to misplace his mask and fins. Soon, Stephen graduated with a kid’s size BCD and regulator setup. His instructors provided individualized instruction. It was memorable when Stephen came running up to me and said, “Daddy, I saw an octopus,” fol- lowing his first official dive near the Buddy Dive docks. It’s an experience you can never put a price tag on! I was told to prepare for an early afternoon surprise the next day. After gearing up on the dock, I saw Stephen and his instructor swim near the ladder. I was invited to join them. I was unsure how big my smile was, but they didn’t have to ask twice. Stephen and I shared a special time in just eight feet of water – and a Kids Sea Camp photogra- pher even captured the moment. I guess the “gift of experience” is something Dads can enjoy also! On the last day on the island, while snorkeling on Klein Bo- naire, Stephen excitedly pointed towards a sea turtle swimming nearby. It was near the surface and was easy for him to spot. He’s not the creature he’s used to seeing at home in Arizona. I’m sure he can’t wait to share his Kids Sea Camp experience with his new schoolmates when he starts third grade this fall.
Handling the “Spirited Child”: I won’t say Stephen was the ideal SEAL Team member, but what eight-year-old is? Stephen’s dedicated Buddy Dive instruc- tor team (Tina, Lola, and Madi) ensured the six youngsters (3 SEAL team and 3 SASY) were comfortable, trained, and secure. Tina is the senior Kids Sea Camp veteran in Bonaire, having been involved for more than 10 years. As a mother of young boys, she was very well equipped to put Stephen at ease in the water (along with his father). Stephen sometimes needs help with paying attention and following directions. Realizing this early in the week, I was impressed with how this trio of PADI instructors adapted their training with the youngsters to a more individualized approach. Tina explained that the key to a successful week is being flexible to each kid’s needs. What’s important to me is that Stephen was able to experience the thrill of breathing under- water (he did), encountering undersea creatures (an octopus and sea turtle, for starters), and the key to everything is that he had fun (no question). Whether Stephen will continue his scuba training in the future is unclear. But I’m confident he’s been
introduced to the correct tools, skills, and professionals that give him a solid dive foundation. As a photographer, I know that once you “miss a moment”, it’s difficult, if not impossible, to recreate it. During our week on Bonaire, I was thankful that Kids Sea Camp’s official photographer, Jesse Alpert, was there to cap- ture the moment digitally and via video. Throughout that first KSC week on Bonaire in June, Jesse took more than 2,000 images. Stephen and I share a love of photography. We both brought our cameras to Bonaire. Stephen was indeed able to capture some lizard shots, along with photos of his friends and some island sights (Tina made him the “official photographer” of the group’s island tour). The Kids Sea Camp team went out of their way to create memorable moments that will undoubtedly last a lifetime. I wouldn’t have expected my son to participate in “Karaoke Night,” but he did. (Something even his father has yet to do before.) I was proud to see Stephen recognized along with the rest of his “aquatic class” at the end of the week. He still needs to be older to receive PADI Open Water Certification, but he did log his first couple of SCUBA
dives in Bonaire, and for that, I’ll always be grateful. Margo Peyton created Kids Sea Camp 21 years ago for one simple reason: she wanted a safe, fun, and life-changing experience for her two young children. Since then, thousands of youngsters have learned how to SCUBA dive through Kids Sea Camp. Many have even advanced to professional levels like Divemas- ter, Rescue Diver, and Instructor. Margo’s vision has had a pro- found effect on the future of the international diving industry. Recognizing this, PADI recog- nized Margo with the PADI Life- time Achievement Award and made her a PADI Ambassadiver. The future of the recreational scuba industry is in motivating and developing the next genera- tion of scuba divers and industry professionals. Kids Sea Camp is the acknowledged leader in this critical role. I’m pleased to have been able to see this first-hand and look forward to hearing more inspiring stories. My son may choose to be part of this next generation of SCU- BA divers. Thank you, Margo!
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