11 years - The Kids Sea Camp Family Dive Adventures Story

It started 11 years ago. A few conversations, some notes on a napkin.

I thought it should be a simple concept. If you have a family, love the ocean, diving, beaches, snorkeling, travel, and want to meet the like-minded, then you should have some place to go.

Kids Sea Camp Family Dive Adventures was created. The perfect family vacation!

If I could save time in a bottle, as the old Jim Croce lyrics go, I would like to capture and savor some of the special moments I have spent at Kids Sea Camps over the years.

A moment that would come to my mind at the first Kids Sea Camp was when Melissa just 6 at the time arrived at our first event with her mom Carolyn Pascal. Melissa was just so excited to meet my two children Jennifer 4 and Robbie 6. I knew at that moment this was going to be a journey of friendships and memories to last a lifetime. From then to now, it's been an amazing journey, full of discovery, and adventure:

Most moments that come to mind when thinking of Bahamas, Curacao and Honduras, are a beautiful blur of dolphins and diving. Fiji then takes me back to the most unforgettable visions of family Thanksgiving's in paradise. Its wondrous how the kids have grown and families stay in touch.

Grand Cayman once upon a time my home, where Robbie was born, I now think of Cobalt Coast Resort and Divetech. The moments shared include releasing turtles from the turtle farm and drawing the name from a fish bowl. So many years of dotting fun and parent poetry, l love listening to Arie play the harp, Tom singing and the sound of steel drums during the most beautiful sunsets. The joy on the face of parents as they descend down those magnificent walls. Watching the excitement on all the kids faces when they open their very own Sea Life Digital Cameras, wide angle lenses and learned how to shoot. I can smell the s'mores Nancy makes with the kids at the bonfire on the beach.

I've been going to Bonaire at Buddy Dive, since 1997, I still love sitting on the dock watching sail boats and sunsets while enjoying a glass of red wine with my good friend Carolyn Pascal. We sit and proudly watch all the kids jumping off the dock with brave giant strides, geared up and going on their first night dive. She and I laugh so hard watching the kids each year, getting licked by the donkey's while sitting in the back of the trucks as we drive through the park on a donkey safari. I like to photograph the families, sailing around the worlds largest salt track on Blo-Karts, racing each other and laughing as the parents try to catch up with their kids.

With all of that adventure came the request for even more, and our next added destination - Costa Rica did not disappoint. It's amazing what can be created from listening to kids. Memories of the white water rafting through the rain forest, horseback riding in the cloud forest, watching fathers and sons go off surfing, with a day at the spa for mothers and daughters. A memorable moment was covering ourselves with warm volcano mud at the baths. We topped it off with 4 days diving, creating the most brilliant please-all vacation. Costa Rica is truly an action packed eco-adventure that tops the chart.

Our first Liveaboard family trip, was last year to the the Galapagos, which is the most memorable for me! Seeing the families dive and snorkel with young sea lions, and swimming with penguins as well as learning all about Charles Darwin. Scuba Pro sponsored all our 5 and 7 mil wet suits, nothing but the best on that trip! A great memory of Wayne Hasson during a sunset over Darwin's Arch, with Tom and Robbie as he played the guitar and sang for us all one night on the top deck of the Aggressor. Families attained their nitrox and advance certifications. I had a paint off with the two Aggressor Boats that traveled with our families side by side through the week. Whale sharks, wild dolphins, beautiful sunsets and the most amazing land tours, a million moments come to mind...

I've never been one for a traditional Thanksgiving, and look forward to telling my own family the turkey is being served in Palau or Fiji or where ever else we go. With a side of ship wrecks and some spa days, my holidays are the cats meow! It's the best sharing this momentous occasion with diver families from all around the world. The year comes to a close for us with turkey being served with a ceremony of dancers and local song.

We have added Utila this year, more memorable treasure hunts, SeaLife Cameras, and some PADI specialty programs like National Geographic Diver, Underwater Naturalist and Jr. Adventurer for kids already certified to dive. When the days activities officially end in the afternoon you might imagine that the kids would've had enough, not so, then comes painting, Beach BBQ’s, SeaLife photo clinics, poetry contests, and even a talent contest and another week full of unforgettable memories.

Robbie, now 15, Jen now 13 and Melissa,16 are all still diving and looking forward to each year, meeting new friends and reconnecting with those from years past. Carolyn and I as well as Ron look forward to each year with the excitement and enthusiasm of our first.

We look forward to seeing you this summer.

- Margo Peyton

REMINDER: ALL US PASSPORTS MUST BE VALID FOR UP 6 SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO EXPIRATION DATE TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY. AIRLINES ARE ENFORCING THIS

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