Kids Sea Camp immediately appealed to us, but with our kids attending a private school whose holiday calendar seemed to be offset by every other school system in the country, none of the dates aligned well with our availabil- ity. Margo was undeterred. She set us up for a week at Buddy Dive in Bonaire, a location Saundra and I knew well. And so, in April 2018, we found ourselves on our first-ever Family Dive Adventure. Sam dove with us and our own private guide arranged by Margo while the twins took their first Seal course and took to the sport as enthusiastically as their big sister had. The next year, we were able to find a KSC week that worked for our school schedule, so we jumped at the chance to go to a Cayman Islands Kids Sea Camp. There, we met three people who have become some of our closest friends: Tom, Margo, and Olivia. GREAT DIVING KIDS Over the years, we have been on seven more Kids Sea Camp trips to the Galapagos, Cayman Islands, Bonaire, St. Lucia, Roatan, The Philippines, and the Turks & Caicos. All have been extraor- dinary. Over that time, our children have become exceptional divers. When we took them to the Galapagos, the staff on the dive boat commented to
IT’S PERSONAL What makes it so personal? Tom’s KSC karaoke, singing with Sam, and encouraging her and me to share our voices with the world. And then the time the entire KSC team helped me create a surprise Lip Dub in St. Lucia for my wife on our anniversary—what an amazing memory they created for us. We have made so many new friends and enjoy reconnecting with them and meeting others on each trip. We have become a part of a family that was never expected. We continue to travel with not only Kids Sea Camp as a family, but also with Sandra and me, we also enjoyed an Empty Nester trip with Margo and Tom to Indonesia, a photo-intensive trip that we both enjoyed. I’ve been exploring underwater photography, and that trip to Lembeh gave me a glimpse of our fu- ture. It will be a little while before we are empty nesters, but when we are, Margo and Tom have given us a glimpse into what it could look like. We have already booked a 2029 “Why Not” trip aboard the Arenui with them. KSC is very much an extended family. We are so excited about our daughter Sam age 18 doing a full summer intern- ship this year with Margo, Tom and Olivia. Its going to be a life changing sum- mer indeed.
me privately how impressed they were with Adam and Lauren, two fourteen- year-olds of small stature who could dive as well as any adult in challenging conditions. I replied that it is entirely at- tributable to the incredible program that Margo and Tom have developed. With- out the two of them guiding and hosting us, I would never have felt comfortable letting my children dive on a liveaboard or anywhere else! Of course, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing with beautiful sunsets. The year 2020 brought not only the COVID-19 pandemic but also a diagnosis of Hodg- kin’s Lymphoma for Lauren at the worst possible time. Margo, Tom, and Olivia’s love and friendship during those difficult months meant the world to us. They are a shining example of how they view their relationships with their customers as more than just a business interaction but as a real investment in people and long-lasting connections.
www.familydivers.com 803-419-2556 dive@familydivers.com
www.oceanwishes.org
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