KJackson60
Contributor
It has been reported on this web site that the BSA is going to lower the age that Boy Scouts can participate in SCUBA Diving as part of Troop programing. The current age is 14 and will be lowered to 12 or 11 depending on when a youth joins a Troop. The reason for this is to bring the age requirement for earning the new SCUBA Merit Badge in line with all of the other Merit Badges.
I am very happy that we have a SCUBA Merit Badge and I will be signing up as a counselor. My question is the advisability of opening up what has been up to now a "High Adventure" activity to anyone who thinks they want to try this. When it was classified as "High Adventure" there where limiting factors as to who could participate. A youth needed to be First Class, of the proper age, pass a Class 3 medical check and demonstrate an adequate level of physical and emotional development to be allowed to participate in this activity.
With the changes as I understand them they will no longer have to meet any of these requirements. This puts the adult leaders who are responsible for these youth on these outings in a difficult position. They could possibly have a group of 12-13 year old Tenderfoot scouts that they are trying to keep tabs on through out the entire dive process. So we will need more adult assistance on the surface with gearing up, additional adult divers to help keep track of these kids underwater, etc.
I am not saying that children of this age can not dive. There a certainly many out there that do, and do well, with mom or dad. My concern is the fact that up to now each youth was expected to have the ability to participate in a self contained manner eg. handle equipment, focus on briefings/instruction, and be a fully capable dive buddy, even in an emergency involving an adult. Not all 14 year olds can do this, how many 12 year olds can?
OK, I have rambled long enough. Please respond with your thoughts on this.
I am very happy that we have a SCUBA Merit Badge and I will be signing up as a counselor. My question is the advisability of opening up what has been up to now a "High Adventure" activity to anyone who thinks they want to try this. When it was classified as "High Adventure" there where limiting factors as to who could participate. A youth needed to be First Class, of the proper age, pass a Class 3 medical check and demonstrate an adequate level of physical and emotional development to be allowed to participate in this activity.
With the changes as I understand them they will no longer have to meet any of these requirements. This puts the adult leaders who are responsible for these youth on these outings in a difficult position. They could possibly have a group of 12-13 year old Tenderfoot scouts that they are trying to keep tabs on through out the entire dive process. So we will need more adult assistance on the surface with gearing up, additional adult divers to help keep track of these kids underwater, etc.
I am not saying that children of this age can not dive. There a certainly many out there that do, and do well, with mom or dad. My concern is the fact that up to now each youth was expected to have the ability to participate in a self contained manner eg. handle equipment, focus on briefings/instruction, and be a fully capable dive buddy, even in an emergency involving an adult. Not all 14 year olds can do this, how many 12 year olds can?
OK, I have rambled long enough. Please respond with your thoughts on this.