kids and scuba

Fiji time and Kids Sea Camp magic

by
Tom Peyton, Margo Peyton, Kids Sea Camp

Fiji: The reunion tour 2015!

It has been a while since Margo and I were in Fiji. We were there in 2009 at the wonderful Castaway Island resort on the Island of Malolo. Fiji was the start of this grand Kids Sea Camp adventure, Margo, and I have been on since we met ten years ago this coming February. It is our honeymoon island.

Margo and Tom Peyton celebrated their first year in Fiji in 2007 at the Castaway Resort. For Tom, a lot fewer gray hairs and wrinkles eight years ago. Margo, an amazing ageless wonder still looks gorgeous today.

Fiji is a cherished place for us. A place of deep connectivity to the vast blue vistas and complete centering silence of the islands. It is, indeed,  a special trip for the Peytons. It is a place where time seems to slow way down, you stop worrying, you ponder the distant future far less, you enjoy the sunset just a little bit more, and you can feel the stress of our normal, crazy everyday life leaving your body. Margo and I call this phenomenon “Fiji Time.”

Margo has also called it “kava time” but that a whole different story.

Fiji is also a smile factory — as the Fijians always seem to be happy, so helpful and incredibly gracious to the visitors that travel to their stunning country. In fact, “welcome home” is a common phrase the Islanders use in their first greetings to tourists.

“Welcome Home,” how many times have you used that phrase when strangers arrive in your abode — probably very not often. And like a “home away from home,” it has a habit of creating connecting points that change the “vacation” to something much larger — something deeper. I have lost track how many Kids Sea Camp families have left Fiji with tears in their eyes. Tears of joy of being so welcomed by the Fijian people. Tears of a remembering of how good we all can be — if we try — just a little. It is a special place for our KSC families.

And as the countdown in the office starts for the new Fiji week at Beqa Lagoon Resort this year. I can’t stop myself from hoping and wondering if “Fiji Time” will sweep over the two KSC weeks and make some more Kids Sea Camp magic. I know I’m looking forward to it.

Tom Peyton, Vice President of Kids Sea Camp

A “Happy Kids Sea Camper” family

by
Kids Sea Camp, Happy Campers, Kids and scuba

Margo is on a mission to keep families diving.

When people find out I am an avid scuba diver, I often hear that they used to dive but stopped when they had kids. How sad. Diving is the perfect family sport; you get to travel to beautiful places and meet interesting people while spending time together above and below the surface. Kids learn science, math, and environmental awareness while building confidence and self-esteem. Margo Peyton’s purpose is to keep families diving together by providing opportunities and community for parents and children, aiming to make every family a Happy Kids Sea Camper family.

Why we are a Kids Sea Camper family

We have been to 7 Kids Sea Camps in 6 different countries and have met people from all over the world, many of whom are now lifelong friends.  My kids are safe, confident divers because dive instructors who know how to teach kids taught them. My daughters, who were 5 and 7 at our first Kids Sea Camp, are now 14 and 16, and are PADI-certified Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Rescue, Nitrox, and several other specialty divers. Much to our relief, they love diving as much as we do.  On dive trips, divemasters often comment on their great buoyancy control and respect for the reef and sea life.
Last year, at KSC Galapagos, we dove with our daughters in somewhat challenging conditions with whale sharks, hammerheads, sea lions, Mola Molas, and Galapagos sharks. They handled the conditions like pros.

The Margo Factor

Margo Peyton is well-known in the diving community and well-loved. When you go to Kids Sea Camp, the host resorts go out of their way to make it the trip of a lifetime because of their respect for Margo and her wonderful company. Margo’s main goal is safety; she carefully screens each Kids Sea Camp location and staff, so you know you and your kids will be well taken care of, both in and out of the water. Margo’s kids, Jen and Robbie, are integral parts of the camps, so Margo brings your kids to where she feels comfortable bringing her own. Actually, she considers every child who attends Kids Sea Camp “her” child. The first priority is safety, but the fun is a close second.

Our First Kid Sea  Camp

On the first day of our first camp, I dropped off my 5-year-old and went diving with the other parents. When I returned to pick her up, she refused to leave because she was having so much fun. There are pirates and zombies, and don’t miss the donkey park in Bonaire. (My personal favorite side trip) It is a great trip for diving parents because you drop off your child with their instant new friends for a day full of fun activities, while you get to dive with your instant new friends, the other parents.
So, diving parents, make your reservations, get your kids in the water, and start something that you and your kids will share for the rest of your lives. I suspect we will someday go to Kids Sea Camp with our grandchildren. It’s easy to be a happy Sea Camper family.
By “Happy Kids Sea Campers”, Pat McGuire, MD, and Bob Sciortino, MD, St. Louis, Mo. USA

Day 2: Kids Sea Camp, Utila prepares for the Zombie Apocalypse!

by
Zombie divers, Woody Tinsley, Kids Sea Camp

Zombies are real!

Sorry for the delay in posting, but I’m writing from the bed at Lexington Hospital in Columbia, S.C., Saturday evening. I’m unclear why I’m here or how I even got into this bed. But I felt it was important for all the Kids Sea Camp families to understand what may be happening in Utila over the next two weeks. To be honest, maybe Margo and I didn’t know what we were getting into with the Zombie Apocalypse.
I’m going to warn you that there are gaps in my memory from Friday to Saturday. What I’m going to tell you is the best I can remember. Which is not much at the moment.

But this is how much I recall from Saturday morning.

8:00 A.M. Saturday: “Good morning, Mr. Peyton.” A doctor walks into the room; he is tall, thin, a bit pale and grey at the temples. “I’m Doctor Postal. That’s a nasty bruise you have on the back of your head.”
I touched the base of my skull and felt a bump the size of a large golf ball. ” How did I get that?”
“Hmm,” The doctor stroked his chin and paused,” That’s why I was asking. You have had a mild concussion. No long-term memory damage, but short-term memory should be affected greatly. Who was the last person you spoke to?”
“Woody!” I said, abruptly sitting up in my bed and falling back on the pillow, feeling quite dizzy,” Where’s my cell phone? I think I can get some answers. What day is it?”

What is happening

“Saturday, and the cell is right here,” the doctor said calmly, handing me my phone. “You know you’re not ready to leave just yet. I need to keep you one more day for observations… I’ll give you a moment.”
I picked up the phone and called Woody immediately.
“Woody, what the hell happened?” I yelled into the phone.
“Well, hello to you too, Mr. Peyton,” I could see him smiling as he spoke,” Not a nice way to say Hi to someone who saved your life last night.”
“What?” I paused,” What do you mean?”
“You don’t remember?” He laughed, “I guess I hit ya too hard.”
“It was you?” I asked,” You know I’m in the hospital.”
“Oops,” He laughed again. It’s all that law enforcement training. Sorry.”
“Where are you?” I asked, ” And is Margo with you?”
‘Atlanta, heading to Kids Sea Camp,’ Woody said, suddenly changing his tone to a whisper. ‘Oh no, I’ll call you back.’

Old Texts

The cell phone went dead. I looked through my messages and texts, looking for any communication from Margo. I saw a series of texts from Friday night to Saturday morning.
Hi, sweetie, at the Atlanta airport, looking forward to diving again since my back surgery. Call me. How are the dogs?
Text 2: Sweetie?
Text 3: Met with Woody. He seems nervous. Acting odd.
Text 4: Why aren’t you answering me?
Text 5: Are you OK?
Text 6: Are you at the Karaoke bar, again?
Text 7: Alright, now I’m worried.
Text 8: Cell phone running low. I don’t know where you are, but you have to call me in the morning.
Text 9: Luv u.

I immediately called Margo.

“Hi, honey,” I said, ” Before you get mad at me, I’m in the hospital, and I don’t know why. You need to talk to Woody about the Zombies. I think there’s more to this thing than we know.”
“SWEETIE!” She said in a panic. HOSPITAL!” WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU SAYING!”
“Margo, Margo,” I repeated her name too many times to count. “Find Woody. Ask him what happened Friday night. I don’t remember. I have a mild concussion. Find Woody. Find Woody.”
“Damn, ” Margo snapped,” My cell phone is dying, again.”
“Sweetie,” I repeated again,” Find Woody. He knows more than he is telling us.”

Zombies are everywhere

” Delta Flight 575 now boarding,” I heard over the cell phone, ” Sweetie, I’ll be fine. Just talk to Woody.”
I hung up the phone, and then Woody called.
“Tom?” Woody said in a hushed tone, ” They’re everywhere.”
“What are you talking about?” I asked.
‘The Zombies, stupid. Oh my god, you don’t remember Friday at all, do you? They were in the KSC office! It was terrible. You have to go back and look at what they did. They are following me to Utila!’ Woody said, his voice softening with panic.
“To Kids Sea Camp?” I said.
“Yes. Yes, damn it, Tom, they are “real”. They’re everywhere, and they are coming to Utila,” He said in a hushed tone, ” But don’t worry, I’ve got a plan.”
Then the phone went dead. The silence was haunting. The words “they’re everywhere” bounced and punched around inside my mind like a ping-pong ball. And what the heck did he mean… he’s got a plan?

To be continued. . .maybe