Troop Planning Materials for Sea Base High Adventures

 

Florida Keys Sea Base high adventure sailing, snorkeling camp, Bahamas sailing, St. Thomas, SCUBA and other Sea Base High Aventure trips are and Aquatic version of the commonly known Philmont Adventures. If you're a troop leader considering this for your troop, these pages may help introduce you to it and give you some of the materials you'll need to plan your own troop's Sea Bass Adventure. 'These pages provide an introduction to Sea Base, links to the official Sea Base website and guides and our own organized list of gear and equipment that former participants have recommended, plus links where to get the best gear - at the best prices. For any forms and official information, always follow the links back to the official Sea Base website.

Contents

• Planning materials - below on this page
  • Videos
  • Travel arrangements
  • How to Create Custom Crew Shirts for Sea Base High Adventure Trips
  • Important to know
• Sea Base -  descriptions of each adventure
• Sea Base FORMS and tips to organizing them for a speedy check-in!
• Sea Base FAQs
• Sea Base ultimate packing lists
  • Islamorada Florida Keys Sailing-Snorkeling-Fishing Adventure Packing List
  • Sea Base Brinton Environmental Center-based adventures, including Big Munson Island
  • Florida SCUBA packing guide and more info
  • Bahamas Packing Guide and information
  • St. Thomas Packing Guide and information
• Snorkels and Masks - what to get and where to get it for best price and quality
• Underwater Cameras, underwater and action cameras, GoPro's etc all options from $40 - $700
• Merit badge requirements you can complete while on a Sea Base Adventure!
  Overview and daily schedule
  Merit Badges:
1. Small Boat Sailing Merit Badge
2. Fishing Merit Badge
3. Scuba Diving - if you are on a SCUBA trip
4. Fish & Wildlife - a partial fit
5. Oceanography - a partial fit
6. Swimming - Note: most complete this at BSA summer camp.
7. Or see this combined merit badge page: fishing, sailing, fish & wildlife and swimming merit badges on one page.
   

   Note - we are NOT affiliated with BSA or Sea Base, just scouts and scouters trying to help other scouts and scouters!

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All Sea Base Adventures

All of these locations are surrounded by the clear blue-green waters. But these base camps are merely the take-off and return point for the real adventures: sail, snorkeling, camping and fishing in the Keys and Gulf, where few go!

Which camps you go to and where you stay depends upon the adventure your troop selects. Here's a synopsis of Sea Base.

Sea Base’s business hours are 9:00am-5:00pm ET, Monday-Friday. If you need to get in touch with someone immediately, use the Sea Base contact list.  (be SURE to see the official Sea Base website as these offerings and details may constantly change!

Sea Base offers 18 different adventures at 4 locations, many of which have different activities and just to make things confusing, very similar names. Preparation, required paperwork and travel information can vary widely between some adventures, so it’s important to know which program your unit is registered for.

Videos

If you are looking for a video or presentation to show your troop or scout, to see what Sea Base high adventure trips are like, see these pages:

• This video is a sea Base montage from all the different adventures.  
• Sea Base 2026 Troop Presentation Powerpoint Slides

Cost Estimate Info

Obviouisly, estimating the costs is a very important part of the planning process. Here is an example one troop put together for St. Thomas and Bahamas in 2026:

The chart below provides some general guidance, but you can use our online Sea Base Cost Calculator to get a very accurate estimate quickly.

Travel Arrangements

Blue Sky Adventures is the agency that will arrange all ground transportation, 3 meals, and hotel accommodations in 9 rooms for 1 night with adults two to a room and Scouts four to a room.  Additional rooms are available for $200 per room per night (2026 price).  Transportation will be via van or mini bus.

The 2026 price was typically $435 per person, based on a group of 24 (9 male adults and 15 male youth) with an arrival in Ft. Lauderdale on (example) July 18, 2026, arrival at Sea Base Islamorada (Scuba/Sailing Adventures) on July 19, 2026 and departure from Sea Base Islamorada and Ft. Lauderdale on July 24, 2026. 

Late may result in a reduction of the activities conducted. 

Aside from this, you are responsible for making the airline arrangements and the cost of the airline.  

Please verify that we have you booked for the correct Sea Base facility in the Florida Keys.  

• Scuba and Sailing Adventures go to Islamorada.  
• The Out Island and Keys Adventure go to Brinton Environmental Center.  

Failure to confirm this can result in a $1,000 surcharge !  If in doubt, please call Sea Base to verify which facility you are attending!

Important things to know:

1. Adults: Without exception every adult leader and all individuals over 18 participating in a Sea Base program must
   • be registered with Scouting America - Adults may be registered in any unit position that requires a background check and volunteer database screening. Attending adults may not be registered solely outside of a unit: Example: Merit Badge Counselor with no unit registration.
   • complete Youth Protection Training, Scouting America Safe Swim, Scouting America Safety Afloat, and Hazardous Weather Training Certificate.
   • Per boat,
     One adult age 21 or older must complete Wilderness First Aid Training and
     one adult age 21 or older must complete CPR/AED Training.
2. Every participant, youth and adult, must complete Scouting America Swim Test as a Swimmer passed on a date within a year of the start of their adventure. The Scouting America Swim Test should be documented on the Unit Swim Classification Record and submitted during check in.
3. Sea Base participants must be in good health. All participants must provide a current and complete the 2019 version of the Scouting America Annual Health and Medical Record (AHMR). AHMR’s are current for 12 months from the end of the month in which they are completed. For example, if the medical form is signed and dated on June 2, 2024, it is valid until June 30, 2025. No other medical form will be accepted.
4. No participant can exceed 295lbs as evidenced by the medical form. No exceptions will be
   made, as this is the weight limit for safety equipment aboard our US Coastguard inspected vessels. Participants exceeding 295lbs will be sent home at their own expense. No refund will be given.
5. If you are on a sailing adventure:
   • Water bottles: do not bring metal or aluminum water bottles (they clank all night). You are expected to bring a Nalgene 32 oz BAP-Free Wide Mouth Water Bottle and an insulated matching insulated carrier / coozy to keep it insulated and with a carabineer. The one linked to Amazon coozy has a should strap and even zipped pockets. Much cheaper with the links on the photos, even less that Wal-Mart. So you get the bottle and the carrier for just the cost of the bottle alone at Sea Base.
     At the Sea Base Ship store, the 2026 Nalgene water bottles are $26 double the cost of the Nalgene bottle on Amazon .
   • No shoes: sailing captains do not allow shoes of any kind- including deck shoes while on board, just the fin Neoprene water socks.
   • Sleeping: Due to the heat, most participants will choose to sleep on deck rather than below deck.
   • Masks and snorkels: Bring your own. Get it at a local (to you) dive shop, in person, prior to departure, so you can check the comfort and fit, which is very important. They will not be provided as part of your adventure, but can be purchased/ordered through the Sea Base ship store, but I would not recommend that. They only sell one generic brand and if it is a poor fit, well, have fun with that. It's enough of a specialized topic, that it's all on its own page: See this page for everything you need to know AND where to get it
   • Fins, inflatable vests and fishing gear are provided, so do not bring those. More info on the packing list pages.
   • Luau night: On the last night of Florida Sea Base Adventures, your crew will participate in a Conch LUAU. This is a special dinner festival complete with fun, music and games. Dress for the Conch LUAU should be Keys- Hawaiian style Conch Luau Shirt. Floral shirts are available for purchase onsite at the Ships’ Store.
   • Crew first aid kit: This is a generic one that you can buy and just add a few things to it (like vinegar, sunscreen)  and be good to go!
     
6. For off-boat walking, bring closed toe, high ankle water shoes with a solid bottom. Protect your feet and ankles against sharps and biting things!
7. Crew Number: Every crew is assigned a number when they register e.g., KA061026-A. The first two letters represent the adventure you are registered for: KA (Keys Adventure); FA (Fishing Adventure); OI (Out Island). Then comes the date you arrive 061026 (June 10, 2026).