Scuba Diving Merit Badge Requirements

Boy Scouts of America

Scuba Diving Merit Badge Requirements

All six of these requirements must be achieved to earn the BSA Scuba Diving Merit Badge. All items, except item 4, must be presented by a BSA certified Merit Badge Counselor. Sea Sports Scuba will address item 4 by conducting a PADI Open Water Diver course.

Diving First Aid
Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur while scuba diving, including hypothermia, hyperventilation, squeezes, decompression illness, nitrogen narcosis, motion sickness, fatigue, overexertion, heat reactions, dehydration, injuries by aquatic life, and cuts and scrapes.

Identify the conditions that must exist before performing CPR on a person, and explain how to recognize such conditions. Demonstrate the
proper technique for performing CPR using a training device approved by your counselor.
Swimming Merit Badge
The Swimming merit badge must be earned before completing requirements 3 through 6.
Discuss the Scuba Diver’s Code
Explain to your merit badge counselor the importance of each guideline in the code to a scuba divers safety.
Earn an Open Water Diver Certification (Click here for special pricing for Scout groups)
Certification must be from a scuba organization recognized by the Boy Scouts of America scuba policy. (PADI OW courses meet this requirement.)
Explain what an ecosystem is, and describe four aquatic ecosystems a diver might experience.
Find out about three career opportunities in the scuba industry.
Pick one and find out the education, training, and experience required for this profession. Discuss this with your counselor, and explain why this profession might interest you.

The above requirements are listed on pages 4 and 5 in the BSA Scuba Diving Merit Badge handbook (2009 printing).