ocean: We will uncover human needs and their impacts on our oceans. Teens will learn about food chains and food webs.

Predators vs. prey: Participants will gain an understanding of predators’ importance, their role in maintaining ecosystem balance, and their sneaky strategies for capturing their prey!

Energy transfers along the food chain: We’ll discuss food chains, predator/prey relationships, and topic titles such as To hunt or to be hunted: Man and marine life; Reproduction and survival of the species; The multitude of aquatic animals; Our responsibility to the ocean and Man’s interventions on the delicate balance of nature.

Other Services we offer

  • Private Group or family travel planning, custom-designed to meet specific needs: reunions, weddings, holidays, and anything a client can dream of.
  • Creativity workshops, motivational speakers, marine art programs, career day presentations
  • Corporate incentive family weeks
  • Custom-designed private dive training programs for groups or individuals: Open Water through IDC can be arranged
  • Inspirational and dive team-building workshops
  • Parent training courses, Parent/child training courses(PADI)
  • Staff development: Working with and teaching kids, building your kids, and family programs. (how too)
  • Leadership and management training when working with kids.

PADI dive operators encourage parents to be responsible and confident divers while diving with their children. During Kids Sea Camp, students are given multiple activities, and the enthusiasm of a staff is dedicated to teaching new and fun facts about the oceans. The Learning occurs in a classroom environment and with hands-on programs that teach the age-appropriate curriculum.

PADI Profession makes underwater exploration and scuba diving adventures possible for kids and adults of all ages while maintaining the highest standards for diver training, safety, and service.

PADI’s “Four E’s Philosophy” is that the dive lifestyle requires four elements:

  • Education: Beyond simply learning to scuba dive, continued education expands your capabilities as a diver. Kids Sea Camp introduces your kids to new underwater experiences with other like-minded kids worldwide. It can even help them make a career move to become a PADI Professional and get credit for college courses.
  • Experience: Our PADI dive operators offer a variety of backgrounds and opportunities to learn and discover new marine life and marine environments. Diving with us is a family activity, and by affiliating with our family-friendly approved PADI Dive Centers and Resorts, you can explore exotic and off-the-beaten-path destinations around the world with others who share your interests.
  • Equipment: Scuba dive gear makes diving possible. The best place to learn about all the fun gadgets and new scuba equipment is at your local PADI Dive Center; call us at 803-419-2556, and we are happy to assist you with outfitting your kids or your entire family.  No one knows dive gear for kids better than we do. We understand your needs, how fast kids grow, and what is best for all ages.
  • Environmental Conservation: We are all about education for a healthy underwater environment. Young divers are great advocates for protecting our underwater world and sharing their voices with classmates, friends, and family. Through our PADI courses, divers learn the importance of protecting fragile aquatic ecosystems and are encouraged to participate in local and global conservation efforts. For over two decades, PADI has partnered with Project AWARE® – an international nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting our ocean planet – one dive at a time. Kids Sea Camp also works with its own nonprofit, www.oceanwishes.org.  

Outreach programs with local kids: Contact us for training grants at 1-803-419-2556

Please get in touch with Kids Sea Camp for more information at 1-803-419-2556

Family Dive Adventures is a division of Kids Sea Camp Inc.


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