SCUBA at Camp

Have You Ever Wanted to try Scuba Diving?
Are You Daring Enough to Try Something Different?
Have You Ever Thought What You Might Find Underwater?

Well then we have a opportunity for YOU!! This summer, Sunken Treasure Scuba Center will be offering Girl Scouts the opportunity to experience SCUBA program listed below and Boy Scouts to earn their Scuba BSA activity patch

Click Here to check out the photo's from 2007 camps

WHEN:
June 24 - Camp Louise Girl Scout Camp in Berwick
June 26 - Camp Hebron Girl Scout Camp in Halifax
July Tuesday's - 6:45 PM – 9 PM at 7 Mtns Boy Scout Camp
July Thursdays - 6:45 PM – 9 PM at Camp K Boy Scout Camp
August 7 - Camp Hebron Girl Scout Camp in Halifax
August 12 - Camp Louise Girl Scout Camp in Berwick

HOW MANY: There is room each week for 20 divers. Classes will be formed on a “first come – first served” registration basis. Forms will be available in advance at the Council offices.
COST: Course fee covers the cost of all necessary equipment, materials and activity patch for BSA participates. This fee will be in addition to normal camp fees and varies at each camp.

BSA COURSE 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.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
To participate, be active in their troop, have earned the BSA swimming merit badge or have completed #1 of the requirements listed above at their week in camp and they must have scoutmaster approval and recommendation.
Each scout MUST have a PADI medical form signed by parent or physician (see form for details – No Scout will be allowed to participate without the properly completed PADI medical form. Click here to access medical forms.

FOR MORE BSA INFORMATION:
7 Mtns contact is camp director Ron Forsythe
Camp K contact is camp director Brad Molyneaux

BSA, PADI and Sunken Treasure Scuba Center History:
In 2003, PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) and the BSA cooperatively created and implemented a program allowing scouts to discover scuba diving in the confines of a pool environment.
Sunken Treasure Scuba Center is this areas only PADI National Geographic Instructor Development Center and the only diving facility to offer special diving programs just for scouts. Currently, Sunken Treasure offers two scout programs: Scuba classes only for Scouts and the BSA Scuba activity badge. For the last 5 years, Sunken Treasure Scuba Center has employed one full-time instructor dedicated only to certifying scouts for high adventure opportunities. To date, we have certified over 100 scouts who have been able to participate in Florida Sea Base as well as local and out of state diving.

Any scout master anticipating a trip to Sea Base or desiring to learn more can contact Sunken Treasure for details