tanet Resort . This resort offers, a spa, jungle biking, volcano hiking, paddle boarding, sailing, snorkeling, chocolate culinary classes, yoga, shopping, guided sugar plantation walks, farm to table dining as well as a jazzy sunset cruise. My number two is Belize at Blackbird Caye Resort . This resort sits right on the Turneffe Atoll with amazing access to fly fish- ing, snorkeling, kayaking and bird watching. Sometimes they see more than the divers! Is Kids Sea Camp special needs friendly? For the past 10 years we have been provid- ing special needs services for adults and kids diving, and exceeding their expectations. We have a team of dive instructors that are experienced in areas such as high functioning autism, deaf, handicap, and experienced in the valet needs of elderly divers. We can provide valet diving services to make everyday diving details easier and less stressful for all who need or want. We can provide private one-on-one instructors or dive masters for people that need a little more professional assistance. We have smaller tanks and BC’s for smaller adults and kids. We have destinations that can cater to needs of dive platforms, wheel- chairs and we can help people with gear in and out of the water. We do our best to meet those needs. Most importantly, the doctor who is treat- ing a special needs participant must provide authorization stating the person is cleared to participate in scuba diving activities. I require at least six months notice and a good in- depth conversation about special needs. We can not always say yes, because safety comes first. Margo what is your best advice for parents of new divers? Know your kids’ depth limits and profile restrictions. If you are not a PADI pro or other dive pro, then always make sure to request a dive master or instructor to lead you on dives with your kids in new destinations. Parents have enough on their plates taking care of themselves under water and adding kids to the mix can make it very stressful very quickly. Kids move around faster and you can’t just talk to them underwater, which can make things more complicated for the parents. Parents should make sure to have a refresher course if needed. Know your signals and skills well, so that you can assist and communicate with young or new divers. Lead by example. Your kids watch you and they learn from observing your habits, so lead by example.
Do not give kids over the counter medications before a dive If I had a dollar for every time a child told me their parent loaded them up with an an- tihistamine before a dive, I could fill a bucket. That can be a very dangerous thing to do. Some medications can cause reverse blocks and some can cause panic and anxiety at- tacks. The most common problem is dehydration. Diving is a very dehydrating sport anyway, so adding a decongestant before a dive can make a situation ten times worse. Consult with a doctor before administering any medications that will be in you or your child’s system during a dive. Never drink alcohol and dive. There is never a day that I don’t learn something new from the people I have the pleasure to dive with around the world. Diving with kids expands my knowledge and enriches my life each year. Margo what are your greatest joys with your job. 1. Turning a frightened or anxious mother’s face into a calm and confident smile. 2. Seeing three generations of divers enjoying diving together as a family. 3. Taking children out of the only world they have ever known and showing them the magic of the ocean for the very first time. Margo Peyton PADI Instructor #57474 1989 - 2024 is celebrating 35 years of diving in 2024.
Make sure your gear is streamlined, check your gauges early and often, ascend and descend slowly. Always let someone else know you’re going diving and make sure you have a slate to write on. Things happen, currents come up and you need to be able to communicate with each other. Have a plan. Make it fun to make a dive plan with some of your own sea signs and signals. Don’t assume every diver knows the same signs & signals. Go over them before your dive. Make sure you do a weight check prior to diving and know the type of dive you are going to do. Make sure you are not forcing your child to dive. If he or she is scared or doesn’t want to go, then discuss what’s going on and make it OK not to dive. The worst thing you can do is force a child or adult to dive when they do not feel safe or well. Don’t try to impress your child. Don’t be a show off. I promise kids will try to do what you do. Just enjoy your time in the water and let them enjoy the zero grav- ity. Diving should not be like being in a boot camp. Your kids should have fun! It is called recreational diving for a reason. Kids love the zero gravity, doing somer- saults, taking photos, having fun with you and being upside down. Make some of that OK when its safe to. Show them where it’s OK to have some fun and when it’s not.
www.familydivers.com 803-419-2556 dive@familydivers.com
www.oceanwishes.org
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