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The online version of the Guide to Safe Scouting is updated quarterly.
Go to http://www.scouting.org/HealthandSafety/GSS.aspx.
Recreational diving activities by BSA groups must
be supervised by a responsible adult currently certified
(renewed) as a divemaster, assistant instructor, or higher
ratingfromarecognizedagency.Diveenvironments,equip-
ment, depths, procedures, supervision, and buddy assign-
ments must be consistent with each individual’s certification.
Because dives by recreational divers may be infrequent,
the divemaster or instructor supervising a BSA scuba
activity should screen participants prior to open-water
activities and provide remedial instruction and practice as
appropriate. Such remedial instruction and practice should
be in accordance with the policies and standards of the
divemaster’s or instructor’s agency for Scuba Review, Scuba
Refresher, or similar program.
Divingusingsurface-suppliedairsystemsisnotautho-
rized in connection with any BSA activity or facility except
when done under contract by commercial divers.
Age-Appropriate Restrictions
YouthmembersinCubScouting,includingWebelos
Scouts, are not authorized to use scuba in any activity.
Boy Scouts may participate in the introductory Scuba
BSA program and may obtain open-water certification as
partofScubaDivingmeritbadge.
Varsity and Venturing groups may participate in intro-
ductory and certification scuba programs conducted by rec-
ognized agencies appropriate to their age and current level
of certification.
Standards of the recognized scuba agencies require students
foropen-watercertificationprogramstobeatleast15years
of age but allow special certification programs for younger
students. Since all instruction for BSA scuba programs must
be conducted by professionals certified by a recognized agency,
additional agency-specific, age-related restrictions and proto-
colsapplytostudentsunder15yearsofage.
Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, and Venturers may participate
in recreational group dives as unit, district, or council activ-
ities, provided such dives are consistent with their certifica-
tions and under direct, on-site supervision of a responsible
adult currently certified as a divemaster, assistant instructor,
or higher rating from a recognized agency.
The divemaster or instructor supervising a recreational
dive by a BSA group must implement the following policies
foralldiversunder15yearsofage,aswellasanyadditional
junior diver restrictions and protocols adopted by that per-
son’s certifying agency:
• Depthsarelimitedto40feetfordiversunder12years
ofageandto60feetfordivers12to14yearsofage.
• Eachdiverunder15yearsofagemusthaveanadult
buddy certified as an open-water diver who is either the
junior diver’s parent or an adult approved by the parent.
• Additionaldivemastersorinstructorsarepresentto
maintain a ratio of one trained supervisor to four
buddy pairs (eight divers) containing one to four
diversunder15yearsofage.
Medical Contraindications
Each scuba training agency recognized by the BSA requires
a specific health history form prior to enrollment in a certifica-
tion program. The BSA requires review and approval of the
completed form by a physician even if the scuba agency itself
does not require physician approval. Various risk factors
identified on the forms may exclude a person from scuba
training, either temporarily or permanently. Risk factors
include, but are not limited to, ear and sinus problems, recent
surgery, spontaneous pneumothorax, asthma or reactive airway
disease(RAD),seizuredisorders,diabetes,leukemia,sickle-cell
disorder, pregnancy, panic disorders, and active psychosis.
The divemaster or instructor supervising a BSA recreational
scuba activity must review the health information for each
participant that is required annually of all BSA members and
evaluate risk conditions using medical standards consistent
with those used by his or her certifying agency. Additional tests
or physician consultations may be required to confirm fitness
for diving. Consultation with medical specialists knowledge-
able about diving medicine also may be needed for participants
taking psychotropic drugs for treatment of attention deficit
disorder, depression, or other conditions.
Scuba diving is prohibited for the following conditions.
• Useofmedicationtocontrolseizuresorseizureoccur-
rence within the past five years
• Useofinsulintocontroldiabetes
• HistoryofasthmaorRADunlessresolutionconfirmed
by methacholine testing (Persons who have been
asymptomatic and medication free for the previous
five years are exempt from the methacholine
testing requirements.)
The scuba agencies recognized by the BSA may allow
exceptions to general medical prohibitions based on
individual diving fitness evaluations by a medical special-
ist who is knowledgeable about diving medicine. Scouts,
parents, dive supervisors, and physicians with questions
or concerns about diving with specific medical conditions
should consult the Recreational Scuba Training Council
(RSTC)GuidelinesforRecreationalScubaDiver’sPhysical
ExaminationandtheDiversAlertNetwork(DAN)at
www.diversalertnetwork.org.DANmedicalprofessionals
are available for nonemergency consultation by telephone
at919-684-2948duringbusinesshoursorviae-mail.