Scuba Rangers

Scuba Houston's Scuba Ranger Club

Ranger Schedule of Classes and Activities

2004 Christmas Party Pictures

Scuba Rangers is an activities club for kids 8-12. By learning to snorkel and scuba dive in a swimming pool, kids build confidence, discipline and respect for the water, while setting and accomplishing goals, and having fun!

Captain Kelp

Captain Kelp and his friends make it fun to learn about Scuba and the marine environment.
Puffer Sergeant Major Spinner Hammerhead
With Scuba Rangers, you can scuba dive in a pool with real diving equipment, play games underwater, and other fun stuff!

You're part of a Special, Elite Group- SCUBA Divers!!!

You accomplish things that will amaze your parents and yourself.

You develop good sense around the water, and increase awareness of water safety.

You build confidence, self-esteem and pride.

Unlike many other sports, SCUBA Diving can be enjoyed for a lifetime.

Diving's something very few people can do-maybe not even your parents!

Okay… Now as a Kid, How can I Join Scuba Rangers?

It's easy. Scuba Rangers is for any active kid age 8 to 12. You must have basic swimming skills, be comfortable in the water, and be in good health.

Next, you enroll in a Scuba Ranger Development Program. In the program, you work your way through five basic levels. You'll get cool rewards for each level you complete.

· Level 1: Red Ranger - Water safety techniques, swimming and snorkeling skills.
· Level 2: White Ranger - Snorkel review and first time on scuba.
· Level 3: Blue Ranger - More scuba skills and underwater photography.
· Level 4: Silver Ranger - More scuba, fun and games.
· Level 5: Demo Ranger - Demo Ranger is the highlight, because you proudly demonstrate your skills to parents, family and friends.

After Demo Ranger, you get a temporary completion card. You are also eligible to join the Scuba Rangers Club, where the fun really begins.
Rangers are expected to make a commitment to learning the proper diving skills and following safe diving practices - and to having fun!

Our Mission

The mission of Scuba Rangers is simple: to involve children in scuba diving and pass along the excitement of water exploration.

Our goal is for thousands and thousands of kids to develop a long-term affinity with the sport of scuba diving by the time they are 12 years old. The intent is that when they become adults, and are making recreational decisions, they will retain the affinity for scuba diving and pursue it as their passion.

Scuba Ranger Star

As a children's outreach organization, the Scuba Rangers has a responsibility to promote good values. To keep it simple and fun, we've designed the Scuba Ranger Star, which defines the five points of a successful Scuba Ranger:

· Proper Knowledge: Rangers must learn the rules of responsible diving.
· Proper Skills: Rangers must learn and practice the basic scuba skills.
· Proper Equipment: Rangers must learn to use basic scuba equipment, and should own snorkeling equipment, and properly maintain and care for all equipment.
· Proper Experience: Rangers should maintain diving proficiency, dive within their limits, and continue to learn more about scuba and water exploration.
· Responsibility: Rangers should honor their responsibilities to their families, their community, the environment, and themselves.

The Scuba Rangers Pledge is recited at each Club event, to reinforce the values of Scuba Rangers.
"As a Scuba Ranger and a member of the diving community, I pledge to have fun, continue my diving education, protect the aquatic environment, dive responsibly, and participate in my community, my family and my future in a positive way."

Scuba Ranger Friends

Captain Kelp - The Leader of the Scuba Rangers
When a tanker carrying hair gel spilled its cargo into the Kelp Forest off the coast of California, a mysterious chemical reaction occurred and Captain Kelp was born. He is the leader of the Scuba Rangers, and although he owes his existence to man's carelessness, he is an advocate for cleaner oceans and conservation.

Spinner - The Tasmanian Devil of the Ocean
Spinner is the Tasmanian Devil of the Ocean whirl pooling is her way through the deep searching for fun. Spinner is always looking for a few adventurous Scuba Rangers to play her games.

Puffer - A Real Rodney Dangerfish
A real Rodney Dangerfish, Puffer gets no respect. She has a nervous nature and might inflate at any moment. She is the epitome of bad buoyancy and tells herself constantly to "Stay calm and never hold your breath!

Sergeant Major - The Commandant of the Scuba Rangers
After serving in the Second Caribbean War, Sergeant Major now earns his stripes as the commandant of the Scuba Rangers. He enforces the most important rules of diving, so keep your chest out and suck in those regulators.

Hammer Head - He is Tough as Nails
The Shark is tough as nails, and it as hard-headed a fish as you'll ever meet. His stubbornness always lands him in trouble. So, don't be a Hammerhead Learn the importance of teamwork and cooperation!!

So what is the Scuba Rangers Program?

Scuba Rangers is a 5 step program, pool only, that teaches your children living skills such as self confidence, self esteem, good buddy helper skills and more, let alone having great fun in the water at all levels. Each level is designed to teach a particular of a scuba training program. All 5 levels are taught under the direct supervision of a Scuba Rangers Instructor and their assistants. All Scuba Ranger Instructors are certified through Scuba Schools International and have passed a background check through Background International. The goal of the Scuba Rangers is to become a DEMO RANGER. The final culmination of all the training where your kids will demo what they've learned through our VIEW PORT to you on graduation day.

Below is a brief description of each level:

Level 1: RED RANGER
Objectives: Introduce the children to the Scuba Ranger Program, familiarize the children with snorkeling equipment, assess the children's swimming skills, introduce the children to basic surface helper skills, teach the children how to use snorkeling equipment correctly.

Level 2: WHITE RANGER
Objectives: Introduce the children to scuba equipment, explain to the children what scuba equipment does and why they need it, explain to the children how to use scuba diving equipment comfortably and correctly in the pool.

Level 3: BLUE RANGER
Objectives: Review and practice White Ranger skills, learn proper buoyancy skills, practice buddy aid skills, make a scuba dive to the bottom of the deep area of the pool.

Level 4: SILVER RANGER
Objectives: Review all previous skills, learn underwater self aid skills, practice deep water descents, practice for demonstration recital.

Level 5: DEMO RANGER
Have the children demonstrate the skills they have learned in the Scuba Rangers program for their Parents and/or guardians and have fun. Graduation and awards ceremony.

The tuition for the Scuba Rangers program is $350.00. Must be 8 to 12 years old. Includes a t-shirt upon graduation, diploma wall certificate, lunch and snacks during each level and all equipment except snorkeling equipment. All Scuba Rangers will need to provide their own snorkeling equipment, swim suit and towel.

The Scuba Rangers program will be taught 5 consecutive Fridays 6:00 pm till 8:00 PM or 9:00 am to 11:00 am. Space is strictly limited to 6 children. Parents will need to sign a medical history form and a release form prior to their children participating in the program.

Scuba Houston's Ranger Club

Club Activities. Club activities keep the Rangers coming back for more. Activities range from diving, to games, to fun field trips.

Specialties. Rangers can also enjoy hands-on specialty activities such as Night Ranger (using underwater lights), Navigation Ranger (using compasses), and Equipment Ranger (setting up equipment).

Civics Ranger. By learning the Scuba Rangers Pledge and performing community-assistance tasks, Rangers learn important values and practice valuable life skills Scuba Rangers can become Civics Rangers.

Scuba Rangers Club Events

Pool Dives - You will return to the pool to play games, practice your skills, and have fun diving.
Field Trips - You may visit an aquarium, a dive store, a water park or a marina to learn how they use scuba divers in their operation.
Guest Speakers - Some Clubs invite firemen, diving instructors, explorers and other interesting people to talk about their diving experiences. You never know what famous people live in your area.
Community Events - You may get involved in fund raising events for a good cause. One of the Ranger responsibilities is to lend a hand to others who are less fortunate or need help.
Demonstrations - Most people are fascinated that children can learn to dive. It's fun to impress people with a Public demonstration of your scuba skills in a pool.
Movies - There are many awesome movies and documentaries that feature diving. Many clubs go to movie or IMAX theaters to see films about sharks, dolphins, treasure hunts, and deep sea diving. Some may show video tapes at the Club house. Don't forget the popcorn!

Calendar of Events

Ranger Schedule of Classes and Activities

Scuba Ranger Specialties

Buddy Ranger - Invite up to five of your friends to try snorkeling or scuba in the pool. It's a great time to demonstrate your skills and get your friends involved.
Civics Ranger - Help in your home and community. Almost anything counts, such as cleaning your room, or participating in community events. After you get 12 sign-offs from the people you have helped, you get credit for the Civics Ranger specialty.
Computer Ranger - Familiarize yourself with how computers are utilized in diving and diving research. Use the world wide web to find diving-based web sites and experience the use of a diving computer in the pool. Valuable in the water and out, the skills learned will assist you in both future academic and diving careers.
Equipment Ranger - Learn basic repair skills and familiarize yourself with different types of equipment.
Marine Life Ranger - Learn about aquatic fish, plants and animals that live in oceans, lakes and rivers. While no diving is involved, you get to see cool photos and maybe even visit and aquarium or tide pool.
Maze Ranger - Test your buoyancy and scuba skills in an underwater "obstacle course." Skill stations are set up in the shallow end of a pool. Each station has a specific skill for you to perform. It's underwater fun at it's finest!
Mile Ranger - The goal of Mile Ranger is to swim a full mile in the pool with the assistance of your mask, snorkel and fins. You have several sessions in which to complete the mile.
Navigation Ranger - Learn how to use an underwater compass, and natural navigation techniques (navigating with no compass). Knowing how to get back to shore comes in really handy when you start diving in open water.
Night Ranger - Practice your skills and play games - at night with the pool lights off! It's awesome! But don't worry, you'll have an underwater diving light so you can see what you're doing.
Rescue Ranger - Learn what it takes to help your buddy if he or she is in trouble while diving. Some Clubs invite police and rescue professionals to tell you about their jobs and what they do to help people.
Search Ranger - Learn the basic techniques for locating lost objects under water. It's not exactly what you need to become a treasure hunter, but it's a good start.
Plus, many Scuba Ranger Instructors create lots of cool Specialties for their local Clubs!

History

The Scuba Rangers were started in 1999 by Paul Oberle, owner of Scuba Ventures in Shreveport, Louisiana, and an Instructor Certifier affiliated with Scuba Schools International (SSI). For 12 months he conducted a pilot program at his store, in association with Scuba Schools International. Paul pioneered children-specific training techniques, new terminology and educational philosophies, with the assistance of SSI Instructor Ashley Rosenthal. Scuba Schools International then worked with Paul to develop detailed instructional manuals and education products based on his program.

The Blue Angels

Scuba Rangers was launched at the Diving Equipment & Marketing Association (DEMA) trade show in Las Vegas in January, 2000. To demonstrate the power of the Scuba Rangers, Paul felt he had to let his kids perform. With assistance from Scuba Schools International, Paul and Ashley brought 12 of their original Rangers, nick-named the "Blue Angels," all the way from Shreveport to Las Vegas to dive in the DEMA demonstration pool.

In a whirlwind three-day period, the Angels blew away nearly everyone in the diving industry, including equipment manufacturers, retailers, resort operators and magazines. Even Jean-Michael Cousteau was charmed by the Angels, and he agreed to appear with them on the television program "Good Morning, Las Vegas."

The 2000 DEMA show was a wild success, and the Blue Angels had proved that kids have an important place in the diving industry. Scuba Schools International realized Scuba Rangers was the youth outreach program the industry desperately needed.
The Spin-off of Scuba Rangers

Talks with Paul and other Scuba Schools International affiliates who had already started Scuba Ranger Clubs convinced Scuba Schools International's parent company, Concept Systems, Inc.(CSI) that the program needed to be widely accessible to the entire diving industry.

"Sometimes an idea is so good, you have to make sacrifices for the overall health of the sport and the industry," said Bob Clark, Chairman of Concept Systems, Inc., and founder of Scuba Schools International. "Rangers is such an idea. Scuba Schools International affiliates displayed great unselfishness in encouraging us to open up the Rangers to the industry. We wouldn't have done it without their support. But they understand that, even if their competition starts a Ranger Club, turning lots of kids onto diving is the most important thing in the long run. They're hoping to make the pie bigger, and then to get their share of it."

Scuba diving is an awesome sport. You're like an astronaut floating weightlessly in space. In fact, NASA astronauts train for space shuttle missions in a huge water tank, and scuba divers are there to help them.

Scuba divers are explorers, archaeologists, treasure hunters, and scientists. Scuba divers discover amazing things every day, because the oceans, rivers and lakes of the world are the last frontiers left on the planet.

Scuba divers also work in dive stores, at exotic resorts, on oil rigs, in the military, and on hundreds of other jobs that require people to go underwater.

Scuba divers also dive for fun and adventure. You can see sharks, dolphins, seals, and thousands of types of fish. You can dive in kelp, on coral reefs, in lakes anywhere that looks interesting and makes you wonder, "What's down there?"

If you're looking for a new activity that's way cooler than soccer, snowboarding, karate and skydiving, check out scuba diving and the Scuba Rangers!

Scuba Rangers "Blue Angels" Perform at DEMA 2000

In January, 2000, a group of children traveled from Louisiana to Las Vegas for DEMA 2000, the international trade show of the scuba industry. They shattered the long-held beliefs of an entire industry and proved that children 8-11 belong as a viable part of the diving community.
These children deeply believed in what they were doing and sacrificed a great deal for the opportunity to make a difference. They paid for their plane flights and room accommodations. They brought school work with them and were tutored in their hotel rooms. They purchased new diving equipment with allowance money they saved, and put diving equipment on their Christmas lists. And they practiced their scuba skills over and over until they could perform them so well that Jacques Cousteau would be impressed. In fact, the children are so precise they took the nickname "Blue Angels," after the Navy's high-performance flight squadron.
The Blue Angels performed several times at DEMA, each time to large, enthusiastic crowds. Everyone was impressed by them, included Jean Michael Cousteau, who agreed to appear with the Angels on "Good Morning, Las Vegas" a morning television program.

Scuba Ranger Saves Younger Brother From Drowning

Eight-year-old Scuba Ranger Katie Bernard saved her three-year-old brother, Hezekiah Inman, from drowning using water safety techniques she learned in her Scuba Ranger club.
Prior to the incident, Katie and Hezekiah were playing together in the shallow end of an indoor hotel pool. Hezekiah was seated in a floatation ring, while Katie was swimming. Hezekiah tried to make a swimming motion, when his ring suddenly flipped over as he reached out. Katie saw it happen, and immediately swam over to help.
"I was scared to death, but I didn't panic," said Katie. "They told us all the time in Rangers not to panic, just to get after it."
Hezekiah was upside down, his legs were stuck in the ring-seat and he was trapped underwater. Reacting quickly, Katie swam underneath the ring, pulled Hezekiah out of the ring and to the surface. Then, using a towing technique that she'd learned only the week before in her Scuba Rangers Club at Aquasports in Springfield, Missouri, Katie kept Hezekiah's face out of the water as she towed him to the poolside.
Her greatly relieved grandmother pulled him safely to the pool deck. Though coughing and sputtering, he was fine, thanks to Katie.
"I'm so proud of Katie," said Steve Bernard, Katie's father. "I'm glad she had the training because no one else was in the pool."
So what motivated Katie to react so quickly? "I knew if I didn't do something, he was going to be gone," explained Katie. "He can be mean to me, but I still love him." The Ranger training, she said, "gave me the idea I could do something about it. You don't have to be a grown-up to help."
Scuba Rangers is a national network of pool-based scuba clubs for kids ages eight to twelve. To become Scuba Rangers, kids must achieve five Ranger levels: Red, White, Blue, Silver and Demo. Rangers practice basic water safety techniques, snorkeling skills, scuba skills, and play underwater games. Rangers dive in the pool, attend club meetings and participate in fun club activities. The mission of Scuba Rangers clubs is to involve children in scuba diving, and introduce them to the excitement of water exploration.

Scuba Rangers Requires Background Checks For All Instructors

Scuba Rangers is taking the unprecedented step of obtaining criminal background checks for all candidates who apply to become Scuba Ranger Instructors. Scuba Rangers is an innovative scuba program designed for children ages 8-12 that gets children excited about diving through a pool-based kids club.
Background checks for Scuba Ranger Instructors are conducted by Backgrounds International, one of the nation's leading security companies. Backgrounds International initiates a national search for any criminal offenses related to children and reports the results directly to Scuba Rangers. Anyone with a history of problems is not accepted as a Scuba Ranger Instructor.
"Even though every Scuba Rangers Club employs an individual who monitors Scuba Ranger Instructors on-site for adherence to standards and quality, we felt it was important to take this additional step,‰ said Dennis Pulley. "We contacted leaders of other instructional programs designed for youth and they highly recommended the use of background checks for screening instructors."
Regarding the decision to require background checks, Ed Christini, president of Scuba Rangers, said, "we knew that the background check represented something of a burden on Scuba Ranger Instructor candidates. And, since no other agency in the industry is doing it, there was no reason we had to. We realize that entering a child in a diving program might already be cause for concern for some parents, but the qualifications and backgrounds of the instructors that lead Scuba Rangers shouldn't be a concern."
Scuba Ranger Instructors have been very supportive of the policy. "I think it's fantastic. I've never seen anyone do anything like it," responded Mary Ann Bland, a Scuba Ranger Instructor Trainer who has been affiliated with other training agencies. "I think it shows that Scuba Rangers is concerned about kids."
Scuba Rangers is a outreach program, with a mission of divers by getting kids involved in diving at an early age. For more information about the Scuba Rangers, call 970-482-0883 or email us at admin@ScubaRangers.com.