The Florida Sea Base is anxious for your arrival and participation in the Out Island Program.  To aid in your preparation for your trip, we would like to go over the programmatic and physical aspects for the week you will spend with us.

Our Crew 62 Trip is July 27 - August 4, 2004

You will arrive after 2:00pm, on your scheduled day of arrival, at the Brinton Environmental Center, located 23.8 miles North of Key West.  Your first afternoon is quite busy.  Initially, your Island Mate will show you to your air-conditioned quarters, followed by a tour of the facility.  Next up, it’s into bathing suits and into the marina for your swim review.  At this point, you will be issued a mask, fins, snorkel and a Sea Base dive bag that you will have for the week of your adventure.  This will be followed by a snorkel instruction lesson so you are comfortable with your gear.  If you have your own snorkeling equipment, you may prefer to bring it because masks and mouthpieces sometimes give you a better fit if they are your personal equipment.  After dinner you will talk about your itinerary for the upcoming week and watch a slide show, which describes those underwater creatures to both enjoy and avoid, as well as snapshots of some of the fun you will be having during the upcoming week.

Your next two days will include a day of fishing, snorkeling or kayaking.  Be prepared to purchase a fishing license if you are 16 years old or older.  No trip would be complete without spending a day in Key West.  It is a town that is rich in history and unique culture.  You will eat lunch at the base and we can pack a picnic dinner for you, or you can choose to eat out and sample some of the local cuisine.  Dinner prices range from $5.00 (fast food) and up.  There are many unique restaurants and of course fresh seafood.

On your third day at Sea Base, you will kayak to Big Munson Island with all of your personal gear.  Your personal gear will be stowed in a dry bag, which is checked out to you before you depart for the island, so pack light.  The trip is 5.5 miles over open water, so come prepared for some great paddling!  Big Munson Island is made up of high hardwood hammocks and low mangrove swamp areas.  If you are expecting a South Sea Island with sparkling white sandy beaches and native girls, this is definitely not the place.  You will have to wade ashore all of your food water and equipment.  Depending on the wind and tide, this wading trip can be as short as 50 yards or as long as 300 yards…sometimes through floating sea grass.  Once you arrive on this pristine island, it will all be worth it.  You will be housed in four man backpacking tents on Big Munson Island.  The tents are directly on the ground, so a sleeping pad comes in handy.

On the Island itself, we will have a host of equipment to utilize including kayaks and fishing equipment.  At least one day will spent fishing in and around the waters of Big Munson Island.  Another day will be spent snorkeling on Looe Key reef and the patch reefs called Munson Rocks, which are just off shore from Munson Island.

Fishing is an integral part of the program.  Your dusky powerboat will be supplied with heavy tackle for those big ones out deep and some lightweight rods and reels for the smaller fish.  One evening will be spent fishing just offshore on our floating docks.  Do not worry about bringing personal rods and reels because we will have everything you need.  Although we don’t guarantee it, most crews are able to add some fresh fish or possibly lobster (in season) to the menu during their stay on Big Munson Island.

On your seventh day, you will repack your equipment and kayak back to the Brinton Center for your evening closing ceremony, patch presentation, and seafood luau.  We ask that everyone depart the Sea Base facility on the following day by 11:00am so that we may adequately prepare for the next round of arrivals.

Once again, we are looking forward to offering you an aquatic experience of a lifetime in a unique area of North America called the Florida Keys.