PADI Signs with the Boy Scouts of America

You may remember back in March we brought you the proposed partnership between PADI and the Boy Scouts of America. As we said at the time, a partnership of this nature is a terrific way to promote scuba diving to a responsible segment of America's youth.

PADI today officially announced the agreement with the BSA and the new Scuba Diving Merit Badge.

In a recent Boy Scouts of America (BSA) survey, scuba diving was one of the most proposed new merit badge topics for troops nationwide. Standing ready to fulfill this demand for the new Scuba Diving Merit Badge, PADI Americas entered into an agreement of mutual support with the BSA on 6 August 2009. This agreement positions PADI as an official BSA business affiliate and leads local BSA troops to PADI Dive Centers and Resorts. PADI Worldwide President and Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Drew Richardson, and BSA Chief Scout Executive, Robert J. Mazzuca, signed the memorandum of mutual understanding during a meeting at the Boy Scouts national office in Irving, Texas, USA.

“PADI Americas has entered into an agreement with the Boy Scouts of America to work cooperatively with each other to establish and nurture Boy Scout troops and Venturing crews,” says Dr. Richardson. “Through diving, PADI Dive Center and Resort members can help Scouts develop the leadership, character and self-reliance skills that are key to the Scouting’s code of ethics.”

PADI Americas will be listed as an official business sponsor at the Boy Scouts of America’s sponsorship website. As part of the agreement, PADI Dive Centers and Resorts will also receive approved BSA logos and signage to display in their businesses. “There are more than one million Boy Scout and Venturing members in the United States,” says Bill Hamm, PADI Americas director of sales and field services. “With this sponsorship and the introduction of the new Scuba Diving Merit Badge, local troops will naturally seek PADI Dive Centers and Resorts for scuba diving fulfillment. This is an incredible opportunity for all PADI business members.”

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Scotland's Shipwrecks Now Open to Divers

One more destination for all us wreck divers to add to our to-dive lists.

HISTORIC shipwrecks that have been out of bounds to divers are to be opened up for the first time.

Currently it is illegal for scuba divers to visit eight protected sites – such as the HMS Campania in the Firth of Forth – without a licence from Historic Scotland.

However, under the Scottish Marine Bill, currently going through parliament, the restrictions will be lifted.

Divers have long argued that there should be greater freedom to visit wrecks on a "look but don't touch" basis.

Wrecks where restrictions would be lifted include the remains of a warship called The Swan in the Sound of Mull, which sank in 1653 and the Kennemerland in Out Skerries, Shetland – an armed merchant vessel belonging to the Dutch East India Company that sank in 1664, while loaded with a cargo of treasure and jewels.

The eight sites are currently designated under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973, which instated a blanket ban on visiting them without a licence.

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