Bridging The Gap - National Capital Area Council
Bridging the GapBetweenPADIDive CentersandBoy Scoutsof AmericaFulfilling the Scuba Merit Badgeand Other Great Opportunities
Welcome to the World of Scuba Diving. The Popularity of scuba diving with thescouts has grown exponentially over the last several years. Much like scuba, theoverall philosophy of scouting encourages the quest for adventure. It is a lifechanging experience that enables young men and women to embrace challenges in a wholenew way. That first breath underwater; the feeling of total weightlessness as you embark intoa foreign world enables you to be part of something so powerful it transforms your life.Thousands of scouts have delved into the adventure during the jamboree, local camporees,and high adventure trips. Additionally, with the recent approval of the Scuba Merit Badgethere are now countless opportunities for Boy Scouts to explore the thrill of scuba. Prior togetting started it would be helpful for Boy Scout unit leaders to understand some generalguidelines for working with PADI Dive Centers and Resorts. PADI facilities can be foundthroughout the United States as diving is available in many local lakes, quarries, rivers andof course oceans. The purpose of this pamphlet is to provide you a detailed roadmap on howto easily arrange merit badge counseling for the scuba merit badge as well as many otherresources and opportunities.Why PADI?The Professional Association of DivingInstructors (PADI) is the world’s largestrecreational diver training, certification andmembership organization. PADI Members(dive centers, resorts, educational facilities,instructors, assistant instructors anddivemasters) issue approximately 1,000,000certifications worldwide each year, makingunderwater exploration and adventureaccessible to the public, while maintainingthe highest industry standards for divetraining and safety.2With more than 134,000 PADIProfessionals and approximately5,800 PADI Dive Centers andResorts operating in more than180 countries and territoriesworldwide, PADI trainingmaterials and services let youexperience scuba diving fromnearly anywhere.PADI Divers carry the mostrespected and sought after scubacredentials in the world. Nomatter where you choose to dive,your PADI scuba certificationcard will be recognized andaccepted. In fact, on most scubadiving adventures you’ll be surroundedby other PADI Divers who made thesame certification choice you did –to train with the world’s largest andmost respected scuba diving trainingorganization.
Working with the local PADI Dive Center(s)or Resort(s)Your local PADI Dive Center or Resort is your source forbringing scuba activities to your troop or crew.Your local PADI Dive Center can help you with thefollowing: Making a scuba presentation at the next RoundTable meeting Attending local unit meetings to discuss Scubaprograms (the new Scuba Merit Badge, Scuba BSA,Scuba elective for Venturing and Snorkeling BSA) Putting together programs for units or individualscouts to get certified as PADI Open Water Diversor advanced dive ratings.Scuba Merit BadgeAchievement of the Scuba Merit Badge will result in aPADI Open Water Diver Certification. This is a lifetimecertification that is only the first step into an endless worldof new experiences, adventures and fun. After completingthe certification boys will have the ability to go scubadiving in a variety of different environments and continuetheir education to further enhance their skill sets.The Scuba Merit Badge program consists of four parts;1. The BSA requirements (use of BSA Scuba MeritBadge booklet)2. Scuba Knowledge (use of PADI training material)3. Confined Water Dives and skill development4. Open Water DivesIn addition, PADI Dive Centers can give presentationsand teach programs in: First Aid, CPR and AED usage with the EmergencyFirst Response curriculum* Coordinate and arrange environmental programssuch as beach clean-ups and training on how toprotect the aquatic world using Project AWARE*The progression and variety of scuba and snorkelingcourses offered by PADI are bound to keep scoutsengaged for many years to come. PADI offers over 27Specialty Ratings including Wreck Diving, UnderwaterNaturalist, and Digital Underwater Photography just toname a few. These courses encourage scouts to continuetheir education in a fun and exciting way. The ScubaMerit Badge offers a unique opportunity since it is onlythe beginning of their scuba adventure.3
Getting Started2) What is the schedule for the course?When contacting a PADI Dive Center or Resort thereare a few common questions that should be asked todetermine the type of program that will best suit yourtroop. (Please keep in mind all PADI Dive Centersand Resorts are independently owned and operated;programs, course schedules, products, pricing, hours ofoperation, etc. are all set by the facility and will varyfrom business to business.)Most dive centers offer a variety of different courseschedules (including evenings and weekends). If the divecenter does not have a class schedule that meets the needsof your scouts ask if there is an option to customize theschedule.1) How is the knowledge development portion of thecourse completed?There are three options available for completing theknowledge development portion of the scuba course:PADI eLearning program: Development portion iscompleted online at the pace of the student diver.Home Study program: This option is also completedin the comfort of the student divers home and at theirpace using a multi-media DVDversion or hard copies of thetraining material.Classroom program: This is amore traditional approach ofconducting the developmenttraining in the dive centersclassroom using hard copies ofthe training materials.4Note:All three optionsprovide the same highlevel of PADI trainingstandards. The decisionshould be based onpersonal preferenceand availability fromthe dive center.
3) What information do I need to have available when Icontact the dive center?purchasing scuba diving gear (including mask, snorkeland fins) to ensure everything fits properly.When scheduling a group the dive center will ask you avariety of questions including number of students andage of each participant. This is important because PADIstandards require specific instructor to student ratiosso the store will want to make sure they have adequatestaffing on hand.Note: Be sure to let the dive center know the height andweight of the students so they can make sure they enoughgear available for everyone.4) How much will the course cost?Each dive center is independently owned and operatedso course pricing will vary depending on the store andthe method of learning you choose. Many dive centersdo offer special pricing for troops so be sure to identifyyourself as a scout leader.6) Where are the confined and open water divesconducted?The confined water dives are conducted in a swimmingpool either on site at the dive center or at a local pool orat an open water site with pool like conditions in the areaand may take several sessions. The four open water divesare conducted over a minimum of two days at a local divesite such as a lake, quarry or the ocean depending on thegeographic location.5) What type of gear will I need?To ensure the experience is enjoyable most divecenters require each student diver to have personalsnorkeling gear including mask, snorkel andfins. Depending on the geographic location andwater temperature some stores may also require ahood, dive booties and gloves All of these itemscan be purchasedon site at the divecenter. Most divecenters will have theremainder of the gearavailable for rental.It’s important to workwith an experienceddive center when5
Additional OpportunitiesThe Open Water Diver course is just the first step totapping into an abundance of educational opportunities,programs and adventures for scouts. There are manyadditional programs offered by PADI that complimentother scouting programs. The PADI and BSA partnershiphas now opened the door to making all of these accessibleto troops.Venturing Crews – Many PADI Dive Centers alreadysponsor Venturing crews. For many of the 25,000Venturing crews, scuba is one of their most popularactivities. As Venturing is for older young men andwomen and high adventure is a key element of theprogram, Scuba is a hot topic for Venturing.First Aid - Through Emergency First Response, PADIoffers an accredited First Aid, CPR and AED programcovering Adult, Child and Infant emergency procedures.First aid is a requirement for many levels of rankadvancement in Boy Scouts and Venturing, and also arequirement for the PADI Rescue diver course.Swimming – Many PADI Dive Centers have poolson site and can assist packs, troops, and crews withswimming instruction as they pursue rank advancementSome PADI Instructors are qualified as counselors for theswimming merit badge.Oceanography – PADI offers a variety of programs thatcould be taught in conjunction with scuba, such as thePADI National Geographic Specialty, Project AWARESpecialty, Underwater Naturalist Specialty and ProjectAWARE Fish Identification program.6Salesmanship and Fundraising – In cooperation witha dive center, Scouts could sell tickets to a Discover Scubaexperience (similar to the Scuba BSA program). The unitcould use this as a fun and different fund-raising exercise.Scouting and Conservation – The Project AWAREFoundation has a number of activities and eventsthroughout the year to promote environmental awarenessand conservation. Beach and ocean clean-ups are heldregularly. In addition, many dive centers and their diversget involved in local, regional or national projects suchas turtle conservation, coral watch and artificial reefpreservation. There is a critical need for volunteers toconserve and preserve the aquatic world and scouts coulddefinitely make a tremendous difference while loggingvaluable service hours.Snorkeling BSABSA Snorkeling is idealfor teaching scouts how tosnorkel safely and is therecommended procedure forconducting BSA swimmingactivities using masks, fins,and snorkels. This programhas been around since 2002and is one of the of the option as and entry point forScouts that have not met the required age for Scuba BSAor the Scuba Merit Badge program. PADI Instructors arequalified to sign off on this badge for your scouts.
Scuba BSAScuba Elective for Ranger Award in VenturingThe Scuba BSA program hasbeen an existing programoffered for the Boy Scoutssince 2003. Your local PADIDive Center or Resortcan fulfill the qualifiedsupervision and the scubaexperience requirementsneeded to qualify for this award.Scuba is one of the eighteen electives availableto Venturers who are in pursuit of the RangerAward. There are three steps to successfullycomplete this segment of the training.Scuba BSA introduces qualified Boy Scout, Venturing,and registered adult participants to the special skills,equipment, and safety precautions associated with scubadiving, encourages aquatics activities that promote fitnessand recreation, and provides a foundation for thosewho later will participate in more advanced underwateractivities.The Scuba BSA experience contains two parts—Knowledge Development and Water Skills Development.During the first part, participants learn basic dive safetyinformation and overview skills to be used during theirwater experience. The Water Skills Development sessionintroduces essential dive skills, such as mask clearing,regulator clearing, and alternate air source use.1. The Venturer must become certified as aPADI Open Water Diver (or obtain anequal certification from an accreditedagency.2. Make a presentation to their crew,another crew or a Cub or Boy Scoutgroup on what it takes to become certifiedand some other subject related to scuba Diving3. Assist with a Discover Scuba or Scuba BSAprogram as teaching others is a key characteristicof Venturing.Many PADI Dive Centers already support Venturingcrews. Contact your local PADI Dive Center or Resorttoday to see how your crew can benefit from thispartnership.This experience program allow the Scouts to take partin an underwater experience so they can see what ScubaDiving is all about, prior to getting into the ScubaMerit Badge program (although this program is not amandatory program to gain access to the Scuba MeritBadge program, it is counted towards it).7
To get your unit involved with scuba contact your local PADI Dive Center or Resort today.1. Visit “locate a PADI Dive Shop” section at www.padi.com or;2. Contact a PADI Regional Manager to obtain more information about dive centers in your local area.Region 1Michael JanssenSouthern California, Hawaii and Guam800-729-7234 ext. 2525800-729-7234 ext. 2472Region 2Barry DunfordWashington, Oregon , Alaska, Northern California, Nevada and Utah, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming800-729-7234 ext. 2434Region 3Gordon AponsArizona, New Mexico, Colorado, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, North Texas800-729-7234 ext. 2588Region 4Mike HillSouth Texas and Louisiana800-729-7234 ext. 2589Region 5Gary JoyceNorth Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Kentucky800-729-7234 ext. 2435Region 6Stush DoviatMaine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York. Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Virginia, WestVirginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and U.S. Virgin Islands800-729-7234 ext. 2436Region 8Jon CoonTennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and West Florida800-729-7234 ext. 2464Region 9Mike KurczewskiEast Florida and the Florida KeysRegion 10Puerto RicoJose Morera*Project AWARE Foundation works in partnershipwith divers and water enthusiasts to combatchallenges facing underwater environments.We involve these volunteers in hands-onenvironmental activities like International CleanupDay and The International Whale Shark Project.Project AWARE also inspires conservation byincorporating its messages in dive trainingmaterials as well ascreating awareness andeducation campaignslike Protect the Sharks,Protect the Living Reef andAWARE Kids.800-729-7234 ext. 2474*Emergency First Response is the fastest-growinginternational CPR, AED and first aid trainingorganization. With more than 31,000 instructorsworldwide, Emergency First Response is backedby 36 years of experience in the developmentand delivery of instructional courses, trainingmaterials and educational curricula. EmergencyFirst Response courses have gained widespreadinternational acceptance.Emergency First Response’scourse curricula are basedon patient care standards aspublished in the American HeartAssociation Guidelines 2005Standards.For additional questions regarding the PADI and BSA partnership please contact:Bill HammDirector, Field Services and SalesPADI AmericasBill.hamm@padi.com or call 949.858.7234 ext. 2534
Instructors (PADI) is the world's largest recreational diver training, certifi cation and membership organization. PADI Members (dive centers, resorts, educational facilities, instructors, assistant instructors and divemasters) issue approximately 1,000,000 certifi cations worldwide each year, making underwater exploration and adventure
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