PADI has approved its first Kids Sea Diver Specialty course. Developed with PADI and Kids Sea Camp founder Margo Peyton, the certification is designed to help families that dive together become better dive buddies. The course reviews basic communication skills and basic concepts of buoyancy for parents and their children.

The course objectives include:
- Reinforce "Good Buddy" principles and practices.
- Refresh basic signs and skills as well as update any skill changes since the child’s certification.
- Educate students about the benefits of continuing education.
- Encourage interest in leadership roles that promote responsible diving.
- Discuss local ecological issues and how they impact the environment.
- Identify local environmental issues, discuss solutions and create awareness.

According to Peyton, one of the most important aspects of this course is showing families – especially parents – how to communicate with one another underwater.

“Most parents verbalize commands,” Peyton explained. This course, she said, shows parents how to effectively communicate their instructions when verbal commands are no longer feasible. In addition, it emphasizes to kids how important it is to pay attention to signals and non-verbal cues from mom and dad. This helps those who complete the course become better buddies with their families and other divers in general, Peyton said.

The idea of the certification stems from Peyton’s original goals in creating Kids Sea Camp. “As a mom, I wanted to go diving but didn’t want to leave [my kids] in a hotel or daycare,” she said. She went on further to explain that when comparing scuba diving to skiing or snowboarding, “we don’t have a bunny hill. I created a bunny hill for the ocean.” Peyton goes on to say that she hopes this course, as well as other initiatives at Kids Sea Camp, will keep families diving for generations to come.