Note to the Counselor
Counselors for the Scuba Diving merit badge must be registered with the Boy Scouts of America and be approved
by the district/council advancement committee.
Like other merit badges, the Scuba Diving merit badge has been developed to teach and train youth in a manner
consistent with the overall goals and values of the Boy Scouts of America.
The merit badge counselor should be fair and consistent when presenting and evaluating the knowledge and skills
specified by the requirements. None of the requirements may be modified or omitted.
Unlike many other merit badges, the Scuba Diving critical prerequisites, knowledge, and skills are not itemized in the
requirements nor adequately covered in the pamphlet. The requirement to earn Open Water Diver Certification
means the Scout must meet training requirements set by outside agencies and must supplement the material in this
pamphlet with an entry-level scuba diver manual.
All phases of scuba instruction—classroom, pool, and open water training—must comply with the minimum training
standards for entry-level scuba certification adopted by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or the U.S.
Recreational Scuba Training Council (RSTC). The RSTC is recognized as the ANSI Accredited Standards
Developer for recreational diving instructional standards. The BSA acknowledges those standards by limiting scuba
instruction only to instructors trained and sanctioned by recognized scuba agencies.
Promotional Brochure for Local Councils
Councils may use this PDF to customize and print a promotional brochure for the Scuba Diving merit badge. The
brochure has a space on the lower portion of the cover for personalization, and it also includes pertinent information
about the merit badge.
Agencies recognized by the BSA for scuba training are PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors); NAUI
(National Association of Underwater Instructors); SSI (Scuba Schools International); IDEA (International Diving
Educators Association); PDIC (Professional Diving Instructors Corporation); and SDI (Scuba Diving International). In
addition to the agencies listed by name, any current member of the World Recreational Scuba Training Council
(WRSTC) is also recognized.
Each approved instructor must follow the training protocols established by his or her authorizing agency, including
limitations and special provisions based on medical conditions and age. For Scout divers under age 15, this will
include restrictions for maximum depth, buddies, and supervision ratios.
Scuba industry standards for Open Water Diver Certification require the student to be at least 15 years of age.
Students under the minimum age who meet open water scuba performance requirements may qualify for a special
certification that allows them to dive with an adult buddy who has, as a minimum, an open water scuba certification.
Several of the scuba organizations recognized by the BSA offer “junior” open water certifications for those as young
as 10; others have a minimum age of 12. Such junior open water diver certifications satisfy Scuba Diving merit
badge requirement 4.
When scuba diving is taught in connection with any local council program, such as offering the Scuba Diving merit
badge at summer camp, instructors should provide the training on a contract basis. Such instructors should have
dive store or other commercial affiliation that provides liability coverage. Direct employment of scuba instructors is
not recommended.
Local council programs may not compress or sell air for scuba use, or sell, rent, or loan scuba equipment (scuba
cylinders, regulators, gauges, dive computers, weights, BCDs).
All air and scuba equipment for local council use must be obtained from professional sources (dive stores, resorts,
dive boats, etc.) affiliated with a scuba agency recognized by the BSA.
The Boy Scouts of America is not a dive certification agency. Your merit badge counselor can help you find a scuba
agency recognized by the Boy Scouts of America scuba policy so that you can fulfill requirement 4.
Scouts who have already earned an Open Water Diver Certification outside of a BSA activity from a scuba agency
recognized by the Boy Scouts of America scuba policy may still earn the Scuba Diving merit badge by earning the
Swimming merit badge and completing all other listed requirements.
Requirements
1. Do the following:
2. Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur while scuba diving, including hypothermia,
hyperventilation, squeezes, decompression illness, nitrogen narcosis, motion sickness, fatigue, overexertion, heat
reactions, dehydration, injuries by aquatic life, and cuts and scrapes.
3. Identify the conditions that must exist before performing CPR on a person, and explain how to recognize such
conditions. Demonstrate the proper technique for performing CPR using a training device approved by your
counselor.
4. Before completing requirements 3 through 6, earn the Swimming merit badge.
5. Discuss the Scuba Diver’s Code with your merit badge counselor, and explain the importance of each guideline
to a scuba diver’s safety.
6. Earn an Open Water Diver Certification from a scuba organization recognized by the Boy Scouts of America
scuba policy.
7. Explain what an ecosystem is, and describe four aquatic ecosystems a diver might experience.
8. Find out about three career opportunities in the scuba industry. Pick one and find out the education, training,
and experience required for this profession. Discuss this with your counselor, and explain why this profession might
interest you.
Counselors for the Scuba Diving merit badge must be registered with the Boy Scouts of America and be approved
by the district/council advancement committee.
Like other merit badges, the Scuba Diving merit badge has been developed to teach and train youth in a manner
consistent with the overall goals and values of the Boy Scouts of America.
The merit badge counselor should be fair and consistent when presenting and evaluating the knowledge and skills
specified by the requirements. None of the requirements may be modified or omitted.
Unlike many other merit badges, the Scuba Diving critical prerequisites, knowledge, and skills are not itemized in the
requirements nor adequately covered in the pamphlet. The requirement to earn Open Water Diver Certification
means the Scout must meet training requirements set by outside agencies and must supplement the material in this
pamphlet with an entry-level scuba diver manual.
All phases of scuba instruction—classroom, pool, and open water training—must comply with the minimum training
standards for entry-level scuba certification adopted by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or the U.S.
Recreational Scuba Training Council (RSTC). The RSTC is recognized as the ANSI Accredited Standards
Developer for recreational diving instructional standards. The BSA acknowledges those standards by limiting scuba
instruction only to instructors trained and sanctioned by recognized scuba agencies.
Promotional Brochure for Local Councils
Councils may use this PDF to customize and print a promotional brochure for the Scuba Diving merit badge. The
brochure has a space on the lower portion of the cover for personalization, and it also includes pertinent information
about the merit badge.
Agencies recognized by the BSA for scuba training are PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors); NAUI
(National Association of Underwater Instructors); SSI (Scuba Schools International); IDEA (International Diving
Educators Association); PDIC (Professional Diving Instructors Corporation); and SDI (Scuba Diving International). In
addition to the agencies listed by name, any current member of the World Recreational Scuba Training Council
(WRSTC) is also recognized.
Each approved instructor must follow the training protocols established by his or her authorizing agency, including
limitations and special provisions based on medical conditions and age. For Scout divers under age 15, this will
include restrictions for maximum depth, buddies, and supervision ratios.
Scuba industry standards for Open Water Diver Certification require the student to be at least 15 years of age.
Students under the minimum age who meet open water scuba performance requirements may qualify for a special
certification that allows them to dive with an adult buddy who has, as a minimum, an open water scuba certification.
Several of the scuba organizations recognized by the BSA offer “junior” open water certifications for those as young
as 10; others have a minimum age of 12. Such junior open water diver certifications satisfy Scuba Diving merit
badge requirement 4.
When scuba diving is taught in connection with any local council program, such as offering the Scuba Diving merit
badge at summer camp, instructors should provide the training on a contract basis. Such instructors should have
dive store or other commercial affiliation that provides liability coverage. Direct employment of scuba instructors is
not recommended.
Local council programs may not compress or sell air for scuba use, or sell, rent, or loan scuba equipment (scuba
cylinders, regulators, gauges, dive computers, weights, BCDs).
All air and scuba equipment for local council use must be obtained from professional sources (dive stores, resorts,
dive boats, etc.) affiliated with a scuba agency recognized by the BSA.
The Boy Scouts of America is not a dive certification agency. Your merit badge counselor can help you find a scuba
agency recognized by the Boy Scouts of America scuba policy so that you can fulfill requirement 4.
Scouts who have already earned an Open Water Diver Certification outside of a BSA activity from a scuba agency
recognized by the Boy Scouts of America scuba policy may still earn the Scuba Diving merit badge by earning the
Swimming merit badge and completing all other listed requirements.
Requirements
1. Do the following:
2. Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur while scuba diving, including hypothermia,
hyperventilation, squeezes, decompression illness, nitrogen narcosis, motion sickness, fatigue, overexertion, heat
reactions, dehydration, injuries by aquatic life, and cuts and scrapes.
3. Identify the conditions that must exist before performing CPR on a person, and explain how to recognize such
conditions. Demonstrate the proper technique for performing CPR using a training device approved by your
counselor.
4. Before completing requirements 3 through 6, earn the Swimming merit badge.
5. Discuss the Scuba Diver’s Code with your merit badge counselor, and explain the importance of each guideline
to a scuba diver’s safety.
6. Earn an Open Water Diver Certification from a scuba organization recognized by the Boy Scouts of America
scuba policy.
7. Explain what an ecosystem is, and describe four aquatic ecosystems a diver might experience.
8. Find out about three career opportunities in the scuba industry. Pick one and find out the education, training,
and experience required for this profession. Discuss this with your counselor, and explain why this profession might
interest you.
Scuba BSA requirements
1. Before doing other requirements, successfully complete the BSA swimmer test. To begin the test, jump feet first
into water over the head in depth, level off, and begin swimming. Swim 75 yards in a strong manner using one or
more of the following strokes: sidestroke, breaststroke, trudgen, or crawl; then swim 25 yards using an easy, resting
backstroke. The 100 yards must be completed in one swim without stops and must include at least one sharp turn.
After completing the swim, rest by floating.
2. Discuss the importance of using the buddy system at all times while scuba diving. Explain that a dive buddy is
there to assist with the donning and doffing of equipment, to lend assistance in case of emergency and to share in
the underwater experience. Remember, always dive with a buddy — Never dive alone!
3. Review hazards associated with scuba diving, including causes of decompression incidents, and safety
procedures to avoid them. Explain the importance of never using scuba equipment unless you are enrolled in a
training exercise, or have completed a diver certification program, taught by a certified instructor.
By the end of a Water Skills Development session, the participants will be able to meet the following
requirements in clear, confined water:
4. State the purpose of the following pieces of basic diving equipment: mask, fins, BCD, BCD inflator, regulator, air
gauge and alternate air source.
5. Describe how to locate the air gauge, and explain how to recognize the “caution zone” on it.
6. Don and adjust mask, fins, snorkel, BCD, scuba, and weights with the assistance of a buddy, instructor, or
certified assistant.
7. While underwater, demonstrate and recognize the following hand signals:
* Okay?/Okay!;
* Stop;
* Up;
* Down;
* Out of air;
* Come here;
* Ear problem;
* Slow down/Take it easy;
* Something is wrong;
* Watch me;
* Check your air supply.
8. Inflate/deflate a BCD at the surface using the low pressure inflator.
9. In shallow water, demonstrate proper compressed air breathing habits; remembering to breathe naturally and not
hold the breath.
10. Clear the regulator while underwater using both exhalation and purge-button methods and resume normal
breathing from it.
11. In shallow water, recover a regulator hose from behind the shoulder while underwater.
12. In shallow water, clear a partially flooded mask while underwater.
13. Swim underwater with scuba equipment while maintaining control of both direction and depth, properly equalizing
the ears and mask to accommodate depth changes.
14. While underwater, locate and read submersible pressure gauge and signal whether the air supply is adequate or
low based on the gauge’s caution zone.
15. In shallow water, breathe underwater for at least 30 seconds from an alternate air source supplied by the
instructor.
16. Demonstrate the techniques for a proper ascent.
NOTE: The counselor for Scuba BSA must hold an instructor rating and be in current teaching status with PADI,
NAUI, SSI or other member of the RSTC in accordance with BSA scuba policies. Instruction must meet the minimum
training standards for introductory scuba experiences set by the RSTC and guidelines provided in the Scuba BSA
Brochure, No. 19-515. BSA scuba policies are provided in that brochure and also in the Guide to Safe Scouting.
1. Before doing other requirements, successfully complete the BSA swimmer test. To begin the test, jump feet first
into water over the head in depth, level off, and begin swimming. Swim 75 yards in a strong manner using one or
more of the following strokes: sidestroke, breaststroke, trudgen, or crawl; then swim 25 yards using an easy, resting
backstroke. The 100 yards must be completed in one swim without stops and must include at least one sharp turn.
After completing the swim, rest by floating.
2. Discuss the importance of using the buddy system at all times while scuba diving. Explain that a dive buddy is
there to assist with the donning and doffing of equipment, to lend assistance in case of emergency and to share in
the underwater experience. Remember, always dive with a buddy — Never dive alone!
3. Review hazards associated with scuba diving, including causes of decompression incidents, and safety
procedures to avoid them. Explain the importance of never using scuba equipment unless you are enrolled in a
training exercise, or have completed a diver certification program, taught by a certified instructor.
By the end of a Water Skills Development session, the participants will be able to meet the following
requirements in clear, confined water:
4. State the purpose of the following pieces of basic diving equipment: mask, fins, BCD, BCD inflator, regulator, air
gauge and alternate air source.
5. Describe how to locate the air gauge, and explain how to recognize the “caution zone” on it.
6. Don and adjust mask, fins, snorkel, BCD, scuba, and weights with the assistance of a buddy, instructor, or
certified assistant.
7. While underwater, demonstrate and recognize the following hand signals:
* Okay?/Okay!;
* Stop;
* Up;
* Down;
* Out of air;
* Come here;
* Ear problem;
* Slow down/Take it easy;
* Something is wrong;
* Watch me;
* Check your air supply.
8. Inflate/deflate a BCD at the surface using the low pressure inflator.
9. In shallow water, demonstrate proper compressed air breathing habits; remembering to breathe naturally and not
hold the breath.
10. Clear the regulator while underwater using both exhalation and purge-button methods and resume normal
breathing from it.
11. In shallow water, recover a regulator hose from behind the shoulder while underwater.
12. In shallow water, clear a partially flooded mask while underwater.
13. Swim underwater with scuba equipment while maintaining control of both direction and depth, properly equalizing
the ears and mask to accommodate depth changes.
14. While underwater, locate and read submersible pressure gauge and signal whether the air supply is adequate or
low based on the gauge’s caution zone.
15. In shallow water, breathe underwater for at least 30 seconds from an alternate air source supplied by the
instructor.
16. Demonstrate the techniques for a proper ascent.
NOTE: The counselor for Scuba BSA must hold an instructor rating and be in current teaching status with PADI,
NAUI, SSI or other member of the RSTC in accordance with BSA scuba policies. Instruction must meet the minimum
training standards for introductory scuba experiences set by the RSTC and guidelines provided in the Scuba BSA
Brochure, No. 19-515. BSA scuba policies are provided in that brochure and also in the Guide to Safe Scouting.
