Florida Sea Base
The Florida Sea Base
Sea Base Location
The Florida National High Adventure Sea Base is headquartered in the
heart of the fabulous Florida Keys, on an island 75 miles south of Miami. Scouting's most
complete aquatic facility offers a complete variety of water activities from SCUBA diving
to sailing "Tall Ships". All of our participants have the opportunity to swim,
snorkel, and fish among the most beautiful coral reefs in the northern hemisphere.
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The Facility
The elevated dormitories look out across Florida Bay to one of the many
bridges that separates the Gulf of Mexico from the Atlantic Ocean. Our harbor has a 300
foot pier for the sailing yachts, as well as many smaller docks for our fleet of power
boats. SCUBA instruction is offered in special diving tanks complete with an underwater
viewing port. The Ship's Store (Trading Post) sells many items that you may have forgotten
and items to take home to help you remember your adventure.
Only a few miles offshore, an extensive underwater living coral garden
forms a barrier reef protecting the islands. Here, among pillars of living coral, you come
face to face with thousands of multi-hued tropical fish in water so clear that while
swimming, you have the sensation of floating in mid air. The area abounds with legends and
tales of unequaled adventure. Even to this day, the lure of discovering a buried treasure
burns in the hearts of true adventurers.
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Big Munson Island
In December of 1982, a gift was received by the National Council of the
Boy Scouts of America which was destined to change the very nature of some of the exciting
programs offered by the Florida Sea Base. The gift was an untouched, uninhabited island
over 100 acres in size, surrounded by the crystal clear water off of Big Pine Key in the
lower Keys.
On the entire string of islands called the Florida Keys, there are but a
few that remain as they were when the pirates first rowed ashore in search of fresh water
and game to provision their galleons. This island shows up on old nautical charts as
Newfound Harbor Key, and on newer charts as Big Munson Key. It is located three miles
offshore from US 1, and a mere four miles inshore from Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary,
known for some of the most fabulous reef formations found in the Keys. Sea Base has
committed to retain this island in its natural state. Lightweight screened tents, cooking
gear and other necessary equipment is provided by Sea Base, but all personal gear, food,
and water must be waded ashore for your stay.
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Camp Sawyer
Through an agreement with the South Florida Council, the Sea Base uses
this facility to offer further, unique aquatic opportunities and serves as a staging and
program area for the Out Island Adventure. This Oceanside camp at Mile Marker 34 on West
Summerland Key consists of shower facilities, a dining shelter, activity building, sailing
beach, swim area, campfire circle, volleyball court and large open areas overlooking the
Atlantic Ocean.
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The Bahamas
The original Florida Gateway program was meant to sail young people from
Miami to Freeport on Grand Bahamas Island. To insure the safety of our scouts we no longer
cross the gulf Stream but rather use Man of War Key in the Abacos as a base for our
Bahamas' sailing adventure. While their are some additional costs incurred by each crew to
begin their adventure in Marsh Harbor, Abacos, this still remains a very strong component
to our variety of ocean adventures. The people of the Abacos Islands, Bahamas, have made
great efforts to welcome these young foreigners to their home. Man of War and its
surrounding islands create one of the most beautiful yet protected sailing areas offered
in the free world.
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Last Revised 4/4/99.
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