Eligibility

Additional notes that may restrict a person from participating in SCUBA PROGRAMS ONLY:

Medications: Individuals requiring medication should continue medications as prescribed and bring an
appropriate supply. Each crew must develop a plan to secure, lock, and dispense medication.

Allergies: Participants with allergies that may result in severe reactions or anaphylaxis should bring an
adequate supply of epinephrine auto-injectors (EpiPen) to last up to three hours.

Recommendations Regarding Chronic Illness and/or Compromised Immune System: Persons with
chronic conditions and/or compromised immune systems should seek medical advice and education
regarding medical risks associated with harsh marine environments before participating. Individuals with
open wounds or who are at risk for chronic illnesses or immune disorders should not attend Sea Base.

Hypertension (High Blood Pressure): Participants should have a blood pressure less than 140/90.
Individuals with hypertension should have the condition treated and well-controlled before attending.

Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus: Diabetes must be well-controlled. Hypoglycemia can lead to
unconsciousness and drowning.
• Diving as part of an official scouting activity is prohibited for the following:
     o For persons under age 18 with the diagnosis of diabetes.
     o Persons using insulin to control diabetes.
     o Persons with diabetes, who are non-insulin dependent and who have had recurrent
        problems and/or hospitalizations for diabetic problems.
     o Persons with any HbA1c test greater than 7.0 in the previous 12 months.
     o Persons having a documented or suspected hypoglycemic event requiring treatment
        or assessment in the previous 12 months.
• Diabetes is considered well-controlled when the following are met:
     o The acceptable oral medications for diabetic control are as single agents only:
        metformin and metformin analogs; DPP-4 inhibitors (sitagliptin, vildagliptin,
        alogliptin, saxagliptin and linagliptin); or SGLT2 inhibitors and analogies.

Persons who control their diabetes with exercise and diet (without the aid of medication, except
metformin) and document HbA1c test value less than 7.0 in the last 6 months) may be approved
to scuba dive.

Participants that are insulin dependent, youth or adult, will not be cleared to scuba dive. Those that are
currently scuba certified or have a physician’s approval for scuba diving will not be cleared to scuba dive at
Sea Base. Participants younger than 18 years of age with diabetes will not be cleared to scuba dive. There
are no exceptions, exclusions or waivers to this policy.

Seizures (Epilepsy): Seizures while snorkeling or scuba diving are extremely dangerous and often fatal.
• Diving or snorkeling as part of an official scouting activity is prohibited for participants
with a history of seizures.
• No participant with a history of seizures or taking anti-epileptic medication may snorkel
or scuba dive.
Prospective participants with a history of infant febrile seizures may be considered for
snorkeling or diving after formal consultation with a neurologist. 

Asthma or Reactive Airway Disease:
• Diving as part of an official scouting activity is prohibited for persons being treated for asthma
or reactive airway disease.
• Persons with a history of asthma who have been asymptomatic and have not used medications to control asthma for five years or more may be allowed to scuba dive if resolution
of asthma is specifically confirmed by their physician and includes provocative pulmonary
function testing conducted by a pulmonologist.
     —Provocative testing can include exercise, hypertonic saline, a hyperpnea test, etc. 

Participants, youth or adult, with asthma will not be cleared to scuba dive. The predisposing factors,
severity of attacks or intermittent asthma does not change this BSA policy. Those that are currently scuba
certified or have a physician’s approval for scuba diving will not be cleared to scuba dive at Sea Base.
There are no exceptions, exclusions or waivers to this policy.

Recent Musculoskeletal Injuries and Orthopedic Surgery: Persons with musculoskeletal problems or
orthopedic surgeries within the last six months must provide a letter from their treating physician to
participate. 

Psychological and Emotional Difficulties (ADD, ADHD, anxiety and depression): Any condition should
be well-controlled.
• Diving as part of an official scouting activity is prohibited for
     o Participants taking more than one medication for any of these conditions.
     o Participants with anxiety disorder requiring any medication.

Several medications are NOT COMPATIBLE with the hyperbaric stresses of scuba diving. All
medications MUST be listed on the BSA Annual Health and Medical Record. Those participants on
multiple medications (more than one) for ADD, ADHD, Depression or any psychological condition will
not be cleared for scuba diving. Those participants requiring medication to control Anxiety will not be
cleared for scuba diving. There are no exceptions, exclusions or waivers to this policy.

Weight Limits: Those persons weighing more than 295 pounds will not be permitted to attend.

If a participant weighs more than 295 pounds, they will be sent home at their own expense.
There will be weigh-ins upon arrival at Sea Base. There are no exceptions or waivers to the
295-pound weight limit.

Concussions: Those participants who have suffered a concussion and any side effects from the
concussion should contact DAN and Sea Base to discuss this issue. Please provide the following
information on the BSA Medical:
     1. When did the injury occur?
     2. Was there any loss of consciousness, inability to recollect events?
     3. Were there reports of disorientation after the incident?
     4. Have there been any lingering affects? 

Prospective participants who have experienced any of the following conditions, relating to Cardiac- Cardiovascular Disease, to undergo a thorough evaluation by their  treating physician and be medically cleared for high adventure before participation at Sea Base:

1. Angina- Chest pain caused by coronary artery or congenital heart disease
2. Myocardial Infarction- Heart Attack
3. Heart Surgery including angioplasty to treat coronary artery disease
4. Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attacks
5. Claudication
6. Family history of heart disease in individuals under 50
7. Weight in excess of recommended guidelines

Prospective participants who are Hypertensive; blood pressure greater than 140/90 should be treated and lower blood pressure to 140/90 prior to arrival at Sea Base. If medications are taken they must be continued while at Sea Base as prescribed.

Prospective participants with Diabetes may participate in Sea Base Adventures if:

1. They have been medically cleared by their physician.
2. When taking insulin; they can give a self-injection.
3. They are experienced to self- monitor, manage diabetes in remote physically challenging environments. Sea Base should not be the first adventure for an individual with diabetes or for an individual with newly diagnosed diabetes.
4. They can adequately recognize hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia and can begin the appropriate initial response for these conditions.
5. At least one other crew member can adequately recognize hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia and can begin the appropriate initial response for these conditions.
6. They are not frequently hospitalized for diabetic ketoacidosis.
7. SCUBA ONLY- They do not use insulin to control diabetes. They have been medically cleared by their physician in consult with DAN- Divers Alert Network and Sea Base Medical Director. Final decision for participation rests with Sea Base Medical Director.

Additional Notes about Diabetes and Scuba Diving: Diabetes must be well-controlled. Hypoglycemia can lead to unconsciousness and drowning.
• Diving as part of an official scouting activity is prohibited for the following:
     o For persons under age 18 with the diagnosis of diabetes.
     o Persons using insulin to control diabetes.
     o Persons with diabetes, who are non-insulin dependent and who have had recurrent
        problems and/or hospitalizations for diabetic problems.
     o Persons with any HbA1c test greater than 7.0 in the previous 12 months.
     o Persons having a documented or suspected hypoglycemic event requiring treatment
        or assessment in the previous 12 months.
• Diabetes is considered well-controlled when the following are met:
     o The acceptable oral medications for diabetic control are as single agents only:
        metformin and metformin analogs; DPP-4 inhibitors (sitagliptin, vildagliptin,
        alogliptin, saxagliptin and linagliptin); or SGLT2 inhibitors and analogies.
Persons who control their diabetes with exercise and diet (without the aid of medication, except
metformin) and document HbA1c test value less than 7.0 in the last 6 months) may be approved
to scuba dive. 

Participants that are insulin dependent, youth or adult, will not be cleared to scuba dive. Those that are
currently scuba certified or have a physician’s approval for scuba diving will not be cleared to scuba dive at
Sea Base. Participants younger than 18 years of age with diabetes will not be cleared to scuba dive. There
are no exceptions, exclusions or waivers to this policy.

Prospective participants with a seizure disorder or Epilepsy:

1. Seizures while snorkeling or scuba diving are extremely dangerous and often fatal.
2. History of loss of consciousness often precludes snorkeling or scuba diving.  Formal consultation with a neurologist and/or cardiologist is required.
3. No participant with a history of seizures or taking anti-epileptic medication may snorkel or scuba dive.
4. Prospective participants with a history of infant febrile seizures may be considered for snorkeling or diving after formal consultation with a neurologist.

Note: It may be possible for someone with absent or well controlled seizures to attend. However, if they do attend they must not snorkel or scuba dive. To gain clearance, they must be approved by their neurologist.

Prospective participants with Asthma may participate in Sea Base Adventures if:

1. They have been medically cleared by their physician.
2. They have not required frequent hospitalizations for asthma in the previous 6 years.
3. They are experienced to self- monitor, manage asthma in remote physically challenging environments.
4. Asthma is controlled to normal- essentially normal lung function with the use of oral or aerosol bronchodilators and does not require the use of a nebulizer.
5. Exercise induced asthma can be controlled with bronchodilator premedication and do not require systemic corticosteroid therapy.
6. They bring sufficient medication for the entire adventure; all persons having been treated for asthma in the previous 6 years must carry a full size prescribed inhaler for the length of the adventure.

SCUBA ONLY–

• Diving as part of an official scouting activity is prohibited for persons being treated for asthma or reactive airway disease.
• Persons with a history of asthma who have been asymptomatic and have not used medications to control asthma for five years or more may be allowed to scuba dive if resolution of asthma is specifically confirmed by their physician and includes provocative pulmonary function testing conducted by a pulmonologist.
     —Provocative testing can include exercise, hypertonic saline, a hyperpnea test, etc.

Participants, youth or adult, with asthma will not be cleared to scuba dive. The predisposing factors,
severity of attacks or intermittent asthma does not change this BSA policy. Those that are currently scuba
certified or have a physician’s approval for scuba diving will not be cleared to scuba dive at Sea Base.
There are no exceptions, exclusions or waivers to this policy.

Prospective  participants  with Mobility Limiting Diseases including arthritis may participate at Sea Base if:

1. They have been medically cleared by their physician.
2. Can pull themselves out of the water using a ladder.
3. At least one member of the crew understands the individuals’ limitations and is available to assist.

Prospective participants with Sleep Apnea may participate at Sea Base if:

1. They have been medically cleared by their physician.
2. They understand that they are responsible to provide battery support and will not have access to electricity if participating in Bahamas Sea Base, Coral Reef Sailing, STEM- ECO Sailing, Out Island, Scuba Live Aboard, Sea Base St. Thomas, Sea Exploring Adventures.

Prospective participants with Excessive Body Weight may participate in a Sea Base Adventure if:

1. They have been cleared by their physician.
2. If you exceed the maximum weight for height as explained in the following chart and your planned high-adventure activity will take you more than 30 minutes away from rescue by USCG, you may not be allowed to participate. Due to rescue equipment restrictions and evacuation efforts from remote sites, under no circumstances will any individual exceeding 295 pounds be permitted to participate. Anyone arriving at Sea Base exceeding 295 pounds will be sent home at their own expense. No refund will be given.