MY SON AND I
I’ve been traveling solo with my son, Cassius “Cash,” since he was just four months old. Adventure has always been part of our shared language. As a mom, I taught him to freedive when he was very young, and over the years we’ve traveled often, exploring new places and spending countless hours in the water together. My own career has taken me on expeditions and field work for months at a time, so I’m no stranger to complex travel, remote destinations, or operating far from home. And yet, this past summer in the Philippines, traveling with Kids Sea Camp felt entirely different – in the best possible way.
Cash, now 12, was newly scuba certified, and this was our first official scuba trip together. The Scuba Mom in me loved that milestone came with a mix of excitement and anticipation, along with the quiet hope that my growing boy would love this next level of underwater exploration. Because let’s be honest, a great first scuba trip felt like my best shot at convincing my soon-to-be teenager that ocean adventures with his mom would still be a good idea long into the future. The stakes felt high – especially knowing that traveling solo with a child in a foreign country usually means staying several steps ahead, anticipating logistics, navigating unfamiliar systems, and managing details in real time. It’s always rewarding, but rarely effortless.
Kids Sea Camp, was it
From the moment we arrived, it was clear that every detail had been thoughtfully handled. Transfers, accommodations, meals, dive operations, guides, and schedules were all carefully managed. Everything was new and exciting for both Cash and me, yet I was spared the mental load and constant decision-making that usually comes with adventure travel. Kids Sea Camp’s deep familiarity, built over 26 years of operating in these destinations, meant there was no guessing and no learning things the hard way through trial and error. They know the people, the places, and the diving. Kid Sea Camp knows where to stay, where to dive, and how to move families through an experience that makes the most of every day and every dive. They have done it repeatedly.
The rare ability for Mom to relax
Our three-part journey began at Amun Ini Resort & Spa in Bohol, continued on to Pura Vida Homes, and then moved on to Salaya Beach Houses. Throughout the trip, we were incredibly well cared for by both Kids Sea Camp and Bigs Eggert. Bigs owns and operates the Amun Ini dive operation and serves as the on-the-ground coordinator for Kids Sea Camp in the Philippines. Her warmth, local knowledge, and steady presence made every stop feel seamless and genuinely welcoming. As a long-time local, she knows these places and the people, and she is a wonderful example of the long-standing relationships she has with trusted partners in Margo and Tom Peyton, through Kids Sea Camp, who have built and maintained year after year.
Our first dives together took place in the strikingly blue waters off Amun Ini, and Cash was immediately at ease. He was calm, confident, and fully present. That confidence was reinforced by the incredible team at Sea Explorers, whose PADI-trained guides specialize in working with kids. With a 1:2 guide-to-kid ratio and private guides whenever requested, we felt totally spoiled by the level of personal care. The diving was never rushed and always perfectly paced for young divers. Knowing that all the behind-the-scenes details were handled by seasoned professionals allowed me to step fully into my role as my son’s dive buddy. I was not the trip coordinator or details manager. Mom was simply able to dive with him, ready to experience it all together.
Cash diving with Whale Sharks
After several days of diving, delicious food, warm hospitality, and fun evening activities with the Kids Sea Camp group, we moved on to the next stage of the trip. Traveling together as a private group by vans and fast ferry, we headed to Pura Vida Beach & Dive Resort in Dauin for another full week with Kids Sea Camp. Two underwater experiences from the trip stand out most vividly. One was our whale shark experience at Oslob, a whale shark sanctuary. This was Cash’s first time diving with whale sharks, and watching him remain steady and composed as six to seven enormous whale sharks swam close around us was unforgettable.
The other moments came again and again over many dives. While exploring expansive coral gardens, Cash and I would catch each other’s eye underwater, sweep our arms wide to signal the scale of it all, then follow with the universal “mind blown” hand signal overhead. It felt like diving straight into Finding Nemo together. It was truly unbelievable to see so much life and color stretching as far as the eye could see.
Above the water, the Philippines left just as strong an impression. The local people were warm, welcoming, and engaging. Through cultural evening events arranged by Kids Sea Camp and hosted by Pura Vida Beach & Dive Resort, we experienced traditional dancing, stilt performances, and stick dances — and were even invited to take part ourselves. It made for many laughs and an unforgettable night, with all performances and food prepared by the incredible staff.
We weren’t just passing through. We connected meaningfully with the people and the place, and within our dive group, there was a genuine sense of community, as families from around the world shared meals, laughter, and moments that will stay with us long after the trip.
Kids Sea Camp is great for single Moms
One of the most reassuring aspects of the journey was that we were never truly on our own, unless we wanted to be. That balance matters. Anyone who has traveled solo with a child knows how easily unknowns can pull attention away from both enjoyment and safety. With Kids Sea Camp, those unknowns were already accounted for through decades of experience. The result is a level of confidence and ease that allows families to focus on what truly matters: diving well and safely, spending time together, and fully enjoying the whole experience.
This balance became especially meaningful when Cash came down with a stomach bug for a few days during the trip. Margo and Bigs immediately stepped up, helping coordinate for a doctor to come directly to the resort to see him. As a solo parent traveling internationally with my child, I found that level of advocacy and support to be a huge comfort and truly above and beyond.
The original Kids Sea Camp mom
The Kids Sea Camp leadership on our trip, including founder Margo Peyton, was exceptional. Margo is also a mom, and that perspective is woven into every detail of how Kids Sea Camp operates. With 26 years of experience, they have refined not just logistics, but care in creating an environment where families of every configuration are supported, guided, and able to be fully present.
Since he was very little, Cash has always been my favorite dive buddy. Taking that adventure to the next level, 60 feet below the surface, was profoundly meaningful for me. It came with pride, awe, gratitude, and a quiet awareness of how quickly time is passing. Thanks to Kids Sea Camp and their incredible collaborators, including Bigs, I was not tasked with managing the experience. Memories made, for both Cash and me, we were fully living it.
Even for someone deeply familiar with adventure travel and expedition life, traveling with Kids Sea Camp is a hard act to follow – and truly one of a kind in the diving industry. For families considering scuba-centric travel with their kids, this experience is not just seamless. It is exceptional. (See Event Calendar)
Kids Sea Camp is genuinely something special. I’m very grateful that we got to be part of this experience and to help share this perspective in this story. Margo, Cash, and I would absolutely love to join another KSC adventure in the future!
All the Best,
Mehgan
MEHGAN HEANEY-GRIER
Freediver • Explorer • Storyteller
mehganheaneygrier.com
