T23
Guest
My money is on Scuba BSA staying as is with the Open Water requirements and the Scuba Merit Badge having requirements structured along the lines of most other merit badges so that would suggest some safety, first aid, career aspects, history and theory, possibly some intro water work along the lines of Bubblemaker or Discover Scuba at best, possibly the swimming merit badge as a prerequisite. I'm betting the Scuba merit badge is going to be a whole lot easier to earn than Scuba BSA.
Let's not forget that any Boy Scout who is a registered member is eligible to work on any merit badge at any time. This includes a 10 year old scout who just earned his Arrow of Light and decides to bridge over to a troop could choose Scuba for his first merit badge so the requirements have to be structured for him as well as a 17 year old.
Let's also not forget that none of the merit badges are a certification of training. First Aid merit badge is not certified first aid training... Lifeguard merit badge is not certified life guard training, etc., etc. I do not believe that Scuba merit badge will include any requirements related to scuba certification. Rather it will be designed to spark an interest for scouts to go ahead and work toward getting a c-card on their own if they so choose.
Let's not forget that any Boy Scout who is a registered member is eligible to work on any merit badge at any time. This includes a 10 year old scout who just earned his Arrow of Light and decides to bridge over to a troop could choose Scuba for his first merit badge so the requirements have to be structured for him as well as a 17 year old.
Let's also not forget that none of the merit badges are a certification of training. First Aid merit badge is not certified first aid training... Lifeguard merit badge is not certified life guard training, etc., etc. I do not believe that Scuba merit badge will include any requirements related to scuba certification. Rather it will be designed to spark an interest for scouts to go ahead and work toward getting a c-card on their own if they so choose.