BSA Sea Base Florida Keys High Adventure - The UNoffical guide to what to know!

 

Everything you need to know about preparing for a BSA Sea Base adventure including packing lists, sailing tips, snorkeling gear, seasickness prevention, sleeping arrangements, and first-timer advice. Everyone has heard of the BSA (formerly Boy Scouts of America) Philmont High Adventure. Fewer know about the Florida Keys Sea Base high adventure sailing, snorkeling camp, Bahamas sailing, St. Thomas, SCUBA and more. 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.

Gear, Packing and Preparation

1. Guides: Sea Base ultimate packing: gear selection and buying guides -
   What you need, what's recommended, where to get it at the best price; reviews and recommendations from previous Sea Base participants: Pick your trip from this list:
   • Islamorada Florida Keys Sailing-Snorkeling-Fishing Adventure Gear Guide and more information
   • Sea Base Brinton Environmental Center-based adventures gear guide, and more info,
     including Big Munson Island and Out Islands.
   • Florida SCUBA gear guide and information
   • Bahamas Gear Guide and information
   • St. Thomas Gear Guide and information
      
2. Shopping Checklist:
   Helps select gear and track what you are buying and gathering for your trip
    
3. Packing Checklist:
   This is a simple packing checklist to check items off as you pack them into the duffle bag.
    

4. Cost estimator, calculator AND packing checklist - all in one, the fast and easy guide/checklist.
   Once you know what gear you want to get, pack and take, this one page will do it all, and save and email your entries for later updates

5. Tips, Tricks and Recommendations - gathered from past participants

6. FAQs - answers to frequently asked questions

7. Merit Badges - that scouts can work on during a Sea Base trek.

Snorkeling and Water Gear

• Snorkels and Masks - what to get and where to get it for best price and quality
• Underwater Cameras, underwater and action cameras, GoPro's, dive enclosures, waterproof cases, etc all options from $40 - $700

Information and Guide for Trip Organizers and Leaders

1. Materials for troop leaders planning a Sea Base trip
2. Sea Base forms and tips to organizing them for a speedy check-in!
3. Traveling to and from Sea Base
4. Fun Activities and things to; do after finishing at Sea Base - There's plenty of fun stuff nearby or on the way to the airport.
5. How to Create Custom Crew Shirts for Sea Base High Adventure Trips

Sailing and Boat Life

• Sea Base -  descriptions of each adventure (below, on this page)
• Seasickness prevention
• Boating terms: see our complete list of boating and sailing terms

First Timer Advice

Start here if you are new to Sea Base

1. Read the packing list  for your specific adventure
2. The packing guides and checklists will help you learn what shoes, clothes and gear to bring and where to get them at the best price
3. Understand what to bring for seasickness prevention
4. Choose your snorkeling gear
5. Read first-time sailing advice and see the Sea Base FAQs and Tips from past Sea Base participants
6. Watch some videos from past Sea Base trips
7. Learn about Merit badge requirements you can complete while on a Sea Base Adventure!
   Merit Badge overview and daily schedule
   Merit Badges:
1. Astronomy
2. Bird Study
3. Cooking
4. Fish & Wildlife
5. Fishing Merit Badge
6. Oceanography
7. Scuba Diving - Only on SCUBA adventures
8. Small Boat Sailing Merit Badge
9. Swimming - Note: most complete this at BSA summer camp.
10. Weather

Seasickness and Comfort

• Being sea sick is no joke and can ruin the week. See how to prevent sea sickness here.

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

---

Base Camp Lower Matecumbe, Islamorada

The BSA original Florida National High Adventure Sea Base is located on Lower Matecumbe in Islamorada (mile marker 73.8) on the Overseas Highway. It was originally started as a fishing camp after the highway opened in 1938. In the 1950’s, it had an Inn with 10 rooms, a convenience store and bait shop, a lounge and even a good restaurant. Scouting America purchased the Tollgate Inn complex in 1979 and it became the Florida National High Adventure Sea Base. Dorms were added to house over 200 Scouts and leaders, as well as scuba pools, conference/staff housing, program facilities and an administration building.  Complete Islamorada Sailing Adventures Guide.

Adventures from this location are:

• Keys Adventure Sailing,
• Coral Reef Sailing,
• Eco Sailing,
• Sea Exploring, 
• Keys Adventure Islamorada and
• SCUBA adventures

More on each adventure:

• Keys Adventure Sailing in Summer
  Start on Base in Islamorada, crews of 8 will spend their time sailing, snorkeling, and fishing. During the first part of the adventure, crews will be housed in our eco tents with bunk beds and air conditioning.
  For the remainder of the adventure, crews will set sail on a live-aboard adventure at sea.
  Packing guide and more info
  Videos:
  1. Official Informational video: Sea Base Sailing & Island Expedition Program Info Session for 2024 Adventures
  2.  Video of an actual trip.
  3. Good 4-minute video from 2016... with really annoying music (mute it)

• Florida Sea Base Coral Reef Sailing Spring & Summer & Winter
  a week aboard a large sailing vessel over 40 feet long.
  Snorkel, study astronomy, navigation, fish identification,
  and coral reef ecology.
  Packing guide and more info
  
  
• Florida Sea Base Reef Trek Summer
  Explore that reef ecosystem from above and below the waves!
  Three nights will be spent in air-conditioned dormitories. Two nights will be spent camping at sea, learning what it takes for overnight sailing aboard with your crew.
  Packing guide and more info
   
• Florida Sea Base SCUBA Advanced Marine Exploration Spring & Summer
  Coral Reef Restoration-
  Earn a PADI Advanced Scuba certification
  Packing guide and more info
  
  

Brinton Environmental Center Summerland key

As it grew, eventually another permanent base of operation, the Brinton Environmental Center, was donated.
The 6-acre property was dedicated on May 5, 2001. It sits on Summerland Key at mile marker 23.8.

The Brinton Environmental Center is now the base to the:

• Keys Adventure - has many activities: sailing, fishing, kayaking, snorkeling, primitive camping on Big Munson Island, and sightseeing in Key West and local State Parks.
• Out Island Adventure,
• Florida Fishing Adventure and
• Marine STEM Adventure.

Complete Brinton Adventures Guide

• Out Island Adventure in Spring & Summer & Winter
  Begins at the Brinton Environmental Center and camps on Big Munson Island! Paddle a canoe 5 miles to the island, under a canopy of gumbo limbo trees, mangroves, go on an ocean kayak, a fishing excursion, shark fish, paddle to Munson Rocks for a night snorkel.
  Packing Guide and information
  

St. Thomas

• 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!
  Packing Guide and information

Bahamas

• The Bahamas Adventure Spring & Summer
  Snorkel in Marsh Harbour on Great Abaco Island among the beautiful reefs. Also fishing, and swimming.
  Packing Guide and information
  
• Bahamas Tall Ship Spring & Summer
  An active ship, requires everyone to work as a team
  Packing Guide and information

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.

See these pages for more information, photos, tips and first hand accounts!

• Packing lists - what you NEED and where to get it!
• All about snorkels, masks, what to get and where
• Official Sea Base FAQs page
• All official Sea Base forms
• Recording equipment for underwater and above water!
• Unofficial Big Munson Island Facebook page.  

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

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.
     
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).