Florida Sea Base News

The first half of Wednesday was a wonderful time meeting with the full time staff of the Florida Sea Base in our monthly Team Meeting.  We discussed such mesmerizing topics as budget, purchase orders, W-9 forms, vacation scheduling, professional training opportunities and staffing issues.  I am so sorry you weren’t there.  It was a party!

The dredgers were hard at it again today.  That’s the good news.  The bad news is they no longer expect to be through before the beginning of spring.

We had about 15 minutes of a very light shower.  Otherwise, the weather was very pleasant yesterday.  Our chance for rain is 50% by Saturday but then tapers off again.  The temperature will drop about 5º to 7º.  Still not bad for January.  here’s the radar view of our approaching cold front.

Click to enlarge.

I have another acupuncture appointment this afternoon.  Since my last visit my left hand is operating at about 90%, my right hand is around 80%.  Obviously the goal is 100%, but the acupuncturist is providing much more relief than I was getting from “conventional” medicine.  Whatever works, right?

Rain gear an 1,000 tiny needles are in store for me today.  FGIF.  Have a great weekend.

Capt. Steve Willis
Professional Scuba Bum™
Aboard S/V Escape

There were no conference attendees or participants at the Florida Sea Base yesterday.  Captain Rich Beliveau, Tim Stanfill and I spent most of our day working in the program office.  The weather was great.  No one died and I didn’t poop my pants.  It was a good day (except for the “in the office” part).

Everyone, except Nancy Wells, was in the Admin office yesterday.  Nancy, our Registrar, was a bit under the weather.

The dredge was hard at work all day.  The job is very tedious and time consuming.  A crane sits on a large barge.  The crane is attached to a large bucket and lifts muck out of the water, one bucket-full at a time.  Then the muck is deposited into one of two large dumpsters that also sit on the barge.  When the dumpsters are full, the barge is towed to the beach.  The crane lifts the muck out of the dumpsters and deposits it on the shore so all of the salt water can drain.  (We have to pay by the ton to have the muck transported to the mainland.  Dry muck weighs much less than wet muck.)  Then another crane scoops the fried muck off the beach and puts it in another set of dumpsters.  These dumpsters and then rolled onto trucks and taken to the mainland and sold as fill.  (It’s a nice gig for the transport company.  We pay them to remove the muck and then they sell it to someone else.  They make money coming and going.)  Hopefully the dredging will continue today.

Our weather will remain pleasant for a few more days; lows in the upper 70s and highs in the low 80s.  We have a cold front coming through Friday evening.  Once the front passes, the forecast calls for lows in the upper 60s and highs in mid to upper 70s.  There will be a “slight chance of showers” until the front passes.

Alright; my headache has eased up so I’m going to lay down for a couple of hours.  We have our monthly Team Meeting this morning.  Yeah!

Capt. Steve Willis
Professional Scuba Bum™
Aboard S/V Escape 

I failed to mention that Captain Zach Woodmancy, former Brinton Environmental Center Commissioner, has joined the Florida Sea Base team as the Marine Superintendent.  Zach is responsible for maintenance and US Coast Guard inspections on all of the power boats stationed at our facility.  In addition, he will captain one of the Newtons during the summer program season.  This position was formerly held by Captain Carol Chapman who stepped down while pursuing her nursing career.

Christy Clemenson passed the written exam for her US Coast Guard Master license Tuesday.  She will drive a Newton this spring under the direction of Captain Dennis Wyatt in hopes of being selected as summer Dive Boat Captain.  We will be calling her Captain Christy as soon as the ink dries on her paperwork.  Congratulations!!!

Captain Rich Beliveau is a generally optimistic guy.  Today he commented that he is concerned that the harbor dredging might not be completed before the beginning of the spring season.  That would be very disappointing, but very common for contractors in the Keys.

The weather remains very pleasant.  Sleeping aboard Escape has been a bit challenging; to warm without the air conditioning and too cool with it.  The air conditioning unit is old, cheap, contrary and on its last leg.  Hopefully I can find a way to accrue adequate funds (and time) to replace the unit before spring turns into summer.

Capt. Steve Willis
Professional Scuba Bum™
Aboard S/V Escape 

Monday’s post was #777.

Monday was an administrative type day at the Florida Sea Base with no conference or program participants.I placed an order with Aqua Lung, began a preliminary review of summer scuba applications, called Maureen at PADI headquarters, and returned phone calls and answered emails.  I will hire four US Coast Guard Masters, four Dive Boat Mates, two Scuba Mates (fill tanks, maintain the scuba compressors and perform minor equipment repairs), seven Scuba Instructors, one Scuba Commissioner, one Office Manager, and at least 17 Divemasters.  Finding personnel with the proper professional credentials who can arrive on 19 May and stay until late August is an annual challenge.

We hit 83º yesterday afternoon.  Hopefully that will help warm the pool up a little.  Rich Goldman sent an email saying he hopes to come back down this weekend to continue working on seasonal staff scuba certifications.  I may be able to help him.  I haven’t asked Christy Clemenson if she’s available, but if so, the three of us should be able to make some serious progress with the students.

The dredgers did not show up yesterday.  But volunteers Steve Martin and Warren Bacon made some MUCH needed repairs in the scuba area.

I’m heading for the fat doctor.  Hopefully I’ve lost a pound or two this week.

Capt. Steve Willis
Professional Scuba Bum™
Aboard S/V Escape (with the A/C on!)

Most important, Rich Goldman reports that all is well at home.  His efforts to certify the seasonal staff are greatly appreciated.  I know him well enough to say he will be back to help again soon.  He is a prime example of what Scouting is supposed to be about; cheerful service, family values, respect for nature and obedience to God.

Several of the seasonal staff members were wandering around base yesterday.  They were given Sunday and Monday off because the next scheduled conference group cancelled.  Some of them are not quite sure what they should do with themselves.

I have completed the audit of my FIFTH PADI Instructor Development Course.  I owe a great deal of thanks to my mentor, PADI Course Director Captain Bert Hubby and to Captain Tom Timmerman, owner of the Florida Keys Dive Center (and also a PADI Course Director).  Here’s a photo taken Sunday at the Instructor Exam.  Candidate Selin Harmankaya is demonstrating a rescue on fellow candidate Betsy Baste while being evaluated by Captain Bert Hubby.  All candidates successfully completed the IE and will be PADI Open Water Scuba Divers as soon as their paperwork is processed by PADI headquarters in Rancho Santa Margarita, California.

Click to enlarge.

The IE festivities wrapped up around 1230.  I stopped at Office Depot and the Florida Keys Dive Center on the way back to the base.  I washed clothes (the bed linens were past due), worked in the office, and worked on summer staffing.

I will spend most of today in the office.  I hope to get time to wash my car later this afternoon, after it gets hot.  Speaking of hot, here’s the National Weather Service forcast for the upcoming week:

Today: A slight chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. East wind between 10 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 10%.
Tonight: A slight chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. East wind around 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 10%.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. East wind around 15 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. East wind around 15 mph.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. East wind around 15 mph.
Wednesday Night: A slight chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Chance of precipitation is 10%.
Thursday: A slight chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. Chance of precipitation is 10%.
Thursday Night: A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Chance of precipitation is 10%.
Friday: A slight chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. Chance of precipitation is 10%.
Friday Night: A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Saturday: A slight chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 79. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Saturday Night: A slight chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Chance of precipitation is 10%.
Sunday: A slight chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. Chance of precipitation is 10%.

Make it a great Monday!

Capt. Steve Willis
Professional Scuba Bum™
Aboard S/V Escape

Good Sunday morning from the Florida Sea Base.  At 0630 it is 70º, calm winds, clear skies and still a lot of stars out.  Here’s my crystal ball assessment of what’s going on this morning.  There are no conference participants for breakfast so I am pretty sure that 99% of the seasonal staff is sleeping in.  I suspect most of the residents on the dock are doing likewise.  My good friend Captain Dennis Wyatt is up, making coffee and will soon be preparing breakfast for his lovely bride Dr. Ellen.  Another good friend, David Ball, is probably up and alert in New Jersey.  I wonder if Captain Alex Bergstedt is awake in northern Indiana “skyping” with Maya in Slovakia.  I am making a pot of Folger’s Breakfast Blend® coffee.  That’s my lovely bride’s favorite.  Unfortunately I won’t be able to share it with her.  She is 1,500 miles away at our other home in Midlothian, Texas.  Her two cats, Scooter and Salem will be waking her up in about an hour.  Dave and Captain Alex wouldn’t care for the mundane Folgers.  They are coffee aficionados.

I was able to go back to sleep yesterday morning (for about an hour).  I spent a few hours on board Escape working on my PADI Course Director application.  The dredgers were had at work by 0900, scooping muck.

I had an acupuncture appointment at noon yesterday.  With all due respect to the medical profession, I spent 90 minutes and $130 for an hour of acupuncture and 30 minutes of massage.  I left there with 5,000 times more relief than I have gotten from six months of doctor’s visits, 2 MRIs, an EMG, and nearly $3,000 worth of blood tests.  Drug free, no side effects, no prescriptions, but unfortunately, no insurance coverage.

When I got back to the Base, Rich Goldman and Christy Clemenson were teaching several members of the Florida Sea Base seasonal staff the PADI Open Water Diver course.  Christy told me she’s driving to Fort Lauderdale Tuesday to take her US Coast Guard Master written exam.  She’s a smart cookie; she’ll do well.  Passing written tests earns you a certificate.  Successfully driving boats in times of adversities makes you a Captain.  A lot of people are able to pass the tests.  But just like driving a car, the only way to learn to handle a boat is by doing it.  Christy will spend the spring learning to do just that under the supervision of Captain Dennis Wyatt.  Rich had to leave unexpectedly late last night and return home.  I will check in with him later today to make sure all is well with his parents.

Our Scuba Instructor candidates did very well in the classroom and pool testing yesterday, getting the best scores of the 25 candidates registered for the Instructor Exam.  I will drive to Key Largo this morning to observe their rescue and open water teaching presentations.  The water is reportedly 68ºF.  Fortunately, I will be observing from the shore.

I sincerely hope you enjoy your day.

Capt. Steve Willis
Professional Scuba Bum™
Aboard S/V Escape

I hate when this happens, and it happens way too often.  I was asleep by 2200 (10 pm) last night.  Six hours later. I’m awake.  Not wide awake; still drowsy, groggy and wanting to go back to sleep, but after laying there for 30 minutes it’s obvious that sleep is not happening.  So here I am, 0435, writing a post, just for you.  Captain Dennis Wyatt is probably up.  David Ball will be up shortly.  I don’t have any appointments until noon, so MAYBE I will manage to lay back down and take a nap in a while.  And this may (in part) be payback.  Thursday night I fell asleep at a decent hour, sleep like a rock for 6 hours (almost to the minute), woke up, and went right back to sleep.  That doesn’t happen very often.  Okay.  Enough whining.  I’m up.  Here we go.

Friday was about volunteers.  Mr. Richard Goldman drove back down from Pompano Beach, Florida to provide volunteer scuba instruction to Florida Sea Base seasonal staff members.  And the 2012 Volunteer Development Conference concluded with a “luau” celebration.

The IDC candidates wrapped up their training at the Florida Keys Diver Center yesterday under the guidance of PADI Course Director Captain Bert Hubby (with a little help from me).  Friday evening they went to the Instructor Exam (IE) site in Key Largo for orientation.  Today they will take 3 hours of exams, make classroom teaching presentations and confined water teaching presentations.  Tomorrow they will perform rescue scenarios and open water teaching presentations.  I have an acupuncture appointment today but will attend the IE tomorrow to cheer everyone on and congratulate them once the evaluations are completed.  One of our candidates, Selin Harmankaya, is from Turkey.  Her written exams will be available in Turkish but her presentations will have to be made in English.

For the record, I don’t exaggerate, I embellish.  In Texas, it is a misdemeanor to tell a story devoid of embellishment. However, I maintain that Captain Rich Beliveau is, in fact, the Archangel Michael or Saint Michael, whichever you prefer.  The more he denies it the more convinced I am that I’m correct.  (You can refer back to my 29 December 2009 post for more information on the Archangel Michael.)

I’m going to try to get another hour or two of sleep.  I hope  you have a great weekend.  If you are snow skiing, snowboarding, dog sledding, playing outdoor hockey, or ice diving, I am very happy for you.  Florida is over populated.  It’s 71.5ºF in the cockpit of Escape, 74.5ºF inside the cabin, calm wind and clear skies (the stars are overwhelming).

Capt. Steve Willis
Professional Scuba Bum™
Aboard S/V Escape 

The end of the world is approaching according to the Mayan calendar. I’m helping it along because I cleaned my desk. A small feat all in itself.
News of the base: Food and Conference Guru Tim Stanfill and lovely wife Melissa found out they are have a little girl in 5 months or so. They are excited to new addition to be.

Captains Joey and Kate had their little girl 2 days ago. They named her Elise Amelia Marullo. Kai has competition now. Mother and baby are doing fine.

I met with the owner of Upper Keys Marine. He was digging more goo out if the harbor. He has assured us they will have everything completed by the beginning of spring. He’s another burning the rope kind of guy. He ended up removing four containers of the muck.
Sea Base has hit YouTube officially. Here’s the link. http://www.youtube.com/BSASeaBase pretty good stuff.
The Volunteer Conference closed today, all had a great time. We were paid on very nice complement that everyone made them feel like they were home. For most of the staff we are at home.
On the last note of things, sometimes I think Captain Steve is breathing too much compressed air. If I’m an angel the only thing that holds my halo up are horns. We all try to make this place better, he over exaggerates a LOT.
Be well and have a safe weekend.
Captain Rich

I have NO idea as to what went on at the Florida Sea base yesterday.  As is typical for me while auditing the PADI Instructor Development Course, I departed before 0700 (7 am) and returned to base at 1930 (7:30 pm).  The place was dark, the only people I saw was Captain Rich Beliveau (for about 30 seconds) and the Galley staff for two minutes.

I appreciate Captain Rich making a post last night.  Otherwise, I would be clueless about what’s happening on base.  I will be on base next week, or at least part of next week.  Saturday I have an acupuncture appointment inKey Largo. Sunday I will be back in Key Largo for the PADI Instructor Exam “graduation”.  Tuesday I go to the fat doctor in Aventura (about 2.25 hour drive each way).  Thursday we have our first monthly Team Meeting of 2012.  So I have Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday to get some work done.  After that I will be on a working vacation for two weeks.

We started the IDC in the classroom yesterday and then moved to the pool by 1030.  The pool session lasted until 1600-1630 (4-4:30 pm).  Back to the classroom until 1900 (7 pm).  While at the pool, the forecasted cold front arrived.  The wind remained relatively mild but shifted from east to north.  The temperature dropped about 5º.  Their was no rain; as a matter of fact, I sunburned a little.

Here’s our upcoming weather forecast from the National Weather Service:

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 77. East wind around 10 mph.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 67. East wind between 10 and 15 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 79. East wind around 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. East wind around 10 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 80.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 71.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 81.
Monday Night: A slight chance of showers. Mostly clear, with a low around 70. Chance of precipitation is 10%.
Tuesday: A slight chance of showers. Sunny, with a high near 80. Chance of precipitation is 10%.
Tuesday Night: A slight chance of showers. Mostly clear, with a low around 70. Chance of precipitation is 10%.
Wednesday: A slight chance of showers. Sunny, with a high near 80. Chance of precipitation is 10%.
Wednesday Night: A slight chance of showers. Mostly clear, with a low around 71. Chance of precipitation is 10%.
Thursday: A slight chance of showers. Sunny, with a high near 80. Chance of precipitation is 10%.

Eighty degres in January?  I’ll take it.

Today is the final day of what is possibly my final PADI IDC audit.  I have SEVERAL other prerequisites to complete in a very short time.  Pursuing my PADI Course Director certification would be MUCH easier if I had a year leave of absence.

Thanks again for Captain Rich keeping you caught up on the goings on at the Florida Sea Base.  Wise men have said that all things happen for a reason.  Captain Rich’s imprisonment at the Florida Sea Base is so he can be my personal angel.  With all due humility, the FSB scuba programs might struggle without my presence.  But more than 60% of our business is the sailing programs.  Captain Rich is simply not replaceable.  The Florida Sea Base will be shook to its core when he leaves.  He and I work well as a team.  I had the opportunity to run the scuba and sailing programs by myself for 2 or 3 years.  That will never happen again.  I will never be able to say or do anything that adequately expresses my appreciation for Captain Rich and what he does.

Capt. Steve Willis
Professional Scuba Bum™
Aboard S/V Escape 

I just saw Captain Steve come in tonight and he looked good but was exhausted. I’m not the literary god he is, but I’ll try to help cover things while he’s at the IDC at Flakeys.

I know you’ve heard of burning the rope on both ends. Well Captain Steve caught the entire thing on fire. Between the IDC (Instructor Development Course) and trying to keep up around here he’s about to kill himself.

News of the base, Capt’s Zach and Keith went to Dusky to drop a boat for new engines and pick two others up. We’ve all had the misfortune of Miami/ Lauderdale traffic towing a boat. It is very bad, they drive like nuts up there anyway and seeing a 25′ boat makes them go even crazier.

We had Port Engineers out here yesterday. Carl the mechanic is very talented and has quiet colorful language. Luckily there weren’t any scouts here so he could really let it rip. He puts on quite a show. He got the boat running in short time and we moved her off the docks and put it on the T-Dock so they could dredge.

I completed the sailing schedule for spring, 60 trips for the 40′ boats and 11 for the big boats. There’s still openings for this spring if you’d like to attend.

Other than that things are running smooth. The lottery is in full swing; Nancy is pulling her hair out.

Have a great night and I’ll write more tomorrow.

Capt Rich