The Best Kids Sea Camp? Impossible!

 

 

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 easy access from the US (multiple daily, direct, non-stop flights!), a strong safety record, and family-friendly resorts like Compass Point Diver with Ocean Frontiers, Little Cayman Beach Resort, and Cayman Brac Beach Resort, it was at the top of my list for young divers.

 

These resorts are family-owned and run, with a super kid-friendly setup. 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. Those 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!

 

Both resorts offer excellent food and service, 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. Each property has a spa, 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. Quaint shops and other restaurants are worth exploring, along with the island’s exceptional flora and birdlife. The Cayman Islands are known for their history, culture, and diving.

 

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 octopuses.

 

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, letting kids build 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.

 

Blowkarting is a blast

 

Buddy Dive Resort is family-owned and very kid-friendly, with an in-ocean training area that cuts down on pool time. Beyond diving, my favorite activity is Blow Karting (land sailing), a total blast for adults and kids! They also offer sunset cruises, walk-the-plank, karaoke, and live music. Buddy Dive sits right on the oceanfront and offers some of the easiest family diving, with 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 completed their instructor training with Buddy Dive, which was an amazing gift to witness and be part of. Buddy Dive offers internship programs, Reef Renewal, and technical diver training for older kids and divers looking to advance their training for future careers or fun. Our Buddy Dive Kids Sea Camp offers a variety of training courses for adults and kids during the week. Our program includes SASY, Seal Team, JOW, AOW, Rescue, Jr. Divemaster, Divemaster, and Instructor courses.

 

St. Lucia is pure magic, one of the Caribbean’s most romantic places. 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, a dream come true!

When Mrs. Karolin and Nick Troubetzkoy invited me to bring Kids Sea Camp to their world-famous resort, it was like Dorothy clicking her ruby slippers in The Wizard of Oz! To ensure privacy for honeymooners, we have the entire resort to ourselves – a true Kids Sea Camp takeover! Some families with older kids (15+) also stay at Jade Mountain, just above on the mountain. Anse Chastanet. That’s another level of romance and one of my favorite places on Earth to stay with Tom.

 

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

 

Accommodations that are breathtaking

This resort wowed me from the moment I stepped into my room. The accommodations are breathtaking, with one- or two-bedroom options overlooking the magical Pitons with spectacular ocean views, or beachfront bungalows surrounded by lush gardens. Each room at this 4 Diamond resort is exquisitely decorated. The service is out of this world and exceeds expectations at every turn. St. Lucia delivers a constant stream of happy moments because the team goes above and beyond in everything they do.

 

The kids can make and decorate cupcakes with the head pastry chef, and do a chocolate tasting with the chocolatier! OMG, if you love chocolate, you have arrived in heaven. The chocolate lab, chocolate hands-and-feet massage, etc., are beyond enjoyable.

 

The diving is simply spectacular. From awesome wrecks and the local house reef to night dives exploring beautiful walls and vibrant soft-coral gardens, Scuba St. Lucia offers something for everyone. Oh, and you don’t 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 family member is pampered and spoiled, and the kids never want to leave!

 

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, but finding this perfect location, so close to incredible dive sites, was a game-changer. Imagine being just a 3-minute boat ride from the Witconcrete Wreck (you can even do it as a shore dive!) and 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, and another big favorite is the loggerhead turtles that aren’t shy! Others like to hunt lionfish or topside; my husband loves fly-fishing, while I enjoy dives with the kids. The boats are big, spacious, and comfy.

 

With its pristine white-sand beaches dotted with charming seaside bungalows, incredible diving, and a focus on marine conservation, Blackbird Caye has become a favorite! Thanks to owner Garen 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. The week also includes marine presentations and educational excursions. The food is delicious, and the family-style meals are made from scratch and served at the beach restaurant. The best sunsets are at the beach bar and pool, where you can reminisce about the day and rest up for the next day’s adventures. Belize offers so much for non-divers and divers alike. We can book pre- or post-trip excursions to the jungle or ruins.

 

The Philippines holds a special place in my heart. From the moment I was greeted with a hug and a flower necklace at the Manila airport, I knew I was in for something special. After a quick flight to Dumaguete, we arrived 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, are large and spacious, and offer valet diving, which basically means you do nothing. We serve hot chocolate, coffee, tea, biscuits, and cookies after every dive, and the dive-to-guide ratio is 1:4. The Filipinos are so much fun and love kids, so you can be sure they’ll have more fun than you!

 

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

 

Then there is Apo Island, where the reefs are so beautiful I actually cried underwater. At 18, seeing reefs this healthy for the first time was overwhelming; I sat and ogled the beauty before me, something I’d never seen in real life before.

 

The Kids Sea Camp trip also includes a mountain school, village tour, Chocolate Hills, zip lining, and many top-side cultural activities. I have packed it with local culinary delights, music, and fun for the entire family.

 

I often create longer Philippines vacations with multiple locations. Since families travel so far, I want to maximize their stay with a few trip options. You can visit www.familydivers.com, click the Kids Sea Camp drop-down, and see which islands I have included for our Philippines trip. This year, I’ve arranged 6 nights at Pura Vida Homes with Sea Explorers and 6 nights at Amun Ini on Bohol Island. Both offer Whale shark opportunities, 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, I’ll switch to Dauin and Cabilao; call me, and 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.

 

For the ultimate dive adventure, Indonesia is a must. Our luxurious liveaboard trips aboard the Arenui offer unparalleled service, exquisite cuisine, and 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, it redefines luxury dive travel. We offer land excursions, diving, paddleboarding, kayaking, and pre- and post-Bali add-ons to create an unforgettable experience.

 

I hand-pick each Kids Sea Camp location with families in mind. We work closely with each resort and dive operator to create custom itineraries packed with unique activities, cultural experiences, and educational opportunities. We offer more destinations, each with its own appeal and unique experiences, creating a magical family diving experience that gives kids memories to last a lifetime.