The Scout's Swimmer badge is a 5-stage badge which can be earned at any time.
The Beavers, Cub Scouts, and Scouts have to complete the following
for each stage.
Only the highest gained Swimmer badge should be worn.
Swimmer 1
Safety
Know the safety rules and where it is safe to swim locally
Enter pool Without using the steps, demonstrate a controlled entry into at least 1.5
metres of water.
Short swim
Swim ten metres on your front.
Tread water Tread water for 30 seconds in a vertical position.
Water skills
Using a buoyancy aid, float still in the water for 30 seconds.
Demonstrate your ability to retrieve an object from chest deep water.
Perform a push and glide on both your front and back.
Distance swim Swim 25 metres without stopping.
Swimming activity Take part in an organised swimming activity.
Swimmer 2
Safety
Know the safety rules and where it is safe to swim locally
Enter pool Demonstrate a controlled entry or dive from the side of the pool, into at
least 1.5 metres of water.
Short swim
Swim ten metres on your front, ten metres on your back, and ten metres on your
back using only your legs.
Tread water Tread water for three minutes in a vertical position.
Water skills Surface dive into at least 1.5 metres of water and touch the bottom with
both hands.
Mushroom float for ten seconds.
Enter the pool and push off from the side on your front and glide for five
metres.
From the side of the pool, push off on your back and glide for as far as
possible
Distance swim Swim 100 metres without stopping.
Swimming activity Take part in an organised swimming activity.
Swimmer 3
Safety
Know the safety rules and where it is safe to swim locally
Explain the rules governing swimming for Scouts.
Enter pool Demonstrate a controlled entry or dive from the side of the pool, into at
least 1.5 metres of water.
Short swim
Swim 50 metres in shirt and shorts.
Tread water Tread water for three minutes with one hand behind your back.
Water skills Surface dive into 1.5 metres of water and recover an object with both
hands from the bottom. Return to the side of the pool holding the object in
both hands.
Enter the water from the side of the pool by sliding in from a sitting
position. Using any floating object for support, take up and hold the Heat
Escape Lessening Posture for five minutes.
Distance swim Swim 400 metres without stopping.
Swimming activity Take part in an organised swimming activity, since gaining your previous
swimming badge.
Swimmer 4
Safety
Know the safety rules and where it is safe to swim locally
Explain the rules governing swimming for Scouts.
Enter pool Demonstrate a racing dive into at least 1.5 metres of water and straddle
jump into at least two meters of water.
Short swim
Swim 100 metres in less than four minutes.
Tread water Tread water for five minutes.
Water skills Surface dive into 1.5 metres of water, both head first and feet first and
swim at least five metres under water on both occasions.
Enter the water as for unknown depth. Swim ten metres to a floating object and
use it to take up and hold the Heat Escape Lessening Posture for five minutes.
Distance swim Swim 800 metres without stopping. you should swim 400m on your front and
400m on your back.
Swimming activity Take part in an organised swimming activity, since gaining your previous
swimming badge.
Swimmer 5
Safety
Know the safety rules and where it is safe to swim locally
Explain the rules governing swimming for Scouts.
Enter pool Demonstrate a racing dive into at least 1.5 metres of water and straddle
jump into at least two meters of water.
Short swim
Swim 100 metres in shirt and shorts. On completion, remove the additional
clothes and climb out of the pool unaided. Time limit three minutes.
Tread water Tread water for five minutes, for three of which one arm must be held
clear of the water.
Water skills Scull on your back, head first for ten metres then feet first for ten
metres. Move into a tuck position and keeping your head out of the water, turn
360 degrees.
Swim ten metres, perform a somersault without touching the side of the pool
and continue to swim in the same direction for a further ten metres.
Demonstrate the Heat Escape Lessening Posture.
Demonstrate a surface dive, both head and feet first into 1.5 metres of water.
Distance swim Swim 1000 metres using any three recognised strokes for a minimum
distance of 200 metres per stroke. This swim must be completed in 35 minutes.
Swimming activity Take part in an organised swimming activity, since gaining your previous
swimming badge.
