Dive into ‘Scuba Steve’s’ underwater camp chronicles

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to attend summer camp under the sea?

Scuba Steve has.

North Merrick’s resident professional scuba diver, “Scuba Steve” Kamlet, released the third book in “The Tales of Scuba Steve” series earlier this year — another exciting look into the underwater world imagined by Kamlet.

Preceded by “Honu’s Reef” and “Carcharodon Island,” the third installment, “Isfjell Point” continues the adventures of Ben and his camp friends of Camp Oneega, inspired by Kamlet’s own extensive experience working at Merrick Woods Day Camp. The series even explores environmental topics, with a kid-friendly approach.

Former East Meadow High School student, and friend of Kamlet’s daughter, Shannon Marsolais, illustrated the series.

Her illustrations of “The Tales of Scuba Steve” are inspired by her own days at camp as a kid — where Scuba Steve was her swim instructor.

Kamlet launched the book on Oct. 15 at a Bethpage restaurant alongside family, friends, and local nonprofit, “Balloon Mission.”

Balloon Mission, founded by North Merrick resident Cynthia Seibold, collects balloons after they are used — but before they make their way to the trash. This eliminates the chance of the balloon causing harm to the environment, wildlife, or the community by way of micro and nanoplastics. 

Its mission is to “Collect. Protect. Preserve.” Currently, Balloon Mission is repurposing all balloons and their ribbons into energy as a short-term solution with Covanta. This provides electricity for residents and businesses of Long Island.

More long term, they will recycle these balloons and ribbons into other products such as industrial flooring through TerraCycle with the help of funding from grant awards and donations.

The nonprofit is accepting all deflated balloons, ribbons and strings, including foil and mylar, latex and rubber, water balloons, punch ball balloons,

Balloon bins are located throughout Long Island, but if you are not near a bin location, you can Pop-n-Drop balloons and ribbons to P.O. Box 126 Merrick. For more information or to find your nearest bin location, visit BalloonMission.org

Kamlet’s entire series is available everywhere books are sold. For more information, visit TalesOfScubaSteve.com/purchase-book.

As an award winning author and internationally recognized marine conservationist, Kamlet also visits schools and groups to discuss his writing process, scuba diving, and marine conservation.