Our History with Scouting
Sunken Treasure started working with the Boy Scouts of America in 1985 offering scuba programs at the High Adventure Base on Pine Creek. During the following years we offered Discover Scuba programs at Camp K and several YMCA's in the area. 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 and earn their Scuba BSA Activity Badge..
Sunken Treasure Scuba Center, a PADI Green Star Instructor Development Center was one of the first dive centers to offer special diving programs just for scouts. Currently, Sunken Treasure offers two scout programs: Scuba classes for Scouts to earn their merit badge or the BSA Scuba activity badge. Since 1998, Sunken Treasure Scuba Center has employed one instructor dedicated only to certifying scouts. We now have 3 Scuba Merit Badge Councilors on staff who certified over 170 scouts who have gone on to participate in Florida Sea Base as well as local and out of state diving.
BSA Scholarships
Each year we work with numerous Boy Scout groups for SCUBA BSA activity badges, SCUBA BSA merit badges and groups going to the Seabase camp but something that has just came to our attention that the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) offers a multilevel scholarship program to introduce Boy Scouts, Venturers, and Sea Scouts to the exciting underwater world. PADI recognizes that adventure is one of the key elements of Scouting and scuba diving is an exciting avocation or vocation that can be enjoyed in just about every part of the country. click here for more information.
Scuba BSA Activity Badge
Much like scouting, the overall philosophy of scuba encourages the quest for adventure. It is a life changing experience that enables young men and women to embrace challenges in a whole new way. That first breath underwater; the feeling of total weightlessness as you embark into a foreign world enables you to be part of something so powerful it transforms your life!
Scuba BSA introduces qualified Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, Venturing, and registered adult participants to the special skills, equipment, and safety precautions associated with scuba diving, encourages aquatics activities that promote fitness and recreation, and provides a foundation for those who later will participate in more advanced underwater activity.
The Scuba BSA experience contains two parts — Knowledge Development and Water Skills Development. During the first part, participants learn basic dive safety information and overview skills to be used during their water experience. The Water Skills Development session introduces essential dive skills, such as mask clearing, regulator clearing, and alternate air source use. The Scuba BSA program is conducted in clear, confined water by an instructor certified by diving organizations recognized by the BSA. Completion of Scuba BSA requirements sets the stage for additional training, but does not qualify the participant to dive independently, either in confined water or open water environments.
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.
Demonstrate the techniques for a proper ascent
Other Requirements:
If attending this program at camp the scout must 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.
When is it offered: Each week during the months of June/July, Sunken Treasure Scuba Center offers scouts the chance to earn their Scuba BSA Activity Badge while at Camp K on Thursday nights nights.
Scout Masters
If the program Scuba BSA doesn't fit your schedule during camp week we can offer this program to your troop anytime of the year. If your troop is going to Seabase or they would just like to earn their Scuba Merit Badge we offer many options for your troop. Just contact us at 570-398-1458. We have traveled up to 1 1/2 hours from our store to offer this program.
Scuba Merit Badge
Minimum Course Content for Open Water Diver Certification
The following abbreviated list represents the RSTC “Minimum Course Content for Open Water Diver Certification.” It is not intended as a complete outline of learning objectives for an Open Water Diver course. Development of learning objectives is left to the respective training agencies.
During the Open Water Diver course you can look forward to learning basic scuba theory and developing entry-level scuba skills required for certification. All will meet the minimum training standards for Entry-Level Scuba Certification set by the Recreational Scuba Training Council (RSTC). Your course will consist of the topics and scuba skills required by the training organization and as outlined in this section.
♦ Equipment ♦ Physics of Diving ♦ Medical Problems Related to Diving ♦ Decompression ♦ Theory and Use of Dive Tables ♦ Dive Environment. ♦ Dive planning ♦ Underwater and surface communications ♦ Diver assistance ♦ Recommended diving practices
♦ Proper use of personal diving logbook ♦ Equipment inspection (at water’s edge) ♦ Entries and exits Proper weighting ♦ Snorkel and regulator clearing ♦ Regulator/snorkel exchanges at the surface ♦ Controlled descents and ascents ♦ Underwater swimming ♦ Mask-clearing, including removal and replacement ♦ Buddy-system techniques ♦ Underwater and surface buoyancy control ♦ Underwater problem-solving ♦ Surface-snorkel swimming with full diving system ♦ Surface & Underwater removal and replacement of scuba system ♦ Surface & Underwater removal of the weight system ♦ Out-of-air emergency alternatives ♦ Equipment care and maintenance (at water’s edge)
Open Water Scuba Skills. Perform the following scuba skills while diving in open water. ♦ Equipment inspection (at water’s edge) ♦ Entries and exits ♦ Proper Weighting ♦ Mouthpiece clearing—snorkel and regulator ♦ Regulator/snorkel exchanges at the surface ♦ Controlled descents and ascents ♦ Underwater swimming Mask-clearing Buddy-system techniques Underwater and surface buoyancy control Diver assistance techniques (self/buddy) ♦ Surface-snorkel swimming with full diving system ♦ Removal and replacement of weight/ballast system ♦ Removal and replacement of scuba system ♦ Out-of-air emergency alternatives ♦ Equipment care and maintenance (at water’s edge) ♦ Underwater navigation ♦ In shallow water, breathe underwater for at least 30 seconds from an alternate air source supplied by the instructor. ♦ Demonstrate the techniques for a proper ascent.
Boy Scout Scuba Merit Badge Requirements
Merit Badge Knowledge Review
Girl Scouts
Over the years Sunken Treasure has worked with many Girl Scout programs from the local YWCA to Camp Archbald, the second oldest camp in the United States. At this time the Girl Scouts do not offer a certified program, however, Sunken Treasure can still provide your girls with the same fun programs we offer the boy scouts. From a simple discover scuba to a full PADI certified course, we can come to your location and offer a safe and fun filled educational experience that the girls will talk about for a long time. Give Rich a call at Sunken Treasure 570-398-1458 and we'll discuss what would be the best program you can offer your girls.
