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"Scouting, scouting is a game for a healthy boy,/There’s no doubt in the games that we all enjoy,/From six to 16 and over,/Whether a cub, a scout or rover,/We whistle all day, drive sorrows away,/With a hey, a ho and a ha,” sang the young sea scouts of Sethna’s 18th West Bombay (to the tune of Daisy, Daisy Give me Your Answer True) with fulsome pride. The boys in white were celebrating the golden jubilee of their scout troop on October 21, 2012 at Allbless Baug.
"The first scouting I did as a boy was sea scouting in a sailing boat in which, with my brothers, I cruised round the coast of England and Scotland. I had the time of my life. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did, when you take it up.”  Inspired by the words of the founder of the scout movement Sir Robert Baden Powell founder scouter Rustomji Edulji Sethna dreamt of starting a similar unit. His vision was realized when scouter Soli Daroona successfully completed the First Sea Scoutmaster’s Course in Khadakvasla in December 1960, the history of the group was recounted in the compilation released on the occasion. The first sea scout patrol named Seagulls was finally started on January 14, 1962. 

Welcoming all present Goup Leader Capt Lavji Mistry exhorted the youth to do their "best and achieve excellence in whatever (you) do… Dream big and put in effort, dedication and perseverance required to fulfill those dreams.” President of the group Noshir Mistry thanked the boys for staying true to the group whilst pursuing their respective careers. Adar Irani, Homi Malesar and Homi Amalsadwala — old time scouters of the first patrol — were felicitated that evening. Daroona’s selfless service to the group was acknowledged with a special plaque. His wife Khushcheher who "willingly sacrificed her weekends and vacations for the last 45 years” was given a pearl necklace. The troop also brought out a gold scarf pin. The efforts of students who achieved academic excellence were lauded.
Under the guidance of scout master Aspi Chhapgar, young scouters entertained those present. The grand howl, cub yell and cub song were performed. A typical camp scenario was enacted for the benefit of the audience. Artificial respiration, Morse code signals, court of honor, life line and stories that celebrated the spirit of adventure were depicted. An exhibition where some of the rarest collections of the troop were on display. The book showcasing the 50-year journey of the cosmopolitan troop carries reminiscences from several scouters along with brief bio datas of eminent scouters who have excelled in the field. Pictures of the fun-filled activites of the troop enliven the pages. The evening ended with a contributory dinner catered by Ervad Nariman Dalal.  
A sea scout is taught all that a scout learns, but over and above that he inculcates the fundamentals of seamanship. Training includes swimming, rescuing, rowing, sailing, basic chart work and navigation, anchoring, boat handling, knowledge about various types of ships, nautical uses of knots, Mariner’s compass and the study of lighthouses, beacons and buoys, the book further enlightens. Documenting the last 50 years, the publication mentions that the sea scouts have sailed to Uran, Elephanta, Nhava Sheva, Karanjia, Mandwa, etc. Visits have been arranged to aircraft carriers, cruisers, submarines, destroyers, frigates and training ships like Dufferin and Rajendra, naval docks and seaman training schools.

The current managing committee of Sethna’s Scouting Society comprises Noshir Mistry, president; Hoshang Malesra and Percy Chhapgar, vice presidents; Sam Wadia, honorary secretary; Darayus Bhagal, joint honorary secretary. The group leader (scouts) is Capt Lavji Mistry, cub master is Neville M. Mistry, scout masters are Yezdi Randeria (in charge of scout troop) and Aspi Chhapgar (in charge of sea scout troop) and rover leader (scouts) is Neville J. Mistry. Assisting them are Hosedar Pochara, Darayush Naterwalla, Vistasp Pochara, Bhagal, Sharukh Patel and Hoshadar Parekh.
Over the past 50 years the Group has produced 45 President’s scouts (the highest achievement in scouting). The current strength of the Group is 48 boys enrolled as scouts (children between 12-18 years) and 14 cubs (below 12 years). Between 18-24 years of age he is called a rover after which he becomes a Group member, we are informed. The youngsters meet every weekend, Saturdays at the Tutorial School at Nana Chowk and on Sundays games such as baseball, cricket, etc are played at the Gowalia Tank maidan. Participation in various competitions between patrols and activities like visits to parks, museums, ships, annual sports, one day picnics are carried out throughout the year. Overnight camps are organized during the summer and winter holidays. A jashan ceremony is conducted every August. The year ends with an investiture ceremony and prize distribution. The young lads also compete in activities like cookery, sports, essay writing, singing, elocution organized by the West Bombay District.
In these days when young boys are mollycoddled by their mothers, sea scouting can give them character training, is the opinion of Daroona, who adds that apart from physical health, boys get a chance to develop courage, caution, discipline, self-reliance and resourcefulness. Here a man is made out of a boy, a man of character, a man who will lead the nation tomorrow in one way or another. Encouraged to live a happy, healthy and harmonious life, the young men in white are taught to be officers on duty and gentlemen in their personal lives.
Who is a sea scout?
According to the golden jubilee publication, "He is a scout who loves the sea and takes to swimming, like a fish takes to water. A good sea scout is a good scout. He learns his scouting and seamanship side by side. To him, the life of a pirate appeals more than a life of a backwoodsman. Even a real backwoodsman spends half his time on water in a canoe. Hence a sea scout does some part of his hiking and camping on or near the water. He tries to learn all that he can about ships, boats, seamanship, watermanship, swimming, rescuing and of course signalling; whether it be semaphore or Morse, buzzer or lamp, fog-horn or disc. Above everything, he is smart and obeys all orders without question, for in sea scouting hesitation to implicit obedience would at times mean risk to life. Finally his ideals are the same, he makes the promise and obeys the same law and is inspired by the same Scouting Spirit.
Boat training forms an essential part of sea scouting. In sea scouting, boat training would mean messing about in small boats. There are few exercises in this world which can bring greater joy to an ordinary boy’s imagination than rowing or swimming. Here is where the romance and adventure of sea scouting comes in. The thrill of rushing through water even in a small sailing dinghy can only be imagined when put to practice. A new sea scout troop can take help from local fishermen with his boat as they help solve the problem of finance. But remember, whether the sea scouts do rowing or sailing, punting, canoeing or sculling, it is of paramount importance that adequate safety precautions are taken. No one should be a member of the crew, who can’t swim at least 50 yards with clothes (on) and it is most wise to have life-jackets around, a life line and a good rescuer at hand. Finally, no one can take sea scouts to beating who does not hold a charge certificate.”