Sea Base Islamorada - Photos, Map, Check-in Process - Everything You Need To Know!

If you've got an upcoming trip to Sea Base Islamorada planned, you may be curious as to what to expect when you arrive . What does it look like? What's the layout How does it work? This page provides a walk through tour of the camp as you arrive for your Sea Base adventure with a layout locations map and photos to give you a better idea what to expect.

Here is a map and layout of the base and the various stations and locations you will need to know.

Arrival at Sea Base Islamorada

You may arrive at Sea Base in a car, a small van or even a large bus. Commonly, you get dropped off in the front area near the program office (1). But you may have to park further down.

You will then unload your gear and carry it to the quarterdeck area (2) on the map above. This is a blue building raised over a covered area that's open on the sides and has a number of wooden picnic tables underneath . Each crew typically takes a table.

Quarterdeck

The quarter deck area is a covered area of picnic tables under a blue building.

On the top floor of that building is the Sea Base ship store which you enter from the back left corner and exit from the back right corner going up and down stairs.

When you first enter Sea Base Islamorada you head for this area and stow your gear on top of empty tables there, then find your first mate.

Quarterdeck area

Checking In

There are plenty of Sea Base staff walking around and if you don't approach them they will probably approach you and you will find your mate to check in. Your mate will need to get together with your leaders who have all the paperwork and sit down at a table off to the side to review it. This could take as little as 30 minutes to as much as an hour and a half. It depends how organized you are and how complete the paperwork is. It's best to make sure there is nothing left unchecked uncompleted or ambiguous on the paperwork for all participants. Even something as simple as a missing date for a tetanus shot can cause an issue.

Change, stow your gear and fill water bottles

water and ice station While the leaders are checking in the crews, the crews themselves should be preparing, separating the gear they will leave on land, which will go into the lockers until checkout day. The lockers are in the building with the dorms identified as number (4) on the map above. Each crew gets one locker and you bring your own lock to lock it. The lockers are approximately three feet by three feet and about seven feet deep.

The crews can go to the restrooms or showers (4) or the STU's and begin changing into their swimsuits and boat gear or whatever is appropriate for their activity coming up, and begin filling their water bottles at the Water and Ice station identified as (3) on the map.

The Sea Base Ship Store

At some point one of the staff will solemnly approach you to take to for a ... well I never did hear what, but it was to the Ship Store. It was a sale pitch. The store is packed with loads of the most over-priced stuff you've ever seen. Souvenirs, toiletries, gear, candy, drinks, ice cream, you name it.

But DO look for the clerance rack near the entrance door, on the right - good bargains there like Sea Base T-shirts FOR $12.

Find your adventure's specific tentative itinerary here:

What you need to do and where you go right after check-in depends upon your specific adventure, the weather, and other factors. That said, here are the typical schedules:

Photos and Flags

Your mate will take you over to the photo area which is usually by the Chapel (5) but you can pretty much do it anywhere and they will give you your crew flag if you don't already have one . Photos there go on the wall so to speak on the Sea Base website and of course you get a copy as well electronically.

Meet your captain

When the check in process is complete, DEPENDING UPON YOUR SPECIFIC INTINERARY it's time to carry your gear out to the docks (7) and meet your captain and board your boat,if you're on a boat trip that is departing right away. Typically that's the coral reef sailing trips. The other sailing trips may depart for their sailing that evening, the next morning or later in the week.

The captains own or lease their own boats, or in some cases, captain the boat for an owner.

Each captain sets his own rules for the boat. Most do not allow you to wear shoes of any kind on the boat. Some allow dive socks but you probably won't even want to wear those. Your feet give you the best grip. Once you've met your captain, you start boarding the boat, bringing your crew bags on first (typically) and then the other bags. Most gear gets stored below deck. Snorkels and Heading out to sea bins and masks usually get stored above decks bungied or clipped to a line or railing so they don't fall overboard.

Now it's time to head out to sea!

Next, click here to get familiar with the typical Sea Base Morgan 41 sailboat. (Coming soon!)

What can you do after finishing at Sea Base if you have time before your flight or before coming to Sea Base?
Some crews do the following, all of which are close by, some just 5 minutes away.