Come make a Kids Sea Camp memory with your family this summer

Once upon a time, Margo owned a travel company called World Dive Adventures, was a PADI dive master and loved to dive. She wanted to be able to bring her kids when she traveled, where she could dive and share her love of the ocean. She wanted them to share in a meaningful family experience, educational and most of all fun. She and Carolyn from Sport Diver dreamed up the 1st Kids Sea Camp in Curacao over10 years ago. Robbie and Melissa were 6 and Jen just 4. Today the Kids Sea Camp program has grown from just 26 kids the 1st year to 13 weeks in 8 countries and over 1500 participants a year. Like Robbie, Melissa and Jen, many of the Kids Sea Camp regulars are now in the Teen Divers program with their own dedicated dive boat and specialty programs. The younger kids join in at various levels including SASY, Seal Team and Jr. O/W certification classes. Adult diving and non-dive activities are cherished by guilt-free parents that grow more relaxed by the day.

The folks at Ocean Encounters Dive Center ­in Curacao, Dive Tech in Grand Cayman, Buddy Dive in Bonaire, Unexso in Grand Bahama and Anthony's Key Resort in Roatan, all PADI 5-Star resorts, have spent many years working with Margo on every detail of the Kids Sea Camp programs. Some highlights include baby turtles making their way from shells to shore on Klein Bonaire. The first dots painted with Ron Rogest who can turn the most insecure little faces to proud giggles of joy in no time. Horseback riding on the beach in between dolphin kisses and shark dives make Roatan a unique and tranquil treat. At Unexso in Grand Bahama, Linda & Nikki, Eddy and Christina make all the guests feel like they are old friends, and by the end of the trip, they all are.

PADI, Sport Diver, SCUBAPRO, Rogest and SeaLife under water cameras have all joined forces to sponsor the camps with fabulous goodies of all kinds. Kids are armed with tote bags and high hopes when they set out for a treasure hunt along the shoreline to find the coins that are carefully "hidden" just minutes earlier. The nice thing about this semi-competitive activity is that everybody wins. There are enough digital cameras, wetsuits, masks, fins, snorkels, rash guards, t-shirts and caps to go around. . There are so many families who want to connect and stay connected throughout the year that Margo has joined face book so everyone remain in touch. Enthusiasm for the experience is contagious, and so it grows. Visit kidsseacamp.com to view photo galleries and testimonials from the last 10 years and sign up for our e-newsletter updates.

Then call Margo at 800-934-3483 for a rundown of this summer's highlights and start to plan your family memories of a lifetime today.

As the official publication of the PADI Diving Society, Sport Diver is the magazine divers turn to each month to find out what's going on in their world. Sport Diver is the ultimate source for up to date information on dive culture, equipment, travel, training and PADI Diving Society activities.

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