Florida Sea Base News

The weather was very tolerable yesterday at the Florida Sea Base.  There wasn’t a cloud in the sky, the wind was mild and out of the south which brought in a little warmth.  We maxed out at 70º.  Today is going to be even better with a high around 76.  Our seasonal average is 75, so we will be on track today.

Rich Goldman, one of the Divemaster Academy instructors arrived yesterday.  He’s a super guy and it is ALWAYS a pleasure to see him.  Rafael Arrom, our Head Ranger, starts 2 weeks of vacation today.  He deserves a break.  Capt. Rich spent part of the day in the bilge of BSA Centennial Eagle working on the auto pilot.  Laura and her temporary assistant, Jim, worked on scuba equipment all day.  Teri Wells (Scuba Instructor temporarily working on the conference staff) and Roberta Rownds (a local resident and relatively new addition to the conference staff) sorted and prepped the uniforms for the DMA candidates today.  [Rownds is NOT a typo.]  Everyone else seemed to be very busy but I have no idea of what good works they were accomplishing.

ATTENTION FLORIDA SEA BASE CAPTAINS…….

Please renew your membership with the Keys Consortium before 31 December.  Failure to do so will require you to re-test and will cost twice as much as renewing before year’s end.  Also, if you do any charters with an expired membership, the USCG can fine you $5,000 per day.  I have renewal forms in my office if you haven’t received one in the mail.

I am headed to Miami VERY early this morning.  I have two doctor’s appointments and will swing by the Fort Lauderdale airport to pick up DMA candidate Rich Kuras on my way back to the base.  Rich Kuras is Laura’s dad.  For the past three or four years he has spent all of his vacation time volunteering at the Florida Sea Base.  It would be incredible to have Rich and his wife Cheryl here in the Keys year ’round.  Rich is considering retirement soon.  So maybe………..  [We have so many Riches around here that were are going to have to come up with nicknames.  Capt. Rich is safe because he has Captain to distinguish him.  All of the others are fair game.]

I have hired about 80% of the spring scuba staff.  If you want in, please fax an application TODAY.  If you go back a day or two on this blog you will find the fax and email address for submitting your application.  At  bare minimum, call me (preferably after noon Eastern Time).

That’s all the time I have this morning.  It’s a 2.5 hour drive to the doctor’s office.

Capt. Steve
Departing S/V Escape