GUEST ARTISTS, NEW DESTINATIONS IN 2005, NEW KIDS PROGRAMS, GREAT RATES AND KATIE O'FALLON JOINS THE KIDS SEA CAMP TEAM

Kids Sea Camp along with sponsors Sport Diver, SCUBAPRO, PADI Diving Society and Caribbean Adventures are proud to announce another huge success with our summer Kids Sea Camps, in Curacao and Grand Cayman. KSC was responsible for more than 50 newly certified divers as well as introducing more than 250 kids to our underwater world while more than 200 family members enjoyed guilt free diving and relaxation over this summer.

2004 Kids Sea Camp hosted 4 weeks in Curacao with 50% returning families who enjoyed many new activities for both kids and adults.; The addition of six sea lions at the Curacao Sea Aquarium this year gave the kids a chance to get fishy kisses, slippery handshakes and wet hugs. Many adult divers experienced new sea lion diving as well as some west end diving at Mushroom Forest and the Blue Room. Nolo from Ocean Encounters arranged surprise fire works and a bounce house for the kids along with an underwater graduation for all our Jr. Open water divers. Mom and dad enjoyed a romantic evening out and a private night dive, while kids explored the Curacao Sea Aquarium critter tanks at night and enjoyed pizza and a creature feature. Ron Stevens completed with the kids an incredible work of art called “Hands Upon the Ocean,” finished with each child’s hand print and dotted dolphins in the center representing that together with future generations we can all make a difference. This piece is on display at the Curacao Sea Aquarium.

2004 Kids Sea Camp hosted 4 weeks in Curacao with 50% returning families who enjoyed many new activities for both kids and adults. The addition of six sea lions at the Curacao Sea Aquarium this year gave the kids a chance to get fishy kisses, slippery handshakes and wet hugs. Many adult divers experienced new sea lion diving as well as some west end diving at Mushroom Forest and the Blue Room. Nolo from Ocean Encounters arranged surprise fire works and a bounce house for the kids along with an underwater graduation for all our Jr. Open water divers. Mom and dad enjoyed a romantic evening out and a private night dive, while kids explored the Curacao Sea Aquarium critter tanks at night and enjoyed pizza and a creature feature. Ron Stevens completed with the kids an incredible work of art called “Hands Upon the Ocean,” finished with each child’s hand print and dotted dolphins in the center representing that together with future generations we can all make a difference. This piece is on display at the Curacao Sea Aquarium.

Our Expansion of Kids Sea Camp to Cobalt Coast in Grand Cayman was a sell out success. Margo’s son Robbie, age 9 born in Grand Cayman, was enthusiastic, to say the least, as he welcomed kids to a place he calls home. Robbie completed the Master Seal Team program and assisted Dive Tech Seal Team kids in their first ocean dive. Dive Tech put together an awesome week of aquatic fun for kids and adults. We visited the Cayman Island Turtle Farm and experienced the Atlantis Submarine over Hamburger reef. Dive Tech also made a beautiful high quality DVD for each week, capturing all the wonderful memories for children and adults throughout the week.

The whole family enjoyed our famous Stingray City trip, and a special dive for Seal Team as parents got to experience for the first time ever a dive with their children. Scuba Mom Margo enjoyed her first dive with her PADI Seal Team son Robbie and Carolyn Pascal of Sport Diver Magazine enjoyed the same with newly certified PADI Junior Open Water diver Melissa. Both Margo and Carolyn were emotional and proud as the day their children took their first steps.Being able to watch all the kids zoom around chasing rays and fish with the greatest of ease and with a fearless zest for the underwater world has now become a bonded part of a lifetime memory. Some adventurous parents chose to enjoy Jay’s special express way dive. A 1 hr dive that truly shows off some of the best diving Cayman has to offer, with a James Bond like scooter ride from Cobalt Coast about 3 miles along the North Wall to Turtle Reef, Dive Tech’s other shop & We experienced sharks, rays, and turtles; a We had fun showing off our maneuverability as if applying for a movie stand-in, invigorating and fun, a not to miss dive for next year.

Margo, Brandy with Dive Tech, collaborated on a Cayman version of “Hands upon the Ocean” mural featuring the hands of each child turned into little fish with Stingray City the center piece, which is on display at Cobalt Coast. Grand The Department of Tourism treated us to a Sponge Bob Square Pants guest appearance. We are looking forward to 2005.

News from Kids Sea Camp!

WELCOME ABOARD KATIE!

Kids Sea Camp would like to welcome the newest member of our team, Katie O’Fallon. Katie has been running the Curacao Sea Aquarium Educational programs for the last 3 years while living in Curacao and has now joined us as our Kids Sea Camp Education Director. Katie is a marine biologist and will oversee all our kids’ educational programs at our different destinations along with hosting these events with Margo.& Many of you will remember her from your time in Curacao and she also joined Grand Cayman for the second week this last summer.

BABY DOLPHIN BORN IN CURACAO!

Great news to share from Curacao comes from the birth of a baby boy dolphin to Gee Gee at the Dolphin Academy on September 5th. The baby is doing wonderfully and growing strong even after a brush with Hurricane Ivan. The baby’s name, Papito, was chosen by the local school children which means “little boy.” If you would like to take a look at the newest addition to Dolphin Academy, check out this link for pictures of Gee Gee and baby.

http://www.dolphin-academy.com/news/2004/sep/20040918.htm

Kids Sea Camp 2005

2005 Kids Sea Camp Annual Events is continuing to grow and expand to new destinations. Kids Sea Camp 2005 events will take place in Bonaire at the lovely Plaza Resort with Toucan Diving, June 18-25 2005, The Plaza has much to offer with a casino, restaurants, spa and white sand beach along with unlimited shore diving and a PADI 5 Star rating dive facility.

Curacao Kids Sea Camp will take place at Royal Resorts Sea Aquarium (luxury 1 & 2 bedroom Ocean Front Condos) and Lions Dive Beach & Resort (also Ocean Front Hotel with spacious rooms, restaurant, beach and pool) all with Ocean Encounters a PADI 5 star Gold Palm facility and the Curacao Sea Aquarium. Curacao isfrom June 25th for 4 consecutive weeks ending on July 23.

Grand Cayman with Cobalt Coast and Dive Tech is 2 weeks from July 23-Aug 6th. Cobalt Coast offers hotel rooms, 1 bedroom suites and 2 bedroom villas. The resort is on Grand Cayman’s north side and sits on the North Wall, with the island’s best diving just a giant stride away. Dive Tech is a PADI 5 star facility and its name says it all for parents and kids that want to learn to dive or upgrade their current level. Unlimited shore diving, restaurant, pool, and Sea Scooters are available.

Eco Adventure Costa Rica Aug 6-13th is something Margo has always wanted to do with Robbie and Jen. She wants to invite you to come join her and the kids on a fun filled Eco Adventure to Costa Rica with Bill Beards. This will be a 7 night adventure through the Costa Rican rain forest, 5 nights at the Flamingo Beach Resort, 3 days of diving for the divers while non divers can enjoy white water wafting, horseback riding and mud baths along with a Canopy tour and water slide. We will spend the last couple days traveling to the Arenal Volcano and rainforest on our way to San Jose. Fully escorted and pampered with air-conditioned transfers and snacks for the kids. Margo has created her dream adventure, fun educational and exotic. There are only 15 spots on this trip, so please confirm your space soon.

We will also feature a special once in a life time opportunity for children and their parents to experience the “Whales of the Silver Bank” April 3-10th 2005. This is a very rare opportunity for you and your children, to get in the water and snorkel up close and personal with baby humpback whales. The Silver Bank is between the Dominican Republic and Turks & Caicos. This is a shallow safe haven, which has been kept safe from the droves of tourism for 13 years, discovered by Capt. Tom Conlin who will personally escort the trip as he does 9 weeks a year. We have been able to reserve one week for 14 people. These weeks sell out 1 year ahead, but Margo has reserved one week during spring break for the kids. She personally has gone 5 seasons and has longed to bring Robbie and Jen to share her experience with these gentle giants. To have a child in the water with an 8-week old baby humpback whale, to see the humanistic nuzzling and playfulness that takes place between mother and calf and enjoy the closeness of a baby humpbacks curiosity as it people watches, will forever touch the lives of our children and hopefully in return, secure their future through the next generation. Wild Dolphin encounters are also a part of this incredible adventure.

SUBAPRO, Sport Diver, PADI Diving Society, and Margo Peyton of Kids Sea Camp have been providing these incredible family vacations for 5 years. Each child from ages 4-14 have the opportunity to learn to snorkel with SASY, experience the PADI Seal Team or get certified. Children enjoy a fun filled week, swimming with Dolphins, diving with Sea Lions, feeding Sting Rays or participating in the release of baby turtles, hatched in captivity,to the sea. From Beach BBQ's,Sport Diver sponsored treasure hunts and underwater submarine rides, to playing games, and making friends from countries all around the world. Kids Sea Camp is a week you can give your children that they will remember forever.

Parents, grandparents and family friends can then relax, go diving, or learn to scuba themselves. Each child is outfitted with their own fins, mask, snorkel set or wet suit, provided by SCUBAPRO.

Special Guests and Reminders for 2005 Kids Sea Camp

• Kids Sea Camp 2005 will have everyone’s favorite artist Ron Rogest for two weeks in Curacao for June 25-July 9 along with one week in Grand Cayman July23-30th.
• The first two weeks of Curacao Kids Sea Camp will be a chance for you to meet up with old friends and make new ones during Alumni weeks. We encourage reconnecting with KSC buddies and making it a reunion.
• Kids Sea Camp host Robbie is ready to become a Junior Open Water diver during the first week of Curacao camp. He would love for all his friends to get certified with him in Curacao.
• A brand NEW program for Kids Sea Camp Curacao is our Ocean Discovery Specialty Diver program. This is designed just for the certified kids 10 years old and up. Diving, fun, friends, and education is all included along with a Sea Lion Dive, underwater photography lessons and dives, Coral Reef Ecology, Fish ID dives, and of course a Dolphin Encounter and an Animal Encounter dive.  Kids will still have a chance to dive with mom and dad at our Friday Family Day event.
• In addition to Royal Resorts, we are also offering Lions Dive Beach and Resort for 2005 to make room for all our Kids Sea Camp families and friends.
• Confirm now, space is filling up quickly. A $500 deposit is required to confirm space. Kids Sea Camp gives discounts to military families.
  
• Kids Sea Camp now offers all those families that wanted two islands in two weeks the opportunity for a week in Bonaire June 18-25 and a week in Curacao June 25-July 2. All families who book back to back trips will receive $200 discount off their 2nd week invoice.
• We also want to remind all our families that we can help book airfare for you with Air Jamaica, American Airlines, and Cayman Airways.
• Reminder to all our 2004 Kids Sea Camp families, keep an eye on your Sport Diver Magazine and website for KSC articles and published pictures of your kids.
• Let us know what you liked best about Kids Sea Camp…write us a letter, draw a picture, just let us know what you thought of 2004 KSC and we will put it on the website.
• Check out the Kids Sea Camp website www.kidseacamp.com for news, updates, and best of all pictures from 2004.
  

We hope to see you all next year at Kids Sea Camp 2005!

Get thinking about 2006 as space goes fast. We have taken the entire resort of Anthony’s Key, Roatan, Honduras for one week and it’s going to be a week of Dolphins, Dolphins, Dolphins and everything else that makes Kids Sea Camp a huge success!  This will be an all-inclusive week!

In the making for future Kids Sea Camp destinations, we want your opinions now. Margo wants to go to Africa and the Seychelles for 2006 or 2007. She is working on a 3 night stay at the Tree Tops in South Africa, Safari and Diving and then over to the Seychelles Islands, for a whale shark and turtle safari with the kids, along with working on a kids fly free with SA. & If you have a dream adventure you would love to do with the kids, and want the comfort of a group, run your thoughts by me. This is what Kids Sea Camp is all about, sharing our underwater dreams and adventures with kids.

Please also remember, for all your other dive travel needs year round, www.worlddive.com