25 Years of Diving into Family Adventures

This year marks a significant milestone for me, a journey that 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, a passion 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 & tourism, a lifelong love of the ocean, and a father who was a scuba diver, I embarked on a global adventure in the 80s. 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, 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 so many others in Costa Rica, Maldives, St. Vincent, and Dominica.  I sought out 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 amazing youth-friendly programs like SASY, SEAL Team, and a host of Junior Diver certifications. Around the world, we grew, and like-minded families bonded, forming a thriving dive tribe. For my own children, I created a legacy of unforgettable memories, giving them a global perspective beyond their wildest dreams.

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 with their adult children and grandchildren, sharing the magic of the underwater world. For 25 years, I’ve connected not only my kids to the world but families of the world to each other.

Kids Sea Camp: 25 Years of Diving into Family Adventures

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, my life has been nothing short of miraculous. I am filled with gratitude for all the resort owners, dive operators, equipment manufacturers, and publications that believed in and supported my vision for family growth within the dive industry.

It’s truly amazing what we can create when we work together, trust one another, and unite for the same dreams and goals. Kids Sea Camp is a testament to that collaborative spirit. It’s a story of shared passion, unwavering dedication, and the profound impact of connecting families through the transformative power of diving.

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 around the world. Tom has contributed in expanding Kids Sea Camp trips with sporting events, culinary classes, special needs options, and now he has developed empty nester 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.

As we celebrate 25 years, we look 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!