Florida Sea Base News

Hurry up and wait certainly describes my day yesterday.  I had two doctors’ appointments on the mainland so I had to play hooky from the Instructor Development Course.  (The wind was blowing hard out of the east.  I hope they didn’t have too bad of a day.)

I slept in a little (as evidenced by Monday’s post time) and then began working on chores; I filled the fresh water tank on Escape, washed 2 loads of clothes (a lot for me), and tended to a chore for my dear old dad.  I even made time to do some official Florida Sea Base chores; emails, medical reviews, staff applications and phone calls.

I planned to leave the Florida Sea Base before 1100 but didn’t come to a stopping point until 1115.  Then the traffic was unbelievable congested, a busy MLK day I guess.  I took 2.5 hours to drive to my first appointment in Aventura.  It is usually a 2 hour drive so then I was 45 minutes behind schedule.  Fortunately I got in and out, leaving time to drive 24 miles to my next appointment without excessive stress.

The second appointment was with my neurologist.  I was a little early so I stopped about 2 blocks away at McDonald’s (iced tea only) to use their free Wi-Fi.  I called the doctor’s office to see if he was running on time.  Nope, he was 2 hours behind schedule.  The nurse suggested I check in at 1730 (5:30 pm) and that she would call me if I needed to be there any sooner.  The nurse called back at 1700 (5 pm) and said I should arrive at 1800 (6 pm).  (Three hours in the Mickey D parking lot; a wonderful use of my time.)  I arrived at 1800 and the first thing the receptionist wanted was my co-pay.  (I guess she knew I still had a while to wait and might leave.)  I finally saw the doctor around 1840.  What he had to tell me could have been accomplished in 5 minutes on the phone; I’m messed up, he can’t fix it, but he can refer me to another doctor who might be able to help (for more $$$).  While this neurologist came very highly recommended, I think I am done with him.

Since I had so much time waiting on my appointment, I started working on this morning’s post.  The sad part is I didn’t have anything to report.  So I revised this information that was posted about a year ago:

Preparing for Florida Sea Base Scuba Adventure,
Scuba Certification and Scuba Liveaboard Programs

Four scuba programs are currently offered at the Florida Sea Base: Scuba Adventure, Scuba Certification, Scuba Liveaboard and the Divemaster Academy.  This article will include the first three programs.  The Divemaster Academy is only offered in the winter and will be discussed in future blogs.  Click on READ MORE.

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

Here’s an excerpt from yesterday’s blog by Dr. Jeff Masters of Weather Underground:

Caribbean disturbance 94L little threat to develop
The large, disorganized tropical disturbance (Invest 94L) in the Western Caribbean near Jamaica is looking much less organized this morning, but is still capable of bringing heavy rains as it pushes slowly northwards at less than 5 mph.Satellite estimates of rainfall for the 24-hour period ending at 8pm EDT Monday night run as high as 5 inches for northeastern Nicaragua and Honduras, with 2 – 4 inches falling over portions of Jamaica and southeast Cuba. Satellite loopsshow a decrease in the heavy thunderstorm activity and organization of 94L in recent hours, and the storm’s low-level spiral bands and upper-level outflow are very poorly defined. The storm’s center of low pressure is located about 100 miles south-southeast of Grand Cayman Island. Water vapor satellite loops show the Caribbean is quite moist, and water temperatures in the Central Caribbean are about 1°C above average, 28 – 28.5°C, which is 2°C above the threshold needed to support development of a tropical storm. Wind shear has edged into the high range, 20 – 25 knots, which has probably contributed to 94L’s deterioration.

Since 94L is so large and poorly organized, today’s mission by the Hurricane Hunters has been cancelled. The storm is moving slowly to the north, into a band of very high wind shear of 30 – 50 knots that lies over Cuba and the southern Bahama Islands. The SHIPS model predicts shear will rise above 30 knots by late tonight, which will make development into a tropical depression difficult. This morning’s 00Z and 06Z model runs were unimpressed with 94L, with most of them showing little or no development. The 00Z run of the NOGAPS model predicts that a gap may open up in the shear sufficient for the storm to organize into a tropical depression late this week, but this is looking increasingly unlikely. At 8am EDT today, NHC gave 94L a 20% chance of developing into a tropical depression by Thursday. Regardless of development, 94L is capable of bringing heavy rains of 2 – 4 inches to Jamaica, eastern Cuba, the Cayman Islands, and Haiti through Thursday. These rains will probably spread northwards into the Bahama Islands, and possibly South Florida, by Thursday or Friday.

Two key points; the system is not likely to develop into an organized wind event and we may get some rain tomorrow through the weekend.  Of thirteen computer models, one has the center of the system crossing the Keys at Key West, another about mid-way between the Florida Sea Base and the Brinton Environmental Center and another crossing in Key Largo.  That’s a 23% chance of the storm center crossing through the Florida Keys.  Or, better yet, that’s a 77% chance that the system will NOT cut through the Keys.  Hope for the best!  Rain would make for a very sloppy inspection not to mention disgruntled participants.  Click HERE for a really cool visual.

If you click on my weather page you will see a monthly chart for air temperature, water temperature and rainfall.  Summer is our rainy season with an average of 5.1 inches falling in June.  July is a little less and then the numbers are back up for August and September.

The BSA Visitation Team arrives today and starts the camp inspection process this evening.  While Captain Paul Beal and Mr. Rob Kolb are working with the inspectors, Capt. Rich and I will be attending a meeting in Marathon about Monroe County implementing restrictions and/or fees on vessels anchoring.  More fees and more government intrusion is not what we need, but it is what we will likely get.  Oh joy!

Stress is an interesting beast.  It is not well understood and therefore not well managed.  For me it manifests as nightmares.  The only good news I can find in my situation is this post will be waiting for many of you when you get up this morning.  I should be finished with the post by 0300.  I am on my way to see my fat doctor later this morning.  The drive takes about 2 hours 15 minutes each way.  I have a little less than 30 pounds to loose to reach my original goal.  Now I’m starting to wonder if I should adjust my goal down another 15 pounds.  This diet is miserable, but it’s working and I should take full advantage of it.  (In November I was barely able to squeeze into 42″ pants.  Now 36s are getting loose and I should be in 34s next month.)  I may compromise and take a little while off the diet after hitting my goal and then work on another 15 pounds.

Due to the hullabaloo associated with the camp inspection, I may not have time to post early in the morning on Thursday or Friday.  I will do my best.  Of course I may be awake all night and have plenty of time.

Capt. Steve Willis
Aboard S/V Escape

I’m sorry for not posting anything for the past two days, but I have been on the road.  I woke up at 03:22 Friday and left the Florida Sea Base at 04:30 Friday for a doctor’s appointment north of Miami.  (Getting around Miami traffic in the morning is a killer.  You have two choices; get there too early or get there late.)  I finished with the doctor around 10:30 and hit the highway for Texas.  I drove until 20:00 and stopped in Pensacola, Florida.  I stayed at the Motel 6 for financial reasons.  It was old but clean.  The bed looked like the linens may not have been changed in a while.  Everything else was reasonable for the $37 I paid for a few hours sleep.

I was up by 04:30 Saturday and underway around 05:00.  I arrived in Midlothian, Texas at 16:30.

Capt. Rich and Capt. Carol returned from their Caribbean sailing adventure Thursday afternoon.  Friday was a work day for them and then Saturday they departed for a week long cruise with Richie and Capt. Rich’s mom.  I’m pretty sure they will be back to work on the 29th (Richie probably has to be back for school).

I frequently comment on Laura Kuras working on the regulator overhauls.  Here are two pictures of the parts laid out for just 12 of 84 regulators she has to complete.  This is a major undertaking.  [If you recall, Capt. Alex Bergstedt rebuilt over 200 regulators last year.]  CLICK ON THE PHOTOS TO ENLARGE.

12 regulators awaiting reassembly.

A close-up view of some of the tiny parts.

That’s all for today.  The postings will be spotty for the next week or two but I will try to keep you informed of any significant issues.

Capt. Steve
In the Mother Country

Yesterday was a wonderful day to be on the water at the Florida Sea Base – for most of us.  I think I had 4 pukers on the boat today in very gentle conditions.  I recommended to the adult leadership that they try some Bonine® for today.  The Missouri crew was GREAT yesterday.  They were alive, awake and enthusiastic.  Even the barfers were having fun – most of the time.  Here’s a photo of the coral on the bottom in 30′ of water.

Coral at 30' taken from the bridge of BSA Explorer

As promised, I have included some short video clips of Fender Rodeo – Florida Sea Base style.  What is Fender Rodeo?  The dive boats are equipped with large fenders (land lubbers might call them bumpers).  They are cylindrical, filled with air and have a rope running through the center.  The objective of Fender Rodeo is to straddle the fender like a bull.  You hold a line from the front of the fender and another line from the rear of the fender very tightly.  Then you jump off the boat and try to ride the fender like a bucking bull at the rodeo.  As at the rodeo, you have to stay on for at least 8 seconds to score.  A picture is worth a thousand words so here are some short clips of successful and almost successful Fender Rodeo contestants.

P7090055

P7090054

P7090061

P7090063

The last video is of John Battles, Troop 409, Hillsboro, Missouri.  I saw John successfully ride the fender at least three times today.  Some of the other divers were successful as well.  It’s a fun activity and we will try again today.

Without going into details, here is a life lesson that you parents might consider passing on to your kids, especially if they are staff members at the Florida Sea Base.  Some of the staff members do not seem to comprehend that a trip to a doctor during normal office hours might cost in the neighborhood of $200.  Going to the Emergency Room costs $2,000 and UP.  These young adults need to understand that if they are sick or injured on Wednesday (for example), it’s better to go to the doctor on Thursday or Friday than to wait until Saturday and go to the ER.  It is amazing how many of our staff wait until after dinner or for the weekend to announce they have been injured or are sick and need to go to the ER when they could have taken care of the situation during normal office hours.  I understand that there are emergencies – I’ve been to the ER a few times myself.  But this seems to be frequent, almost routine with many of our staff.  It sure wastes a lot of money.

That’s enough griping for one day.  I’ve got to go.

Capt. Steve
Aboard S/V Escape

I had the “pleasure” of going to the doctor this morning.  There are a lot of things parents teach their kids about life.  But sometimes we forget (or maybe intentionally leave out) that there is no dignity for old men (and I suspect for the ladies neither) when they go to the doctor.  Apparently, fewer areas are off limits as you age.  I remember when going to the doctor meant having a brief encounter with a stethoscope.  Then I got older and going to the doctor introduced me to this “reverse pliers” type device that was used to pry open my nose so the doctor could see my brain via my sinuses.  Now those seem to be gone.  It seems my doctor’s favorite tools are “scopes”.  This is not the place to go in to detail about scopes.  If you’re old, explain it to your kids.  If you’re young, go ask your parents or grandparents.  The doctor likes using his scope so much that he invited me to come back in a month so he could show it to me again.  Woo-Hoo.  Oh, a word to the wise.  Don’t ask to see the scope.  If you think it FEELS bad, you will be terrified if you see it.  “You’re going to put that WHERE?  And do WHAT?”  I am no fan of the scope.  If you haven’t met the scope yet I have just one word for you – BROCCOLI.  Eat a LOT of it, every day, twice on Sunday.  Broccoli may help postpone you’re meeting with the scope.  And you really want to postpone that meeting for as long as possible – forever even.