Author: ernest mazza

Day 5 of my Keys adventure was a long day on Friday. What started out as a leisurely sail from Key Largo to Key Biscayne ended up as a race to get home. I was planning to spend the night at Key Biscayne and then have an easy downhill half day run to Fort Lauderdale… Continue reading Key Largo – Fort Lauderdale 10feb2023

Day 4 of my Florida Keys sailing trip was at TRIP. Time to head home – the wind forecast was east to southeast. Hoping for an early switch to SE wind, I left the Scouts Sea Base and went through Channel 5, between Lower Matacumbe and Long Keys. The bridge is 65′ high, easy access… Continue reading Islamorada to Key Largo 9feb2023

As I wandered about the keys the weather was sooo nice, and I had nothing on my calendar so it was off to Islamorada Wednesday. I was running low on food, and I hadn’t had a shower since I left Fort Lauderdale on Monday, adding sunscreen day after day. It was nice that the gang… Continue reading Key Largo to Islamorada 8feb2023

On Tuesday morning I pulled anchor and left Key Biscayne and sailed south in Biscayne Bay, passing a few keys: Soldier, Boca Chita, Elliot, Adams, and others. The bay is shallow in spots, so it’s important to navigate through the channels at Featherbed Bank, etc. Leaving lower Biscayne Bay, next is Card Sound and then… Continue reading Key Biscayne to Key Largo 7feb2023

One recent Monday, the weather report was perfect for a sail south for a few days (northerlies) then predicted a wind switch to southerlies later in the week. So, off I went in the sailboat leaving Fort Lauderdale and heading south in the Atlantic bound for Key Biscayne, near Miami. I anchored for the night… Continue reading Ft Lauderdale-Key Biscayne Sail 6feb2023

It was a blast to have Troop 8 aboard and watch them progress through their SCUBA skills, and enjoy the salt life. I’m not sure who enjoyed it more, Troop 8 or the BSA Burglar crew!

July 19, 2022 was a nice day for SCUBA diving. With certifications done, all dives at this point are fun dives, no more instruction – time to implement new skills. First on the itinerary was a dive spot named Labyrinth, and spur and groove reef. Then, on to a similar type of reef named Boink.… Continue reading July 19, 2022 – Troop 70, Day 3

Wednesday Cathy and I went snorkeling at Cheeca Rocks, about one mile from Breezy Palms Resort. I went and got the boat from Caloosa Cove Marina and ran it about 5 miles up to our place. It was a wonderful dive, the visibility was good and the reef was alive with life. We saw: grouper,… Continue reading July 13, 2022 – April Cathy & Ernie in Islamorada

Cathy and April came to the keys for a visit with Ernie and we went out in the boat to make sure the sun went down 🙂 After checking in to the Breezy Palms Resort near BSA Sea Base, we went boat riding to see the sights. We stopped and toured the Boy Scout Sea… Continue reading July 12, 2022 – April Cathy & Ernie in Islamorada

The gang from Troop 5 was lucky to get good weather for 3 days and did a great job in the water getting SCUBA certified!

July 6, 2022 – Keeley, Louis, and Sean got certified by instructors KL and Spencer at Pillars dive site, diving from BSA Burglar! See link below for a Google photo album 🙂

Reggae at sunset at Book Key Harbor – good vibes!

June 19-21 brought nice diving conditions and Troop 70 from University Park in Texas. The gang did great!