Diving with kids

Outfitting your Kids dive gear for Summer

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Outfitting Kids for Summer-1

Get ready for summer diving with your kids!

Many families are choosing to stay closer to home trips this summer and are actively looking for fun, meaningful programs to enroll their kids in — or even join them for family dive vacations in well established, PADI 5 star resorts with the safety of a fully escorted and tried and true hosted group trip with Kids Sea Camp in the Caribbean. Bonaire, St. Eustatius, St. Lucia, and Cayman Brac are top choices this summer!

Easy and quick to get to with multiple flights each week. Prices are finally lowering on round-trip air, and packages are all-inclusive, making it more affordable for families to travel with Kids Sea Camp. So let’s get you ready to go diving.

Parents are more than willing to invest in proper scuba gear for their children, just like they do with ski equipment during ski season.

So let’s get you prepared

First, I’ll be upfront: I personally am a SCUBAPRO fan, and that is my personal choice for my own diving. But I’m going to be very fair in my suggestions for kids because the supply is quite limited these days.

Support your reps and support your local dive shops. This is super important.

We are all frustrated when people walk into their dive shop to try on a bunch of equipment and uttilize local experties and then buy from an unproven online source. When I sell them gear, I service that gear when needed, I assist when something needs to be adjusted or upgraded, and I build a relationship and trust that lasts.

When people buy online or purchase second-hand gear, you never know exactly what you’re getting or if it even works as it should. Dive gear is life-saving equipment — it’s no joke to discover on a dive that something doesn’t function properly. Your local dive shop is the trusted, true source to make sure everything is ready to go and safe to use.

I Go for color! Kids love blue, red, yellow, aqua, purple, and green. Scuba Pro and Seac have fun colors to offer families who want to color coordinate.

Masks

Outfitting Kids for Summer-4I absolutely recommend soft silicone skirts and a neoprene strap. Little kids’ faces need soft skirts that press lightly against their skin so they won’t leak or hurt from being too tight. Neoprene straps — or even your store-logoed mask straps — are a huge hit. Consider giving one free with every full gear set purchase.

  • For SASY kids ages 3–7, Seac has one of the smallest and most comfortable masks on the market: the BAIA KID. It runs about $30 and comes in blue or pink.
  • For older kids (12+), SCUBAPRO’s Zoom mask line is ultra-lightweight with soft silicone and comes in fun colors, starting around $99.
  • In my opinion the most comfortable dive mask on the market, you have to only try on a Synergy 2 Twin Trufit to feel the difference. Its Trufit Technology design incorporates not one but two separate silicone skirts -a reliable watertight seal on virtually all face shapes.

Bundling a fins-mask-snorkel set gives parents easy choices and a slight discount on the full package — they love that.

Fins

Many parents like strap fins because they feel the kids can grow into them and get more years of use. However, after 26 years of outfitting thousands of children through Kids Sea Camp, I can tell you that kids themselves prefer full-foot fins. Strap fins require booties, which keep little feet hot and soggy — and that means an extra, unnecessary purchase. Full-foot fins are soft and comfortable, and they pair beautifully with fun dive socks.

Scuba Socks and Rash Guards

Scuba socks are flying off the shelves right now — the fun colors and patterns sell themselves.
Rash guards are a must!

Long-sleeve rash guards help with sun protection and jellyfish stings — two things parents and kids worry about most, not to mention a layer of warmth.

Bundle a BCD and regulator system

Outfitting Kids for Summer-2Outfitting Kids for Summer-3I make it easy for moms and dads. Most parents don’t want to learn that a regulator includes a first stage, second stage, octopus, gauges, and a computer. Have complete, ready-to-go bundles displayed and priced.

For little ones in Seal Team or Rangers programs (ages 8–10), my top two choices are:

  • The Seac Ego — available in sizes XXXS to S. It’s perfect for the littlest divers and gives them room to grow. $450
  • The SCUBAPRO Rebel at $500 — a higher price point, but the best quality and longest-lasting with proper care.

A good-fitting BCD is so important. It gives kids confidence because it’s their own gear with their own weight system, releases, and comfort. The regulator’s second stage should be ultra-lightweight with the smallest mouthpiece available for maximum comfort.

We at Kids Sea Camp put the whole kit together in a nice mesh bag.

We help families to ensure a perfect fit on little faces, and check that fins are not too small or too big so they’ll actually last through the summer. Parents truly appreciate the guidance. Consider special Mother’s Day and Father’s Day gifts. Im sure mom could use a new mask or BCD maybe dad is ready too.

We offer multiple gear manufacturers. Seac, and Scubapro. I’d love to hear how these suggestions work for you this season — drop me a note or tag Kids Sea Camp on social media with your best kids’ gear needs or purchases.

Kids Sea Camp is number 1 when it comes to outfitting kids. Give us a call to outfit your family this summer. Regardless if it’s one item or a full set, our expertise is available to you any time. We are a certified SCUBAPRO, SEAC, and SEALIFE dealer. Always make your dive shop your first choice, and if Kids Sea Camp is your dive shop, we appreciate your loyalty and trust. Supporting small businesses whenever possible.

We look forward to diving with you.
Margo Peyton

Decades of diving with Kids Sea Camp

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Kids Sea Camp, Scuba and kids

REFLECTIONS ON KIDS SEA CAMP’S 25TH ANNIVERSARY

When you’re invited to an anniversary celebration, you expect memories to be shared, jokes to be cracked, and glasses to be raised. I wasn’t prepared, however, for just how nostalgic I would become. Or for how much I’d want to reminisce with anyone. Anyone who would listen about the years that became decades spent on the Kids Sea Camp journey.

Buddies with Buddy Dive

Since we were also celebrating the partnership with Buddy Dive Resort in Bonaire, I found myself retelling the story of the delightful and decisive dinner we had with owner and patriarch Martien van der Valk 20 years earlier. It was there that Margo shared her vision, and he embraced it wholeheartedly (good wine was involved). The concept of a Kids Sea Camp centers on diving experiences for the whole family. The idea was far from a “no-brainer” at the time. It wasn’t long before women found their place in diving, let alone children! And as much as everyone talked about growing the sport of scuba diving, adding women and children to the plan was a big leap of faith for most. (See KSC calendar of events)

It wasn’t until the 1980s that we moved from NAVY Dive table calculations to dive computers, from “horse collar” BCs to BCDs, and from basic black to colored dive equipment and wetsuits. Underwater cameras were large, and strobe lights were larger. And you had 36 opportunities to get the shot with one roll of Kodak film. Dive operations were just beginning to partner with resorts to offer dive travel opportunities with more creature comforts than divers were accustomed to locally. This transformative time for diving was accomplished primarily face-to-face, on landlines, and with 800 numbers (online searches and bookings, social media, WhatsApp, and Zoom were Many years away). (See KSC gallery)

Martien van der Valk sees the vision

But forward-thinking entrepreneurs like Martien and his family understood the vision. It helped that we all had young children of our own. We were in the dive travel industry and wanted to share what we loved with them. Were there other parents who wanted to continue diving and traveling but didn’t want to leave their kids behind? Would they be interested in “giving them a week they would remember forever”? Well, it turns out, yes, there were, and yes, they would!

PADI also saw the potential and began offering more and more age-appropriate kids’ dive courses and certifications that focused on safety, learning, and fun. The kids were our real-life, real-time market research. So, on the very first Kids Sea Camp dinner, when they formed their own kids’ table, when they sprang out of bed early every morning, when they kept in touch with their new friends, and when they told their parents where they wanted to meet up the following summer, Margo knew she was on to something!

Time in the bottle

Inspired by the old Jim Croce song about saving time in a bottle, I titled one of my early articles accordingly. I knew the moments were precious. I knew that the days were long, but the years would fly by. And my six-year-old daughter somehow became a 32-year-old mother of three today. I honestly cannot wait until they, too, will enjoy these foundational experiences that will become an integral part of who they are.

It’s not just the underwater adventures that open their little minds up to a whole new world. It’s getting out of their neighborhood bubbles and meeting families from different worlds who share a global humanity. Their love for our water planet that they may not find among their friends at home. I am blown away by the stories of how Kids Sea Camp has become a life-changing experience for other kids.

From 7 kids the first year to over 8,100 kids certified by the 25th year. You can only imagine the ripple effects felt in every corner of the world. Over 50 of these kids have become PADI divemasters, 30 dive instructors, and counting. These KSC alumni will be training the next generation of divers for decades to come. Margo has also been a consistent mentoring presence in too many young lives to mention. I am particularly inspired by the number of young adults she engages in various roles over dozens of weeks each year, as interns, instructors, and contributors in their particular areas of expertise.

Tom sees the larger picture

Each one has carved out a special place in the Kids Sea Camp Family, which also features VP and founder of Ocean Wishes, a 501(c)(3), and husband Tom Peyton. Tom never lets us lose sight of the big picture in every little moment. Especially when leading karaoke nights or afternoon volleyball challenges. Son Robbie has risen through the KSC ranks to become a PADI OWSI, MSDT instructor, and technical diver. He’s been involved in sales and training at KSC for years. But to me, he’ll always be Young Robbie. Showing his friends how you can be just as fun-loving and safe playing underwater as you are on land.

I so enjoyed this special week, when Martien’s granddaughter Noortje pursued advanced certification, and Granddaughter Pleun began her PADI Jr. Open Water course. There were 100 attendees enjoying their 1st, 10th, or 20th Kids Sea Camp adventure during one of two back-to-back weeks. I was particularly taken with a 10-year-old girl named Athena. She was so very enthusiastic about getting her PADI Jr. Open Water certification during her very first Kids Sea Camp. A mother/daughter trip that I knew would be a special “time in a bottle” moment for her diving/journalist mom, Holly. So here I was, a Gramma, with over 40 years of diving under my belt. I was bonding with a pearl of a girl—the whole world her oyster.  I couldn’t help but wonder what she might have to say about Kids Sea Camp on their 50th Anniversary!

By Carolyn Pascal

Visit kidsseacamp.com for more information or click on the link to Athena’s beautiful story, “Becoming a diver.”

25 Years of Kids Sea Camp: An Ocean of Gratitude

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Kids Scuba, Family Scuba Diving Adventures, Kids Sea Camp, Margo Peyton, empty nester travelers

25 years of business success didn’t happen overnight.

From the shores of Provincetown, where the salty air mingled with dreams of far-off oceans, a young Margo Peyton grew, her heart tethered to the sea. Raised by a fisherman father and surrounded by the wonders of whales, dolphins, turtles, and sharks, she knew her path was destined to explore the watery realms that connected the world.

College led to travel and tourism, a scuba certification (a gift from her diving father), and a life-changing stint as a travel agent in the Cayman Islands. But it was motherhood that sparked a new vision. When her children, Jen and Robbie, asked to join her underwater adventures, Margo discovered a void: family-friendly dive resorts were scarce. A seed of an idea began to sprout. Didn’t the dive industry need to nurture the next generation of ocean lovers?

A Chance Encounter

A chance encounter with Carolyn Pascal, then publisher of Skin Diver Magazine, ignited the spark. Sharing their frustration about leaving their children behind on dive trips, they hatched a plan. Carolyn became Kids Sea Camp’s first champion, writing about Margo’s vision to unite families through diving.

The journey began with Sandy and Hans Ullrich of Ocean Encounters in Curaçao, who shared Margo’s passion for connecting children with the ocean. Together, they created the very first Kids Sea Camp. Then Hans passed the torch to Nolo Ambrosi. Nolo and Monica embraced the vision, ensuring the annual event continued.

Meeting Nancy Easterbrook

At a DEMA trade show, Margo met Nancy Easterbrook, a scuba-diving mom with two children. Nancy’s desire to be part of Kids Sea Camp resonated deeply with Margo, especially as it meant bringing the program to Grand Cayman, the birthplace of her son Robbie.  With continued family ties 25 years later, Jason and Sue Belport opened their hearts and doors of the Cayman Islands with family weeks at Little Cayman Beach Resort and Cayman Brac Beach Resort. Football, basketball, volleyball, and diving are family affairs and a permanent home.

Neal Watson, “The Dive God,” became a mentor, guiding Margo through the world of dive travel and introducing her to key players at trade shows like ScubaEx, Our World Underwater, Beneath the Sea, DEMA, Scuba Show, and his own Lauderdale by the Sea event. Neal championed Margo’s cause, urging the industry to support her mission.

The importance of SCUBAPRO

Werner Kurn of SCUBAPRO recognized the need for growth in the diving industry and championed Margo with kid-sized dive gear by SCUBAPRO, who began producing smaller BCDs, tanks, mouthpieces, and wetsuits, equipping Kids Sea Campers for underwater exploration. Bjorn and Sven Harms of SeaLife provided Margo with cameras to capture the magic of these family adventures.  Fraser Purdon became integral to product growth, working with Margo to partner with SCUBAPRO and Sealife, driven by his own motivation. Wife Tracy and daughter Sophie became beautiful parts of the process.

After Ron Kip’s birthday celebration (owner of Bob-Sotos Diving) in the Cayman Islands, Werner and Neal introduced Margo to John Cronin. Cronin’s words of encouragement that her vision was ahead of its time became a guiding light.

Drew Richardson

After John’s passing, Drew Richardson and the team at PADI—Theresa Kaplan, Kristin Valette, Nick Jenny, and Bob Coleman—became pillars of support, helping Margo expand the Kids Sea Camp brand with PADI 5-star resorts around the globe. Margo became a PADI instructor, and partnerships with families like Martine and Ingrid Van der Valk and their children, Michelle, Barb, and Steffie, broadened the Kids Sea Camp family in Bonaire, with Buddy Dive, The Galapagos, and Dominica. Sam from Sam’s Tours in Palau, and Dermot helped Margo bring Kids Sea Camp across the Pacific and created Palau Kids Sea Camp, a 15-year legacy.

Tom Peyton changes Kids Sea Camp

Then came Tom Peyton, who won Margo’s heart and embraced her children. Tom brought music, sports, and boundless love to Kids Sea Camp. Together, they explored new horizons as a family. They added destinations like the Galapagos, Utila, Costa Rica, Yap, Wakatobi, St. Vincent, the Bahamas, and Belize. Tom connected with Luigi from Italy at a Canadian adventure show. This meeting led to an extraordinary brotherhood, friendship, and partnership. Luigi, Mei, and The Arenui, a ship straight out of a dream. Biggs Eggert joined the family, bringing the magic and heart of the Philippines. Karolin Troubetzkoy, recognizing the value of family experiences as a mother and grandmother. She welcomed Margo to bring Kids Sea Camp to the luxurious Anse Chastanet in St. Lucia.

As Margo and Tom’s children grew, so did Kids Sea Camp. Tom left his 25-year career as a newspaper editor to join Kids Sea Camp full-time. New adventures unfolded in Roatan and a lifetime in Fiji, starting with Tom and Margo’s honeymoon. We met, built strong bonds and relationships with Danny Charlton’s family, and with Murex Divers of Lembeh, Manado, and Bangka. Chris Heim with Pura Vida and Sea Explorers of the Philippines.

Welcome to the KSC tribe

Kids Sea Camp became more than a business; it’s a family tribe. Clients became friends, and some became like family. Children who attended camp years ago are now adults, some even grandparents. Kids Sea Camp life’s circle comes full circle, even 25 years later.

There are many to thank and be thankful for, countless individuals. It’s a story of passion, perseverance, and the unifying power of the ocean. It’s a story of gratitude for the incredible people who have made this 25-year journey possible. Oceans connect us all; the Kids Sea Camp family is a testament to that beautiful truth. We continue on this 25th year. We are full of gratitude for all those who have been a part of the journey. Such as Lucy Dunbar, Kiley, Sven, Peter, Tabitha, Nadene, LindaSue, David Benz, Tarkan, Holly, Conrad, Annie, Rogest, Steven Frink, and William Clien.

Our crew — our family

25 years of partnerships have blossomed with leaders of the past embracing the excitement and youth needed in the present. Peter Hughes, Troy Bodden, Bonnie Toth, Maria Hult, Joanne and Zig, Rick Stratton, Brad Nolan, Brett Gilliam, Michele Westmorland, and Tanya Burnett all lent their voices. Cristina Zenato, Woody Tinsley, and Brad Holland became a part of our fabric. 25 years of created memories they will remember for a lifetime.

Safe and easy Kids Sea Camp Travel Tips

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Travel tips, kids sea camp, family dive vacations

It’s important to pack appropriately when traveling with kids on long hauls.

We all know that airports can be a hassle these days, but a little planning and preparation can make a big difference. Try these Kids Sea Camp travel tips to help you breeze right through.

Before Your Trip

  • Sign up for Global Entry.

  • Check your itineraries for seat assignments and add to your calendar

  • Handle any special needs you might have before you get to the airport. Pre-book seats or special meals.

  • Check to ensure the contact and emergency information has been provided to all who need it.

  • Take care of passports, visas, and any other important documents well in advance. Keep a copy of all your documents in a safe place at home and a backup packed with you.

  • Use the online Check-in or airline app for updates. Make sure to download it onto your cell phone. Check in ahead of time to avoid long airport lines.

  • Know the check-in requirements for your airline and destination.

  • Know the requirements for the security checkpoints you’ll be traveling through, and remove any liquids, sharp objects, or anything else listed on the sign before entry.

  • Check security checkpoint wait times and allow plenty of extra time for busy holiday periods.

During Your Trip

  • Check the display screens and monitors in the airport to find your gate.

  • Arrive at the gate early with your boarding pass and eTicket receipt.

  • Keep an eye on the gate display screens as gate changes happen often.

  • Listen closely for announcements at the gates.

Make sure to pack a small carry-on with all your needs:

  • Snacks

  • Book

  • Small pillow

  • Sweatshirt or jacket, as airports can be cold

  • Toothbrush

  • Medications

  • Kids’ games or books, headphones

  • Bottled water was allowed

Adults

  • Contact solution (if needed)

  • Sunglasses

  • Eyeglasses

  • Sweatshirt for flight

  • Any medicines needed

  • Batteries must be placed in carry-on, not check-in luggage

  • Comfortable clothes

  • Favorite book

  • Hand lotion

  • Chapstick

  • Pack your personal valuables with you for up to 1 day’s worth of clothes

  • Single parents traveling with kids outside the country need a notarized letter of “Consent to Travel” prepared before departure

Travel Documents Needed

  • Passports required- Copies of Passports (have one set with you and leave another at home.)

  • C-Card for divers

  • CFAR Travel insurance (See link)

  • Logbook

  • Airline tickets

  • Itinerary

  • Travel documents

  • Paperwork and Forms

  • Waiver form: If your child has any breathing problems or other medical issues, please clearly state them so we can be prepared to accommodate any special needs. We have in the past been able to create pleasant experiences for children with special needs, kids with Asthma, hearing-impaired children, and some autistic children, and we will do our best to ensure any child can experience Kids Sea Camp. We need this information in advance to ensure your child’s safety. You will need a doctor’s note confirming that your child can participate in your chosen program.

  • Prepare as if a bag is lost or delayed.

Other Carry-on Suggestions:

  • 1 bathing suit

  • 1 set of shorts and a t-shirt

  • 1 set of undergarments

  • Sun Block

  • Dive regulator/computer

  • Camera

  • Any item you will need

  • Prescription medications

Suggestions for Packing for Trip:

  • Plenty of sunblocks

  • Level 30-45 waterproof sunblock for kids

  • Insect Repellent

  • Extra-Batteries

  • The film, Disposal cameras (underwater).

  • Converter for electronics. Voltage is 210-240

  • After-sun products, Aloe Vera, etc

  • Small medical kit with Band-Aids

  • Ear drops-swimmers ear

  • Motrin

  • A cough and cold syrup

  • Sudafed

  • Airborne

  • Sunglasses

  • Extra set of contacts

  • Benydril

  • Dive Gear

  • Defog

  • Allergy meds

  • Socks can be used inside the fins

Kids Sea Camp the Perfect Choice for your Family Dive Vacations.

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Kids Scuba, Family Scuba Diving Adventures, Kids Sea Camp, Margo Peyton, family scuba diving

Join us on unique scuba diving adventures to incredible destinations.

Kids Sea Camp offers a variety of trips for all ages and interests, from beginner-friendly to more challenging family adventures. Family Dive Adventures is a division of Kids Sea Camp Inc., offering a series of customized family-friendly group trips or scuba diving vacations in specific locations worldwide on specific dates. These group family diving events are an excellent way for kids to learn to scuba dive and make new friends worldwide. Families can meet other like-minded families from around the world.

The Lavinsky family was always looking for new and exciting adventures to share with their three young children, ages 4, 8, and 11. When they heard about Kids Sea Camp and Family Dive Adventures, they were immediately intrigued. They had always wanted to learn to scuba dive and thought it would be a great way to explore the underwater world with their kids.

Scuba diving as a family

The Lavinsky family booked a trip to Bonaire with Family Dive Adventures. They were so excited to finally experience the wonders of scuba diving as a family. The kids loved learning how to breathe underwater and exploring the colorful coral reefs and schools of fish. The littlest one participated in the SASY program while the other two became Jr. PADI Open Water divers. The parents were amazed by the beauty of the sea and the ease of learning how to dive. Their kids had a new sense of accomplishment, knowing they could dive with other kids worldwide.

After becoming PADI-certified scuba divers at Kids Sea Camp, the Lavinsky family continued diving and traveling as their kids grew. Mr. Lavinsky was so confident in Kids Sea Camp that he decided to go on a father-son trip to the Galapagos aboard a live-aboard. This impacted his young son so much that he fell in love with marine science and wanted to learn about the world’s oceans and travel more with his dad. They had such an incredible, memorable time on their liveaboard scuba diving adventures with Kids Sea Camp that they decided to book the Caribbean Pearl in Utila to dive with whale sharks and wild dolphins. This time, Mr. Lavinsky brought his then-12-year-old daughter and his 15-year-old son. They did their first kids’ night dive and met other kids from around the world who became lifelong friends.

Kids Sea Camp is UnBelizable

The Lavinsky family went to Belize to get their youngest child certified to dive into the second-largest barrier reef in the world. The kids loved seeing all the different animals, including Loggerhead turtles, Eagle Rays, and Reef Sharks. Each trip they went on was better than the last! They traveled to the Turks and Caicos, dove with wild dolphins, and enjoyed diving together as a family. Palau, Yap, and the Philippines were all incredible trips that created memories to last a lifetime. Last summer, their son, now in college, traveled with Mr. Lavinsky to Indonesia, Komodo. Margo Peyton arranged for Max to spend the remainder of his summer in Lembeh and Manado as an intern with Murex Divers.

Max falls in love with diving

The family is always fascinated by the unique wildlife, stunning scenery, and excursions they take on each adventure. Max fell in love with the Philippines when he went with Kids Sea Camp to dive with thresher sharks at Monad Shoal and with whale sharks in Oslob. His mom loved watching the kids enjoy St. Lucia as she enjoyed jungle biking, paddle boarding, and snorkeling the fantastic pitons and walls. They have traveled each year, creating everlasting memories and watching their children grow to be confident ambassadors of the underwater world.

Over 20 trips with KSC

The Lavinsky family has been on over 20 scuba diving adventures with Kids Sea Camp, and they have provided their kids with a living classroom with a global view. If you think about it, you only have 17 summers with your kids. Families love that Kids Sea Camp caters specifically to them, and they appreciate the experienced, knowledgeable staff on each trip.

The Lavinsky family has made lifelong friendships on each trip and continues to nurture those friendships today. The kids are grown and in college, and the Lavinsky family can now enjoy the empty-nest trips created by Family Dive Adventures. Parents can continue to travel and enjoy the other parents they have met along the way. Some of the kids are now PADI scuba instructors. During the summer months, when not in college, they work with Kids Sea Camp, teaching the next generation of divers.

Family Dive Adventures has been rated #1 in family dive travel for 25 years. Kids Sea Camp has a reputation for providing excellent service and safety. They offer a variety of trips to suit all ages and interests. Family Dive Adventures is the perfect choice if you are looking for a family-friendly scuba diving adventure.

Diving and traveling with your kids

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Seal training, kids and diving, kids sea camp, St. Lucia, Family Dive Adventures, Scuba Diving, Kids Sea Camp, Kids and scuba

The advice you should know when diving and traveling with kids 

I have spent the last 3 decades of my life diving and traveling with families worldwide. I created a company called Kids Sea Camp that takes families with kids aged 4-18 on mainly off-the-beaten-path vacations to experience and learn more about the underwater world. My business is personal, and I pride myself and my team on the level of friendliness, safety, and service we provide to each family. As I’ve been diving, traveling, and teaching kids and adults, I have picked up some good advice and tips along the way. I strive with each family to create memories that will last a lifetime, and that is my tagline because that’s what I’m told Kids Sea Camp does well.  

There is never a day when I don’t learn from the moms and dads who dive or learn to dive with Kids Sea Camp. I have enriched my knowledge and life from the children I meet. On each trip, I challenge myself and the fantastic dive pros I have the privilege of working with worldwide. I’m a humble person by nature, and I’m honored to be given the incredible faith and trust that parents and grandparents place in Kids Sea Camp.  I take tremendous pride in ensuring a fun-filled, safe day of learning in the ocean with their kids.

My greatest moments are turning frightened and anxious mothers’ faces into calm, confident smiles and seeing three generations of divers enjoying diving together as a family. Taking special needs kids out of the only world they have ever known and showing them the magical zero-gravity world of water for the first time. I take very seriously the lives I am entrusted with for the week and for the knowledge, skills, and education they take away with them to become the next generation of global thinkers and doers.  Each year, families ask me great questions, so I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to share some of my wisdom about vacation planning.

What is your top destination choice for SASY and Seal Team kids?

I created Kids Sea Camp in the Cayman Islands because my son Robbie was born there. It’s a place I love, hold close to my heart, and know well because I lived there for many years. The calm seas, clear water, and climate are perfect for the little ones. I have been taking Kids Sae Camp to The Cayman’s 15 years this year. The islands have stunning white-sand beaches; there are multiple flights daily from the US. It’s not expensive to get too. The islands offer biking, snorkeling, skateboarding, fishing, hiking, windsurfing, museums, art galleries, and a plethora of food and spirits to enjoy.

I chose the Cayman Islands for their ease of diving and abundant marine life. SASY and Seal Team kids can dive into the ocean and enjoy learning about marine life in a confined space. Cayman Brac Reef Beach Resort has a 140,000-gallon pool sitting right on the ocean for the little ones to do their aqua missions. The hotel rooms are all one-bedroom, so I feel the double rooms are perfect for a family with one child. The resort also has four rooms that can connect to house larger families.

I would have to say Buddy Dive in Bonaire is the best for SASY and Seal Team. They do these programs every week of the year, and their team is well-trained. They have the best jump-off-the-dock marine life for the kids, and I would say they have hands-down the best dive team for the little ones. (See our KSC Calendar)

What is your favorite destination for large families?

Buddy Dive, Bonaire, offers 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom villas and is an excellent value for large families. The air is the most considerable expense; you can get a good deal if you book earlier. Bonaire is easy diving and caters to divers of all levels. If you’re willing to travel, my second choice would be the Philippines. Pura Vida Homes Resort in Dauin, Dumaguete, is spectacular! They also have one, two, and three-bedroom villas. And for your diving dollar, they offer the best, easiest, and most reasonably priced diving in the world.

What destination do you feel is best for families with older kids?

Galapagos would be my first thought. I’ve been taking kids to the Galapagos for nearly 14 years. Kids Sea Camp is the only company to do so because I charter the dive yachts with an additional crew to make it perfect for families. We dive from pangas so the kids and adults roll off the side, but it’s a big animal interaction, big turtles, wild dolphins, giant mantas, marine iguanas, and tons of sea lions.

We always travel in June or July, peak Whale Shark season. Honestly, this region is one of the last diving frontiers, and I feel like it’s a trip of a lifetime every time I go. If you want to share the rare and off-the-beaten-path with your children, take them to the Galapagos.

What is your top choice for families with non-divers 

St. Lucia at Anse Chastanet is my number one! We offer spa treatments, jungle biking, volcano hiking, paddle boarding, sailing, snorkeling, chocolate culinary classes, cupcake making, shopping, and local sugar plantation walks, as well as a jazzy sunset cruise. We spend lots of time together as a family and have many fun activities for non-divers to meet and become friends.  

Second would be Palau. Palau offers kayaking among the Rock Islands, World War I and II history tours, museums, shopping, a spa, and beautiful beaches. 

Is Kids Sea Camp accessible to people with special needs?

For the past six years, we have successfully taken special needs adults and kids diving around the world, meeting or exceeding their expectations. I have a team of dive instructors who are experienced in areas such as high-functioning Autism, deafness, handicap, ADD, ADHD, and even elderly divers who need a little more hand-holding and some Valet Diving Service to make everyday diving details easier and less stressful.  

Kids Sea Camp can provide private one-on-one instructors or dive masters for people who need more. We meet those needs for the most part, with partner tanks and BC’s for smaller adults and kids. Our destinations can accommodate dive platforms and wheelchairs. We can and do help people get in and out of the water. If families give me enough notice and tell me exactly what we need to have in place, we meet those needs for the most part. If I can’t, then I will say so and recommend another destination.

The most crucial factor is that the doctor treating the special needs participant has authorized that person to participate in scuba diving activities. I am not a doctor and cannot say if someone can or cannot dive. But, will go above and beyond to put in place what someone who can dive needs to do. I require at least 6 months’ notice and a few good in-depth conversations about the needs.

What is the most critical advice you give parents and grandparents of new divers?

Know your kids’ depth limits and profile restrictions. If you are not a PADI pro or another dive pro, and you are not an avid, up-to-date diver, make sure to always request a dive master or instructor when you dive with your kids. Many parents have enough on their plates taking care of themselves in the water, and when you add kids to that, it can become very stressful. Kids move around faster, and you can’t just talk or yell at them underwater.

So parents and Grandparents should make sure they have had a refresher course and know their signals and skills well so that they can assist young divers when needed. I also want to remind parents that your kids watch you and learn from you when you dive with them. So lead by example. Ensure your gear is streamlined, check your gauges early and often, and ascend and descend slowly.

Plan your dive with your kids, and dive your plan with them.

Always let someone else know you are going diving, and make sure you have a slate to write on. Things happen, currents come up, and you need to be able to communicate with each other. It’s fun for families to develop their own signs and signals. Kids should not assume that parents know the same signs or signals. Go over those before your dive. Make sure you do a weight check before diving and know the type of dive you’ll be doing. Make sure you are not forcing your child to dive. If he or she is scared or does not want to go, discuss what’s going on and make it ok not to dive. The worst thing you can do is force a child or adult to dive when they do not feel safe or well.  

Be a good dive buddy

Don’t try to impress your child or show off, I promise they will try to do what you do. Enjoy your time in the water and the zero-gravity as kids do. Remember, diving should not be like the military; you kids want to have fun! They enjoy playing with zero gravity, doing somersaults, and being upside down. Make some of that, okay, and teach them when it’s okay to have fun and when it’s not.  

I say this in capitals because if I had a dollar every time a child told me their parent loaded them with an antihistamine before a dive, I could go to a nice restaurant for dinner. That can be very dangerous to do. It can cause reverse blocks and also cause panic and anxiety, depending on what you gave them. The most common is dehydration. Diving is very dehydrating, so adding a decongestant before a dive can make it 10 times worse.

By Margo Peyton, PADI MSDT Instructor & owner of Kids Sea Camp

Oh, the places we will go. . . diving. . . with Kids Sea Camp.

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St. lucia, Family vacations, diving, Family Dive Adventures, Scuba Diving

By David Head

Big diving news from our household. Jake gained his Junior Open Water Certification two weekends ago. We knew Jake had an amazing time at Kids Sea Camp in St Lucia with Callistus Jackson and Keither Prospere, participating instructors for Kids Sea Camp PADI Seal Team, but when birthday gifts were on the line, would he choose certification training or the latest video game?

Kids Scuba, Family Scuba Diving Adventures, Kids Sea Camp, Margo PeytonEven in the unpredictable times we are living through, he chose, thanks to Kids Sea Camp, to pursue a PADI diving certification. Birthday gifts in the form of gift cards to our local dive shop, Undersea Divers in Danvers, MA, came in from friends and family. Being in early May, we were unsure when the shop could offer certification classes again, but we had hope. Come July, classes started back up, and Jake signed up for mid-August pool and ocean dives. The week before the pool sessions, Jake tackled the PADI e-learning head-on, most of it refreshed from his Seal Teamwork the prior year.

Wonderful Dive Training

Ke’s dive instructor from Undersea Divers was Larry Bettencourt, who was also my pool instructor the year before (I was also fortunate enough to do my ocean checkout dives with Kids Sea Camp in St. Lucia, with Errol Lebrun), so I knew I was in capable hands. Every time Jake suited up, there was a certain glow, and he seemed to wear a perpetual smile. I’m shocked his jaw didn’t hurt afterward. Then again, I don’t blame him for me being poolside thinking, “It’s only the pool… but I’d love to suit up too.”

After the successful pool dives, the ocean dives were the following weekend. Even with a 5:30 A.M. wake-up, Jake’s smile would not waver. The dives took place at Back Beach in Rockport, MA, in low tide, calm seas, and “warm” water (warmth is relative in New England). All participants completed their dives, with many proud parents in attendance (five participants were no older than their mid-teens). As Jake exited the water, beaming with pride as a newly certified Junior Open Water Diver, I placed a towel on his shoulders and gave him a huge hug. All I could think was that age-old Dr. Seuss classic, “Oh the Places You’ll Go. . . Diving”.

Please feel free to share with the crew at Scuba St. Lucia (I assume you have personal work email addresses for some of them). We hope they and everyone in the Kids Sea Camp family are doing well. We shall meet underwater soon enough.

Also, Liam is preparing to take his diving certification in two years. Thank you for the Kids Sea Camp birthday postcard; it made him smile. I look forward to diving with you in the future.

Dive Vacation checklist for Kids Sea Camp

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Black divers, Asain divers, family dive vacations, kids sea camp

It’s time to prepare for vacation.

Here’s a great dive travel checklist—a detailed “know before you go” reminder for your next Kids Sea Camp adventure.

Trip planning 

  • Check the KSC calendar

  • Weather and clothing needs

  • Currency exchange or credit cards accepted

  • Call your credit card company and tell them you are out of the country

  • Valid passports

  • Medical treatments available

  • Check airline reservations

  • Distribute your international vacation plans to a friend or family member who needs to know

  • Travel insurance

  • Emergency phone number

Kids Sea Camp, diving with Kids, diving with family

Must-haves for your carry-on bag

  • Snacks

  • Reg and dive computer

  • Swim shorts

  • 2 extra shirts

  • Passports

  • Dive cards

Dive Travel Checklist  

  • Check all your equipment

  • Suppose your diving equipment has not been serviced in two years. Get it serviced!

  • Certification cards (for the whole family)

  • Dive computer batteries (make sure they work!)

  • Logbook

  • Bring an extra mask fog

  • Bring a spare mask

  • Prepare your new mask (use the overnight toothpaste process)

  • Super Glue

  • Bring a small first-aid kit, or ensure the dive shop has one on each boat and at the resort. (All Kids Sea Camp resorts do, by the way)

  • Extra sunscreen

  • Motion sickness pills

  • Aspirin

  • Nasal Decongestant

  • Meat Tenderizer

  • Dive lights

  • Gloves (If allowed)

The vacation is over list

  • Double-check all your family’s dive gear, including BCs, fins, masks, snorkels, and wetsuits. This is a no-brainer, but it assumes you will lose something if you don’t double-check all the gear.

  • Airline tickets: Check in online the day before

  • Check out all the new photos in the KSC gallery.

At home

  • Thoroughly rinse all gear and allow for proper drying

  • Repeat gear double-check

  • Put dive gear in an organized space (This makes the next dive trip easier to prepare for)

  • Replace used items with spare parts and medical supplies

  • Write a thank-you email to Kids Sea Camp for such a great vacation.

Kids Sea Camp is so much more than that!

by
Sea of Cortez, Kids and diving, family vacations, Family Dive Adventures, Scuba Diving

I’m not technically a kid anymore

Kids Sea Camp is for families, but it’s also the perfect place for young adult divers ages 13-19, who are ready for some independence, advanced adventure, and continuing education, and who want to have memorable experiences with other teens.

I’m not technically a kid anymore. That’s why I say, “Kids Sea Camp is more than that.”

I’m getting ready for college soon, and this summer, I enjoyed diving with my family, grandparents, aunt, and uncle at KSC Roatan. Spending a week diving together was one of the best experiences I have had with my entire family.

Kids and diving, Jellyfish lake, family diving, family vacationsMy dad is a military doctor, so I have grown up moving around. We lived in Guam for many years, and that’s when my mom read about Kids Sea Camp and booked the Palau trip in 2012. Each year since then, my parents, my two younger sisters, 15-year-old Helen, 13-year-old Zoe, and I pick a KSC dive trip. Both land-based trips and liveaboards are on the table and open for discussion.

The Best Dive trips

KSC trips are in the best dive destinations around the world. I have been to KSC Palau three times with Sam’s Tours, KSC Fiji at Beqa Lagoon Resort, KSC Roatan at Mayan Princess, and the Sea of Cortez, KSC’s “Citizen Science Week” on the Quino El Guardian.

Many KSC followers return year after year, like my family. But there are always new families, dive staff, and great people to meet. That’s the “Kids Sea Camp magic” that Margo Peyton created 18 years ago when she started the company for her kids. My mom enjoys underwater photography, and my dad seems to relax and enjoy the quiet of being on a dive boat and submerged, where the business of everyday life can’t reach him. My sisters love the water and look forward to these trips, as there are many activities beyond diving.

I think we all agree to have other kids our age on the trips to share adventures and hang out with has been the best part. I love to travel with my family, but diving with other teens from around the world, learning about new cultures, creatures, and ecosystems, and discovering myself is why I want to keep coming back.

On these trips, the cell phones get put away. Being in the moment is more fun than worrying about what everyone is doing back home. I have found that I can easily handle being unplugged in exchange for adventure.

My parents surprised me with a Quino El Guardian trip to Mexico this past summer on a KSC “Citizen Science Week.” It was doubly sweet because my best friend, Mo, was my roommate and dive buddy. We had several other girls our age on board as well. The week was full of science and cool encounters with whales, sharks, and sea lions.

Meeting MO

I met Momo “Mo” Hudes on a flight to KSC Palau in 2013. We bonded, became dive buddies, and later became best friends. Adding shipmates to that relationship this summer has set the bar pretty high for planning our next adventure. Our parents have faith and trust in Kids Sea Camp, and that confidence allowed us to embark on our own adventure.

Mo and I joined the liveaboard in the Sea of Cortez. The two of us journeyed through several airports and had to find our way around without our parents. This trip was an incredible opportunity for me to grow as an individual by stepping out of my comfort zone and putting to use the years of travel training Mom had provided.

I had never been on a liveaboard before, so seven days at sea was an intimidating adventure. I had the most eye-opening and liberating trip of my life, and Mo and I met some incredible people.

Part of the Kids Sea Camp family

We were made to feel a part of the KSC family, as always. Our dive guide was Juan, whom we called “Dad” because he looked after all of us like a father. KSC staff member and photo-pro Brad Holland became “Cool Uncle Brad.”  Linda Sue Dingle, aka “Mom” from Sport Diver magazine, helped us feel at home on the ship, especially when she busted out goody bags of American flags, red, white, and blue-tinted glasses, and “I love America” signs for the 4th of July party she threw for us.

Mo and I learned so much about marine animals, plankton, and diving from marine biologist Dr. Robert Rubin, the leader of “Citizen Science Week.”

I have many mentors from my dive masters and instructors, all of whom have become part of our family. I remember each fabulous venue with nostalgia and its lasting impressions in my mind.

My favorite KSC moments

  • 1. One evening on The Quino El Guardian, after a day dancing with sea lions, I was quietly observing another radiant sunse, reflectinget in front of the ship, a finback whale breached out of the water. The splash shimmered with golds and reds and reflected a kaleidoscope of similar colors off its body as it landed.
  • 2. I recall night swimming off a moonlit beach in Roatan after watching fire dancers with new friends.
  • 3. The views speeding through the Rock Islands of Palau on the bow of our dive boat, cutting through the turquoise waters that reflected the beauty of the Floating Islands.

By Sophia Quast, age 17