NZQA registered unit standard
28392 version 1
Page 1 of 5
Title
SCUBA dive in open water to a maximum depth of 18 metres
Level
3
Credits
7
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to: demonstrate
knowledge as an entry level diver of open water SCUBA diving
to a depth of 18 metres; and plan and perform SCUBA dives as
an entry level diver in open water to a maximum depth of 18
metres.
Classification
Diving > Diving - Recreational
Available grade
Achieved
Entry information
Critical health and
safety prerequisites
Hold a current fit to dive medical clearance signed by a
physician.
Explanatory notes
1
Industry technical and safety criteria refer to dive instruction, supervision and
performance being carried out in accordance with the standards, procedures and
training materials of the respective dive training agency. The agency must meet or
exceed the World Recreational Scuba Training Council training standards.
2
All dive operations must comply with the requirements of the Health and Safety in
Employment Act 1992, the Health and Safety in Employment Regulations 1995, the
Accident Compensation Act 2001, AS/NZS 2299.3:2003 Occupational diving
operations – Recreational industry diving and snorkelling operations and the
Guidelines for Occupational Diving 2004.
3
Sufficiency for this unit standard requires a minimum of four open water dives.
4
Definitions
Dive plan refers to the procedures by which the accredited dive provider’s diving
operations are implemented for all dives required to meet this standard.
Open water is any natural body of water realistic of local diving conditions in terms of
water movement, temperature, visibility, depth and aquatic life.
SCUBA refers to Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Skills Active Aotearoa Limited
SSB Code 101576
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
28392 version 1
Page 2 of 5
Demonstrate knowledge as an entry level diver of open water SCUBA diving to a depth of
18 metres.
Evidence requirements
1.1
SCUBA diving equipment types, features, selection and maintenance are
described in accordance with industry technical and safety criteria.
Range
1.2
The open water environment in relation to SCUBA diving is described in
accordance with industry technical and safety criteria.
Range
1.3
may include but is not limited to – causes, treatment and
prevention of nitrogen narcosis, decompression sickness,
overexpansion injuries, barotraumas, hypothermia, hyperthermia,
hypercapnia, hypocapnia, hypoxia, carbon monoxide poisoning,
carotid-sinus reflex, vertigo;
a minimum of six is required.
SCUBA diving hazards are described in accordance with industry technical and
safety criteria.
Range
1.6
pressure, volume, density, buoyancy, vision, sound.
SCUBA diving physiology is described in accordance with industry technical
and safety criteria.
Range
1.5
may include but is not limited to – waves, tides, currents, surge,
temperature, visibility, bottom composition, aquatic animals and
plants, potential hazardous life;
a minimum of six is required.
SCUBA diving physics are described in accordance with industry technical and
safety criteria.
Range
1.4
may include but is not limited to – mask, snorkel, fins, weight
system, buoyancy compensator, exposure protection, cylinder,
regulator, alternate air sources, dive computer, submersible
pressure gauge, depth gauge, timing device, compass, signalling
devices, underwater lights, diver’s tool, luggage, flags and floats;
a minimum of ten is required.
may include but is not limited to – panic, out of air emergencies,
nitrogen narcosis, decompression sickness, overexpansion
injuries, barotraumas, hypothermia, hyperthermia, hypercapnia,
hypocapnia, hypoxia, carbon monoxide poisoning, carotid-sinus
reflex, vertigo, disorientation, buddy separation, equipment
malfunction, entanglement, boat traffic, aquatic animals;
a minimum of ten is required.
Planning in relation to SCUBA diving is described in accordance with industry
technical and safety criteria.
Skills Active Aotearoa Limited
SSB Code 101576
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
Range
28392 version 1
Page 3 of 5
may include but is not limited to – dive objectives, assessment of
dive sites and environmental conditions, hazard identification,
emergency procedures including lost buddy, maximum depths and
bottom times, returning air pressure, repetitive dives, entry and
exit procedures, descent and ascent procedures, direction,
communication, safety and specialist equipment setup, personal
dive equipment selection, assembly and checks, buddy team
selection and checks, roles and responsibilities including that of
topside personnel;
a minimum of ten is required.
Outcome 2
Plan and perform SCUBA dives as an entry level diver in open water to a maximum depth
of 18 metres.
Evidence requirements
2.1
Dive planning and preparation is conducted and parameters established in
accordance with industry technical and safety criteria.
Range
2.2
Selected SCUBA dive equipment is in accordance with industry technical and
safety criteria and manufacturer’s recommendations.
Range
2.3
matches the diver’s build and experience, is assembled or
disassembled, used and maintained.
Dives are performed in accordance with the dive plan and industry technical
and safety criteria.
Range
2.4
dive objective, assessment of dive site and environmental
conditions, hazard identification, emergency procedures including
lost buddy, maximum depth and bottom time, returning air
pressure, entry and exit procedures, descent and ascent
procedures, direction, communication, safety and specialist
equipment setup, personal dive equipment selection, assembly
and checks, buddy team selection and checks, roles and
responsibilities including that of topside personnel.
entry, descent, objective, positive, neutral and negative buoyancy,
monitoring of time, depth, air supply, equipment, direction,
proximity to buddy, surface and underwater communication,
ascent, exit.
Emergency out-of-air techniques are demonstrated in accordance with industry
technical and safety criteria.
Range
may include but is not limited to – alternative air source stationary,
alternate air source ascent, buddy breathing stationary, buddy
breathing ascent, emergency swimming ascent;
a minimum of two is required.
Skills Active Aotearoa Limited
SSB Code 101576
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
2.5
Self and buddy rescue techniques are demonstrated in accordance with
industry technical and safety criteria.
may include but is not limited to – surface swimming, relieving
cramps, equipment removal, establishing buoyancy, calling for
assistance, towing;
a minimum of four is required.
Range
2.6
28392 version 1
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Dive skills are demonstrated in accordance with industry technical and safety
criteria.
may include but is not limited to – proper weighting, buoyancy
control, full mask clearing, partial mask clearing, mask removal
and replacement, regulator retrieval and clearing – purge method,
regulator retrieval and clearing – exhalation method, removal and
replacement of buoyancy compensator and weight belt at surface,
removal and replacement of buoyancy compensator and weight
belt underwater, step in entry, backward roll entry;
a minimum of ten is required.
Range
Replacement information
This unit standard replaced unit standard 4384.
Planned review date
31 December 2019
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
20 November 2014
N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference
0099
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA,
before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses
of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by
NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and
which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that
applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies
to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The
Skills Active Aotearoa Limited
SSB Code 101576
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
28392 version 1
Page 5 of 5
CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing
to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors
and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact Skills Active Aotearoa Limited info@skillsactive.org.nz if you wish to
suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
Skills Active Aotearoa Limited
SSB Code 101576
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016