Area Scouts log hours underwater and earn their scuba certifications

Troop 4041 Eagle Scout Laine-Tyler Foote, who is scuba-certified, is seen underwater at Mermet Springs in Belknap, Illinois. Foote was with local Boy Scouts of America Troops 4041 in Sikeston, Missouri, and 4025 in Benton, Missouri, who earned their Professional Association of Diving Instructors, or PADI, Open-Water Scuba certifications Oct. 11-13. (Photo provided)

SIKESTON — On Oct. 11-13, eight members of the local Boy Scouts of America Troops 4041 and 4025 earned their Professional Association of Diving Instructors, or PADI, Open-Water Scuba certifications.

The troops have been busy of late — as the past two months have included training with Cape Dive and Travel personnel — and completing their confined water dives at Southeast Missouri State University and open-water dives at Mermet Springs in Belknap, Illinois.

Scouts included Boyd Bollinger, David Bollinger, Jack Rone, Jackson Garner, Tripp Foote, Reed Branson, Aydon Rice (all from Troop 4041); Parker Cruz (Troop 2025) in Benton and the assistant scoutmaster who received certification was his father, Brandon Cruz.

Pictured are members of the Boy Scouts of America Troop 4041 and 4025. The troops earned scuba certifications on Oct. 11-13. (Photo provided)

“Beyond that, they had an online class they had to take that was roughly eight hours,” said John Bollinger, assistant scoutmaster for Troop 4041. “It wasn’t like a resort class that some people take to get certified. This was the full certification.”

The Scouts’ ages range from 12 to 15.

Diligence and motivation both are required for the certification, and Bollinger said such discipline exhibited by the boys simply comments on their characters and personalities.

“It certainly takes some dedication and paying attention to learn critical skills — these are skills that keep you alive when you are scuba diving,” Bollinger said. “At that age, I think it is impressive for them to be able to learn those skills, be able to execute in a somewhat stressful situation. If you don’t execute the skills underwater, you are going to have a problem.”

The scuba certification was a precursor to a larger-scale adventure in the Florida Sea Base, scheduled for the summer of 2026, Bollinger said.

“[It’s] one of the Boy Scouts of America’s national high adventure bases in the Florida Keys,” Bollinger said. “We will have at least one crew do the scuba adventure — which is one week of scuba diving in the Keys. And we will have another crew that will do another adventure that will include kayaking, fishing, snorkeling and island exploring.”

In order to offset the cost of the Keys, fundraising is utilized.

“High Adventure trips are quite expensive, and Scouts raise money by selling popcorn, coffee, working at the (Sikeston) Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo and selling food at the (Sikeston) Cotton Carnival. We also accept sponsorships from generous individuals and civic clubs, which offsets a portion of the expenses.

Bollinger continued: “Scouting is a great opportunity for youth ages 11 to 18 to experience a wide variety of outdoor adventures from scuba diving, canoeing, kayaking and camping to shooting sports, hiking and backpacking, all while learning and developing outdoor and leadership skills.

Local Scout units include boys Troops 4041 and 4059 in Sikeston, girls Troop 4019 in Sikeston, and boys Troop 4025 in Benton, said Bollinger.