NZQA registered unit standard
28393 version 1
Page 1 of 4
Title
Navigate underwater while SCUBA diving in open water
Level
3
Credits
4
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to: demonstrate
knowledge of navigation diving; and plan and perform
navigation SCUBA dives in open water.
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.
People seeking credit for this unit standard must hold either the
PADI or SSI Open Water certification, or Unit 28392, SCUBA
dive in open water to maximum depth of 18 metres, or
demonstrate equivalent knowledge and skills.
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 two 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.
PADI refers to the Professional Association of Diving Instructors.
SCUBA refers to Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus.
SSI refers to Scuba Schools International.
Skills Active Aotearoa Limited
SSB Code 101576
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
28393 version 1
Page 2 of 4
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Demonstrate knowledge of navigation diving.
Evidence requirements
1.1
Natural features and how they can aid in underwater navigation are described in
accordance with industry technical and safety criteria.
Range
1.2
may include but is not limited to – bottom formations and contours,
landmarks, light and shadows, bottom compositions, depth, noise,
water movement, plants and animals;
a minimum of six is required.
Types, uses and features of compasses in aiding underwater navigation are
described in accordance with industry technical and safety criteria.
Range
types may include but are not limited to – top reading, side
reading, watchband, digital, direct sight;
a minimum of two is required.
uses may include but are not limited to – holding the compass,
setting a heading, setting a reciprocal, plotting a three sided, four
sided and multi heading course, fixing a position, drift correction,
dead reckoning;
a minimum of six is required.
features may include but are not limited to – liquid filled housing,
needle, bezel, index marks, numerical degree markings, luminous
dial, lubber line;
a minimum of six is required.
1.3
Measuring distance and ascertaining speed underwater is described in
accordance with industry technical and safety criteria.
Range
1.4
Potential navigation diving hazards are described in accordance with industry
technical and safety criteria.
Range
1.5
may include but is not limited to – kick cycles, arm spans,
measured line or tape measure, elapsed time, cylinder pressure;
a minimum of two is required.
may include but is not limited to – stress, environmental
conditions, equipment unfamiliarity, task loading, buddy
separation, disorientation, vertigo, aquatic organisms;
a minimum of four is required.
Planning in relation to navigation 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
28393 version 1
Page 3 of 4
may include but is not limited to – navigation 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 navigation SCUBA dives in open water.
Evidence requirements
2.1
Dive planning and preparation is conducted and parameters established for
navigation dives in accordance with industry technical and safety criteria.
Range
dive objective, assessment of dive site and environmental
conditions, hazard identification, emergency procedures,
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.
2.2
Navigation dives are performed in accordance with the dive plan and industry
technical and safety criteria.
2.3
A straight line and its reciprocal are navigated in accordance with industry
technical and safety criteria.
Range
2.4
may include but is not limited to – kick cycles, arm spans,
measured line or tape measure, elapsed time, cylinder pressure,
using a compass, using natural phenomena;
a minimum of four is required.
Prescribed routes with changes of direction are navigated in accordance with
industry technical and safety criteria.
Range
may include but is not limited to – three sided, four sided, multi
heading, dead reckoning, kick cycles, arm spans, measured line or
tape measure, elapsed time, cylinder pressure, using a compass,
using natural phenomena;
a minimum of four is required.
Skills Active Aotearoa Limited
SSB Code 101576
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
28393 version 1
Page 4 of 4
Replacement information
This unit standard replaced unit standard 4385.
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
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