NZQA registered unit standard
28396 version 1
Page 1 of 4
Title
Complete SCUBA dives at night in open water
Level
3
Credits
4
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to: demonstrate
knowledge of night diving; and plan and perform night 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.
Night refers to the hours between sunset and sunrise.
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.
Skills Active Aotearoa Limited
SSB Code 101576
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
28396 version 1
Page 2 of 4
SSI refers to Scuba Schools International.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Demonstrate knowledge of night diving.
Evidence requirements
1.1
Night dive objectives are described in accordance with industry technical and
safety criteria.
Range
1.2
may include but is not limited to – natural curiosity, personal
challenge, observation of nocturnal organisms, a new look at old
dive sites, extended dive opportunities, underwater hunting, true
colours of an environment;
a minimum of four is required.
The types, features, and maintenance of lighting equipment in aiding night
diving are described in accordance with industry technical and safety criteria.
Range
types may include but are not limited to – primary light, backup
light, chemical lights, strobes, surface lighting;
a minimum of four is required.
features may include but are not limited to – pressure resistance,
O-rings, switches, lanyard, bulbs, candlepower, watts, beam,
power source;
a minimum of four is required.
maintenance may include but is not limited to – power source,
O-rings, bulb, electrical connections, switch, flooded dive light;
a minimum of four is required.
1.3
Night diving techniques are described in accordance with industry technical and
safety criteria.
Range
1.4
may include but is not limited to – boat and shore entries and
exits, using natural and compass navigation, descent and ascents
with and without reference, communication with a light and hand
signals, maintaining buddy contact and gaining buddy attention,
maintaining neutral buoyancy or anti-silting and avoiding bottom
dwelling organisms, monitoring gauges;
a minimum of eight is required.
Potential night diving hazards are described in accordance with industry
technical and safety criteria.
Range
may include but is not limited to – stress, environmental
conditions, equipment unfamiliarity, task loading, light failure,
buddy separation, disorientation, vertigo, aquatic organisms;
Skills Active Aotearoa Limited
SSB Code 101576
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
28396 version 1
Page 3 of 4
a minimum of four is required.
Outcome 2
Plan and perform night SCUBA dives in open water.
Evidence requirements
2.1
Dive planning and preparation is conducted and parameters established for
night dives in accordance with industry technical and safety criteria.
Range
2.2
night 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.
Night dives are performed in accordance with the dive plan and industry
technical and safety criteria.
may include but is not limited to – entry, descent and ascent using
a reference line as a tactile guide, free descent and ascent,
navigation, light failure drill, maintaining buddy contact, underwater
communication using hand signals and dive lights, identification of
nocturnal life, personal dive light use, exit;
a minimum of eight is required.
Range
Replacement information
This unit standard replaced unit standard 4388.
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.
Skills Active Aotearoa Limited
SSB Code 101576
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
28396 version 1
Page 4 of 4
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