GROWING UP WITH KIDS SEA CAMP HAS SHAPED MY LIFE
By Robert Peyton As a kid, diving kept me far from TV and video games for most of my summers. I made friends in many countries around the world. I’ve kept in touch with most of them; some have become my closest friends. Growing up at Kids Sea Camp (KSC) has shaped my life in so many ways and contributed to who I am today. I experienced diving with marine animals in the open ocean and learned how to respect and protect them over the years. I have learned how fragile coral reefs are and how hard it is to educate people about pollution and overfishing. Through KSC, I have learned about endangered marine animals and that ingesting plastic is a significant cause of death for many. Most people do not realize why putting citations in captivity is so sad. Dolphins and whales have families and friends just like we do. They have a sophisticated language and human-like
emotions. I had never thought about what it would be like to be taken from my home and put in a tank, never to see my family again. I enjoy diving because I’m a guest in their world. They are not on display in mine. I started my career as a SASY at age 6 and overcame my fears of the water. By age 8, a PADI Master Seal is diving Stingray City in the Cayman Islands. Learning to dive gave me confidence in myself. Learning skills and good buoyancy provided comfort underwater. My Jr. Open Water certification was in Curacao. At the age of 10, I had logged more than 40 dives. The cool thing about traveling with my family is that each destination offered new adventures and continued training. Traveling with other families is never dull. As I grew up, so did all the courses, activities, and other kids I have traveled the world with. Kids Sea Camp creates advanced itineraries in new destinations
every year. Much is offered now, like jungle biking, zombie dives, liveaboards, Citizen Science weeks, photography, and advanced training. For 24 years, KSC has been giving away SeaLife cameras to kids, providing video and still Micro 3.0 cameras along with in- depth photo classes. They document their trips as I have, taking fun photos of dive buddies and marine life over the years. My passion is diving, obviously inspired by my mom. I became a PADI OWSI instructor in 2014 with over 1,000 logged dives. I completed my MSDT, Tec 40, 45, and 50 at Buddy Dive Bonaire in 2016. Now 29, I completed my PADI Staff Instructor training last year in Bonaire at Buddy Dive. I also met my GUE fundamentals. Technical diving means going beyond recreational scuba diving limits. But it’s about the extreme challenges and excitement of exploring places few have ever seen. In Bonaire at Buddy Dive, we offer PADI PRO and Tec courses, as I did.
www.familydivers.com 803-419-2556 dive@familydivers.com
www.oceanwishes.org
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