Must-Have Gear to Pack for Sea Base High Adventure

Knowing what to pack for Sea Base High Adventure is going to depend on the adventure your scouts choose to undertake. I’ll give you a list of the basic must-have gear needed to prepare for Sea Base.

Sea Base is one of the four High Adventures offered to scouts, with 18 unique programs incorporating sailing, fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, and camping. Locations for Sea Base are located in the beautiful waters of Key West, the US Virgin Islands, and the Bahamas. Scouts choose the adventure most suited to their troop. Spots fill up almost a year in advance, so if your troop, crew, or explorers are interested, visit Sea Base for more information on the different programs and reserve a spot for your adventure.

My son and husband just got back from their Spring Break trip to Sea Base a few days ago. They, along with their troop, undertook the Out Island Adventure. The troop experienced paddling Polynesian war canoes five miles to the island and spending several nights primitive camping on Big Munson Island. The troop had the opportunity to participate in activities such as shark fishing, deep water fishing, kayaking, snorkeling, hiking, and several other excursions. It was a full week of teamwork, adventure, and memories that will stay with them forever.

Sea Base High Adventure Gear

Reef Safe Sunscreen

Protect your skin and the coral reefs with Blue Lizard Sunscreen. This is a must-have for any Sea Base High Adventure.

Snorkeling Gear

Many of the Sea Base High Adventures include snorkeling. The Greatever Snorkel Set is a great option for those just starting out snorkeling. It’s inexpensive in case you lose it on your adventure, but it is durable and easy to use. Sea Base will provide fins if you choose not to pack them or order the whole set here. Don’t forget the antifog and cleaners for the snorkel mask.

Waterproof Phone Pouch

A great way to keep your phone safe and dry is with a waterproof phone pouch. The kids on the trip were discouraged from using their phones on this trip, but the adults had theirs to take pictures and in case of an emergency situation. My son did use a phone pouch on his first Sea Base trip a few years ago when they toured Key West and went sailing. It was a great way to keep his phone safe, but still be able to take pictures of his adventures.

Sun Hat

If your scout is going to be out on the water, a sun hat is a must-have. Tryt also has to find one that has a neck guard to keep the sun off their neck.

Neck Gaiter

A neck gaiter will also keep the sun from burning your scout’s neck, but it also great for using for protecting their face from sunburn, and the wind while out on the water.

Sunglasses

I have ordered the Kuguaok Polarized Sport Sunglasses several times. Both my son and husband like them because they are inexpensive, no worries if they get lost. They are also durable, they don’t have to worry about them breaking.

Water Shoes

A pair of water shoes is a great idea for kayaking, walking on the beach, or any other water sports your scout may be engaged in. I chose the ones above for my son again because they were inexpensive in case he lost them, a common theme with a teenager. He said they were comfortable, and he didn’t get blisters when wearing them.

Headlamp

The EverBrite Headlamp is a must-have for most of the Sea Base High Adventures. It was used on the Munson Island for nighttime excursions. Make sure to get one with a red light so the scouts aren’t blinding each other at night.

Dry Bag

The Heeta Dry Bag is one we have used for many water-based outings, including Sea Base. A dry bag is essential for keeping your electronics dry and away from salt water. A clear bag is great for locating items quickly.

Non-Aerosol Mosquito Spray

A non-aerosol mosquito repellent like Murphy’s is recommended, especially when staying on Munson Island. It’s convenient to have these little travel mosquito sprays even for walking around Key West at night.

Mattress Pad

If your scout is camping at Munson Island, they might want to invest in an inflatable mattress pad. The above is compact and is easy to inflate quickly and is much better than sleeping on the ground.

Sleeping Bag Sheets

Packing a full sleeping bag is going to take up a lot of room and may not be necessary. The Jaicom Sleeping Sheets are a great alternative.

Convertible Pants to Shorts

If you don’t make it to the Scout Store a great alternative are these Convertible Hiking Pants for keeping your scouts legs from getting sunburn during the day when out on the water or for hiking. But when it get unbearable hot they convert to shorts. I think every scout has a version of these pants.

Swimwear

No matter the Sea Base High Adventure your scout is in, swimwear in going to be needed. My son likes the boxer style lining in his.

Sun Protection Shirt

You can order matching Sea Base sun protection shirts for your troop, but they can be pricey. Having a couple of plain ones on hand is a good idea if you don’t want to spend a lot of money on gear.

Compass

A scout is always prepared. A reliable compass is something a scout should always have on them on their adventures and know how to use.

Kayaking Gloves

If your scout is going to be doing a lot of paddling, like five miles to an island, these kayaking gloves will make it more bearable and help prevent blisters.

Towels

Plan on your scout packing a couple of towels. A microfiber towel that dries quickly is a great option and doesn’t take up much space. But nothing beats a regular beach towel. My son used his as a blanket during the cool mornings on his Sea Base trip.

Carabiners

It’s always a great idea to have a few carabiners packed. They are great for attaching water bottles to your shorts, hanging up hammock tents, and a multitude of other uses.

Water Bottle

Your scout is going to want to stay hydrated. Don’t forget to pack a durable water bottle.

I hope this list is a starting point for your planning of a Sea Base High Adventure. Your scout may need more gear than what I have listed, depending on which adventure they participate in. Adventure awaits at Sea Base, jump to it!

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