Sea Base Ultimate Packing List Gear and Supplies and Where to Get Them

 

Here is a master list of the essentials you'll need for a Sea Base High Adventure ailing, snorkeling trip, or any overnighting at sea, on islands, etc.

General tips for all adventures:

1. Sea Base provides meals, dry bags, fishing equipment and nearly everything else you will need on your adventure
2. Gear: Click here for the Gear selection guide and packing checklists for your SPECIFIC Sea Base adventure,
3. Be sure to see our summary Sea Base page with loads more information about Sea Base.
4. FAQs : Sea Base frequently asked questions - the constantly growing FAQs page is here.
5. Insider Tips, Tricks and Info from past Sea Base participants - includes photos of the dorms, bathrooms, showers, restaurants, etc.
6. They suggest to bring spending money ($150-$200) per person for the onshore days, souvenirs and replacing lost, damaged or expended supplies.
7. Fishing Equipment: Again, all fishing tackle and equipment is provided by Sea Base. Please do not bring personal fishing gear.
8. Snorkels and Masks - what to get and where to get it for best price and quality
9. Underwater Cameras, underwater and action cameras, GoPro's etc all options from $40 - $700
10. Documents: When your leader is packing, be sure he/she separates paperwork by form type into folders to greatly reduce check-in time! See this page about Sea Base forms tips to organizing them for a speedy check-in! Some people like uploading forms to the CampDoc website. Then, the only thing you should have to show at Sea Base is
    • the precamp medical screening to make sure no one is sick when they arrive and
    • printed copies of their Membership Cards so they can verify their ID Numbers.
11. How to Create Custom Crew Shirts for Sea Base High Adventure Trips
12. Travel packing list, for to and from Sea Base:
    • Small items for plane rides (like headphones, phone chargers, wallets, ID's, etc)
    • Outfit to wear for your first afternoon arriving at Sea Base (Class B short sleeves/ and switchback pants or shorts)
    • Outfit to wear to the boat - (Class B short sleeves/ and switchback pants or shorts)
    • Outfit to wear for the afternoon/evening after return from the boat (informal short sleeves/shorts) 
    • Outfit to wear home - Note: You will probably want short sleeves/shorts until inside the airport, then change in restroom into pants and/or sweatshirt for the rest of the trip on the plane
      

Trip Packing Guides and Checklists

OK, first thing to know is there are MANY different Sea Base Adventures, so

let's be sure you are looking at right adventure and the correct packing list for that trip.

If you have any doubt at all - and it can be confusing, for example there are two Florida Keys adventures going out of different locations - then scroll down and read all the descriptions, before you decide which is your specific trip .

Islamorada Sailing Adventure Packing List

See these pages for trips departing from and return to Islamorada
 These guides and packing checklists cover:

• Coral Reef Sailing,
• Eco Sailing ,
• Sea Exploring,
• Keys Adventure Sailing, and
• Keys Adventure Islamorada (see this page for the KI trips)

Sea Base Brinton Environmental Center-based adventures

See this page for the Sea Base Brinton Environmental Center-based adventures Guide and Packing List. which includes: 

• Keys Adventure, 
• Out Island Adventure and
• Florida Fishing Adventure

For a complete official packing list for your adventure please see the following list pages in the Sea Base official guide
. But after these links, we provided the same information, organized by category, and with specific recommendations from people who have been on these trips to specific gear and where to get it.

Florida Sea Base SCUBA Advanced Marine Exploration Spring & Summer

Includes

• all SCUBA adventures,
• Coral Reef Restoration and
• Reef Trek.

Earn a PADI Advanced Scuba certification
Florida SCUBA packing guide and more info

Bahamas Adventures

The Bahamas Adventure Spring & Summer

and

Bahamas Tall Ship Spring & Summer
Bahamas Packing Guide and information

 

St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands Sailing in Summer

Board a 40-foot plus vessel with an experienced captain and beyond sailing, snorkel pristine coral reefs, hike in Virgin Islands National Park, swim ashore to incredible beaches, and more!
St. Thomas Packing Guide and information

 

Underwater recording optional items

See this page for ALL of the waterproof, even underwater, camera options from $45 on up to $400, from generics, Fuji, Insta, GoPro, DJI and everything in-between.

Snorkel and Goggles

You need to bring your own or buy it at 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!

 

What NOT to bring

Preface: Almost everyone who has been on a Sea Base adventure says they brought TOO MUCH, and spent almost all of their time in their swim suit, sun shirt, fins, sunglasses, sun hat and wearing mineral sunscreen. This is where people blow the 40L limit:

❌ Full sleeping bag (too hot and bulky)
❌ Mess kits and cooking gear
❌ Cotton hoodies/sweatpants
❌ Multiple pairs of shoes
❌ Large towels
❌ Hard suitcases
❌ “Just in case” extras

More Information

Shortcuts to each trip guide:

• Islamorada Florida Keys Sailing-Snorkeling-Fishing Adventure Packing List (sleeping on the boats)
  • Keys Adventure Islamorada (KI) (see this page for the KI trips, which sleep in the dorms on Islamorada)
• 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

Other pages:

• The UNofficial official Sea Base page with loads more information about Sea Base.
  

• Merit badge requirements you can complete while on a Sea Base Adventure!

• One scout made a nice 25-minute video of the packing list with his recommendations (I've merged his into the list above).