Florida Sea Base News

I have ALMOST completed the summer scuba staff hiring.  I have just one or two spots left and now a whole new wave of applications are pouring in.  I guess that’s a good problem to have.  But it is very stressful having to tell young people who really want to be of service to other youth that I don’t have a spot for them.  I am mentally exhausted.  Capt. Kelly, Capt. Alex and I got most of the supplies ordered for the new Eco Adventure program.  Since we haven’t conducted the program yet, we are trying to get what we think we need without getting stuff that we won’t use.  The crew arriving on the 13th will be our guineas pigs.

Make time to read this blog from Dr. Jeff Masters of Weather Underground, http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=1444.  It does NOT say that 2010 is going to be a bad hurricane season, but it does give us some information to follow-up on.  The bad news is the water off Africa is already hot and potentially ripe for spawning hurricanes.  The good news is El Niño effects are lingering longer than expected and the higher Atlantic temperatures do not statistically guarantee an active hurricane season.  We will see.

THE news of the day is Capt. Rich.  He had surgery on his leg yesterday to correct some problems with a vein.  They thought the operation would take about 30 minutes but it actually took over three hours.  He says the leg hurts a lot, but he is up and walking on it.  Fell free to email him your get well wishes.

Today’s front moved through the Florida Sea Base between 1400 and 1430.  The rain was mostly light, but picked up for about 15 minutes.  The wind is much more tolerable this time, about 15 knots out of the west.  The temperatures are supposed to be much cooler through Saturday, but nothing vicious.

Several of the staff spent much of today in the 67 degree swimming pool working towards their PADI Open Water Diver certification.  Capt. Alex Bergstedt is teaching the course.  Divemaster Meghann Michalski has enrolled in an upcoming Instructor Development Course at Florida Keys Dive Center so she is assisting Capt. Alex and brushing up on her skills.  Milly McCoy is at Flakeys (Florida Keys Dive Center) again today assisting with the current Instructor Development Course there.  [So Capt. Steve, why do they call the Florida Keys Dive Center "Flakeys"?  Well kids, I was told that many, many years ago when the Florida Keys Dive Center originally opened for business they needed a sign.  So they hired a sign painter.  Apparently the painter thought the name was too long so he decided to abbreviate it.  Now most of you are probably too young to remember this, but the US Postal Service used have three letter abbreviations for every state instead of the current two letter abbreviations.  The abbreviation for Florida was FLA.  So the sign read "FLA. KEYS DIVE CENTER".  That morphed into Flakeys Dive Center and eventually into just Flakeys.  So there you have a bit of Keys history.]

I received a phone call from the owner of Ocean Divers in Key Largo today.  Joe said all of his scuba instructors have been certified as Scuba Diving merit badge counselors.  Check out their website when you have time.

For the prospective summer scuba staff – I am right down to the last 4 decisions.  I will have those finalized in the next day or two.  Thank you for your patience.  Believe me, NO ONE wants the hiring to be finalized more than me.

If you were hoping to work the spring season at the Florida Sea Base or Brinton Environmental Center and have not submitted an application, it may be too late.  Hiring for spring is pretty much done.  I don’t want to give you false hope, but if you want to try to get in an application for spring 2010, please fax it to Rob Kolb at 305-664-2039 IMMEDIATELY.  All scuba positions are filled.  I believe all of the sailing positions are filled but there MIGHT be an opening.  I am not sure about the galley and ranger departments.  They MAY have a spot or two still open.  I think Capt. Scott may be looking for one more Out Island Mate for spring.

If you are hoping to work at Florida Sea Base for the summer of 2010 and have not submitted an application, you need to do so immediately.  Again, the quickest way to get you application in is to fax it to Rob Kolb at 305-664-2039.  We are making good progress on our summer staff hiring.  We are receiving an unusually high number of applications.  The hiring managers, Capt. Rich (sailing), Capt. Scott (BEC), Capt. Keith (rangers), Chrystene (galley and Ships Store) and I (scuba) have been told that we can not just ignore the applications we often receive early from wannabe new staffers while waiting on late applications from a few procrastinating returners.  So whether you are a former staff member hoping to return for another season or a newbe applying for the first time, PLEASE get your applications in now.

Just a quick note…..

If you are hoping to work as a seasonal staff member for spring of 2010 it may already be too late; we have completed most of the spring staff hiring.  If you are hoping to work the summer of 2010 you need to submit an application ASAP.  You can download an application from www.bsaseabase.org and mail it to the address on the application or fax it to 305-664-2039.