Aquanauts are people who are at home in and around the water. When you’re an aquanaut, you enjoy the water, but you also respect it. You master the water skills you need. Swimming, floating, snorkeling, water rescue, and boating are all skills of aquanauts.
Aquanauts know water can be dangerous. They know how to be safe in and on the water, and they never take foolish chances or break safety rules. They know that rules protect everyone. They help others enjoy the water safely and help them improve their skills. So splash right in and become an aquanaut! The better you become at water skills, the more fun you’ll have.
Practicing the skills for this activity badge will tell you whether you’re an aquanaut. You’ll enjoy trying them. If you can’t do all of them right away, keep practicing. You’ll improve all the time. The aquanaut activity badge will help you get ready for more challenging aquatics activities in Boy Scouting.
Requirements
Do these:
1. Jump into water over your head. Come to the surface and swim 100 feet, at least half of this using a backstroke.
2. Stay in the water after the swim and float on your back and your front, and demonstrate survival floating.
3. Put on a personal flotation device (PFD) that is the right size for you. Make sure it is properly fastened. Wearing the PFD, jump into water over your head. Show how the PFD keeps your head above water by swimming 25 feet. Get out of the water, remove the PFD, and hang it where it will dry.
And do three of these:
4. Do a front surface dive and swim under water for four strokes before returning to the surface.
5. Explain the four basic water rescue methods. Demonstrate reaching and throwing rescues.
6. With an adult on board, show that you know how to handle a rowboat.
7. Pass the BSA “swimmer” test:
- Jump feet-first into water over the head in depth, level off, and begin swimming.
- Swim 75 yards in a strong manner using one or more of the following strokes: sidestroke, breaststroke, trudgen, or crawl.
- Then swim 25 yards using an easy, resting backstroke.
- After completing the swim, rest by floating.
*The 100 yards must be completed in one swim without stops and must include at least one sharp turn.
8. While you are a Webelos Scout, earn the Cub Scout Sports belt loop for swimming.
Additional Information
