Frequently Asked Questions

As of April 2017, the Boy Scouts of America no longer requires units to submit BSA Tour and Activity Plans. 

Yes! Scholarships are available for any unit or individual (youth/adult) with a demonstrated need. (Link)

Please notify Sea Base immediately if your unit intends to cancel. Early notification may allow Sea Base to rebook your canceled adventure. If Sea Base rebooks the adventure, all fees except for the original $250 reservation fee will be returned to your unit. Sea Base will not refund any fees to your unit if the adventure is not rebooked. Sea Base does not refund crews for canceled flights or ground transportation. Sea Base strongly recommends trip insurance.

• Two adult leaders, ages 21 and over, are required for all Scout activities.
  
  • Two adult leaders, ages 21 and over male or female are required for all Scout activities which include all male youth.
  • One adult female and one adult male OR two adult females, ages 21 and over are required for all Scout activities which include both male and female youth participants.
• Scouts ages 18 – 20 are considered youth participants, however they must complete the required trainings that all other adult leaders must take.

Yes.  Without exception every adult leader and all individuals over 18 participating in a Sea Base program must be registered with the BSA and complete Youth Protection Training, BSA Safe Swim, BSA Safety Afloat, and Hazardous Weather Training. One adult age 21 or older must complete Wilderness First Aid Training and one adult age 21 or older must complete CPR/AED Training.

The ages specified below as evidenced by Annual Health and Medical Record.

Age Restrictions Scuba, Out Island, Bahamas, and St. Thomas Programs. Participants must be 13 years old by the date of their arrival to participate in the programs listed below. Participants who would turn 13 during their adventure are not eligible to participate.

• • • Scuba Adventure
    • Scuba Advanced Marine Exploration
    • Scuba Certification
    • Scuba Live Aboard
    • Out Island
    • Sea Base Bahamas
    • Sea Base St. Thomas

Age Restrictions Florida Sailing and Multi-Adventure Programs. Participants must be 12 years old by the date of their arrival to participate in the programs listed below. Participants who would turn 12 during their adventure are not eligible to participate.

• • • Coral Reef Sailing
    • Keys Adventure
    • Keys Adventure Sailing
    • Island Expedition
    • Fishing Adventure
    • Marine STEM
    • Sea Exploring
    • STEM Eco-Sailing

Important! 12-year-old participants must be physically, mentally, and emotionally mature and Sea Base strongly suggests that all 12-year-old participants be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

AGE REQUIREMENTS CANNOT BE RELAXED.

BSA National Camp Accreditation prohibits Sea Base from allowing anyone under the age of 13 to SCUBA dive in its programs. The Out Island program and our offshore (outside the continental United States) programs require a high level of physical, mental, and emotional maturity to successfully travel and participate.

Sea Base is a high adventure program that can be physically, mentally and emotionally challenging. Programs are offered in sometimes harsh marine environments. Sea Base strongly recommends having a parent or guardian present who best understands a Scout’s needs, and best prepares them for success. Youth Protection requirements still must be met.

The guidelines for units to attend as a co-ed Sea Base crew per BSA Policy are below. Your unit can attend coed by one of the two options listed:

• 1. Attending as a linked male and female Scouts BSA troop in the same Sea Base crew:
     • Scouts BSA is a single-gendered program; as such,  a male and female Scouts BSA troop can attend together in the same crew IF each troop provides their own leadership in the Sea Base crew. Each troop must have a minimum of 2 adult leaders age 21+ attending in the crew. This is a total of 4 adult leaders age 21+ for a Sea Base crew composed of 1 female troop and 1 male troop that are linked.
     • Units who do not share the same charter partner must have local council and charter partner approval per the BSA Guide to Safe Scouting.
     • Scouting’s Barriers to Abuse require buddy pairs to be single gender.  At least 2 youth members of each gender must be present in each Sea Base crew to meet requirements for buddy pairs.
     • Scouting’s Barriers to Abuse require 2 adult leaders age 21+ to attend with each Sea Base crew. If female youth are present, at least one of those leaders MUST be female. 
  2. Attending as a Venturing Crew, Sea Scouting Ship or Exploring Post
     • Venturing, Sea Scouting and Exploring are coed programs.
     • Members of these programs can attend coed as long as Scouting’s Barriers to abuse (below) are met.
     • Scouting’s Barriers to Abuse require buddy pairs to be single gender.  At least 2 youth members of each gender must be present in each Sea Base crew to meet requirements for buddy pairs.
     • Scouting’s Barriers to Abuse require 2 adult leaders age 21+ to attend with each Sea Base crew. If female youth are present, at least one of those leaders MUST be female. 

The Sea Base has no programs for non-swimmers or beginners. For your protection; if you are unable to complete the BSA Swim test in a strong manner you will not be allowed to participate.

No. You will not be allowed to participate in Sea Base programs unless you use the BSA Annual Health and Medical Record. (link)

You will not be permitted to participate at Sea Base. The BSA Annual Health and Medical Record must be completed in its entirety prior to arrival.

For Scuba Certification Adventure, it must be an MD or DO, no exceptions. For the other Scuba Adventures, it depends on whether they are taking medications, have health issues, had COVID etc. If they are fit, then a PA can sign. Parts A, B, and C must be filled out completely for the form to be accepted.

For all other Adventures, a licensed physician (MD, DO), nurse practitioner (LPN), or physician assistant (PA) can sign the BSA Annual Health and Medical Record. Parts A, B, and C must be filled out completely for the form to be accepted.

Yes. You can view a list of medical concerns that may limit SCUBA eligibility by clicking HERE, and by reviewing your participant guide.

No participant can exceed 295lbs as evidenced by the medical form. No exceptions will be
made. Participants exceeding 295lbs will be sent home at their own expense.

Sea Base Crews should check in no earlier than 1pm and no later than 3pm on their arrival date. Crews in the Bahamas and USVI have until 4pm.  The appropriate check in location for your specific adventure can be found on your participant guide.

The appropriate departure time for your specific adventure can be found on your participant guide.

A packing list is provided for each adventure in your participant guide. Crews traveling to St. Thomas Sea Base or Bahamas Sea Base should bring:

(1) 24 inch duffle bag per person
(1) Oversize duffle bag per crew containing necessary items only.

The duffel is 22″ L x 12″ W x 12″ H and holds approximately 52 L. We will issue a mesh bag of similar size for you to use during your time here or the crew duffel bag is also available for purchase to pack ahead of time from the ship store. 

No. Once your unit chooses to leave Sea Base your journey is forfeited and you may not return.

No. Due to the growth and popularity of our program, we are not able to offer early arrival or late departures days on base. 

We do offer offsite stays at Camp Jackson Sawyer or at hotels in the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale area for crews attending programs at one of our locations in the Florida Keys.  Exclusive to our High Adventure crews, learn more about pre/post adventure stays by clicking here.

Program interruption due to hurricanes are extremely rare. If Sea Base is under evacuation orders, generally given 24- 36 hours prior to potential landfall, programs are cancelled, and participants are evacuated. Sea Base refunds program fees for missed program dates only. Travel- trip insurance is highly recommended to cover the cost of travel expenses, especially July- August.

Your safety is paramount. Occasionally inclement- tropical weather forces Sea Base to delay or cancel activities. Attempts will be made to reschedule activities when possible. Refunds will not be issued for activities including sailing, scuba diving, paddle boarding, kayaking, fishing, camping or others cancelled due to inclement weather.

No. Most of our sailing captains do not allow shoes of any kind- including deck shoes while on board. 

They clang against the side of the vessel making it difficult for participants to sleep.

Due to heat most participants will choose to sleep on deck.

$150- $200.

Yes. Masks and snorkels will not be provided as part of your adventure but can be purchased/ordered through the ship store. Fins and inflatable vests are still provided.

No. Fishing gear is provided as part of your adventure.

One is not provided. Programs are weather and tide dependent. There are no required destinations other than arrival, midweek and departure points. General program overviews can be found on your adventure’s participant guide.