We have created memories to last us a lifetime
“HONEY, I THINK WE FOUND WHAT WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR!”
While we enjoyed the beach and boating, our passion was scuba diving, so we searched for the perfect family vacation. Unfortunately, we thought kids and scuba diving would not go together very well. As I sat at my computer, hopeful, I entered vari- ous words into the search engines online: “family diving,” “kids scuba diving,” and “family vacations.” Kids Sea Camp popped up, and I turned to my husband and said, “Honey, I think I found what we have been looking for!” I read everything about Kids Sea Camp and its founder, Margo Peyton. If you Google either of those phrases, there are pages of great stories and information, and it’s all positive. I called the next day and Margo answered the phone. We spoke at length as I had many concerns because Hunter couldn’t swim or
speak English and Sam, who has ADHD, is not one to sit through a course. Maybe it was selfish on our part but I just knew we had to go. Margo assured me it would all work out and we booked our first of many trips to Buddy Dive in Bonaire for June 2010. At this point, Hunter was not too enamored with the ocean as his first water event occurred at home when he fell into the pool and sank to the bottom. This soon was remedied with swim lessons, and by spring, he had donned a wet suit and was playing in the waves in St. Augustine, Florida. When we arrived at Buddy Dive, we were apprehensive. What was I thinking going off diving while my two 5-year-old kids were left with the Kids Sea
Camp staff? My fears were allayed when I watched the kids feeding beautiful parrot fish off the dock. They were laughing and having the time of their life. By the end of the week, these two 5-year-olds were making new friends, learning about fish, and even managing giant strides off the dock in SASY gear. They loved their instructors and learned to set up and use their gear. We have never looked back. Over the past thirteen years, our family vacations have been with Kids Sea Camp. There were challenges along the way. The hardest part for Sam was completing the book work for his Jr. Open Water class. But you put Sam in a wet suit and scuba gear, the little diver in him takes right over. Sam and Hunter love zero gravity and that little kid who
By Patti Snyder & Andy Hopkins In the spring of 2010, I sat at my computer late one night, search- ing for family vacations. Sam was 5, and we recently adopted our son, Hunter, also 5, from China. My husband, Andy, and I were avid divers. While Andy’s diving background was dry suit diving in the cold ocean off the coast of Scotland, I preferred warmer waters. As avid cave divers, we loved diving in the springs in Florida, having kids meant that cave diving was in the past for us.
16
www.familydivers.com 803-419-2556 dive@familydivers.com
www.oceanwishes.org
Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator