Scouts Canada, the country’s leading youth organization, offers challenging programs for boys, girls and youth age 5-26 in thousands of individual groups in most cities and towns across Canada.
Scouts Requirements
Scouts Requirements
Troop Specialty Badge (Scuba)
Pre- requisite:
Participants must achieve the Scout Swimming Badge, or complete a swimming evaluation under the supervision of the scuba instructor prior to earning their Scuba badge.
The program associated with Scouts obtaining the Troop Specialty Badge (Scuba) is an introductory program used to introduce non-divers to diving in a closely supervised, controlled environment; typically a swimming pool or confined body of water with pool-like conditions. This program does not result in a scuba diver certification for the participating Scouts, but serves as a basis for the Scout to experience breathing air underwater and to consider becoming a certified diver. In general terms the introductory program must meet the minimum training standards for introductory scuba experiences set forth by RSTC Canada. The general guidelines are listed below, but the scuba instructor conducting the experience must follow the standards of his training agency.
Requirements:
1. The scuba instructor is to conduct a briefing or knowledge development section that covers:
- Breathing rules and equalization techniques
- Purpose and use of the scuba equipment worn by participants
- Hand signals
- Regulator and mask clearing techniques
- Respect for aquatic life (if appropriate based on location of the program)
- Importance of following the direction of the instructor and staying close
- Limitations of the program and the need for and benefit to continue to a full diver certification course
2. The scuba instructor is to introduce various scuba skills to the participants in water shallow enough to stand in, including:
- a. Proper breathing underwater
- b. Mask and regulator clearing technique
- c. Proper equalization techniques
3. The maximum number of participants to instructor is eight to one (8:1) in a swimming pool, and four to one (4:1) in confined open water.
4. Participants may participate in an open water dive with the instructor after satisfactorily completing the above requirements. The maximum participant to instructor ratio is four to one (4:1) at a maximum depth of 40 feet/12 metres.
NOTE: The instructor for this badge must hold an instructor rating and be in current teaching status with PADI, or a member of RSTC Canada. Instruction must meet the minimum training standards for introductory scuba experiences set by RSTC Canada. This badge does not necessarily require open water diving, as all the practical requirements can be completed in a pool setting.
