NZQA registered unit standard
28399 version 1
Page 1 of 4
Title
Complete dry suit SCUBA dives in open water
Level
3
Credits
3
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to: demonstrate
knowledge of dry suit diving; and plan and perform dry suit
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
28399 version 1
Page 2 of 4
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Demonstrate knowledge of dry suit diving.
Evidence requirements
1.1
Types, features, selection and maintenance of dry suits are described in
accordance with industry technical and safety criteria.
Range
types may include but are not limited to – neoprene foam, coated
fabric, crushed neoprene, vulcanised rubber, trilaminate,
composite;
a minimum of two is required;
features may include but are not limited to – zippers, neck seals,
wrist seals, inflation valves, exhaust valves, boots, attached hood,
knee pads, pockets, suspenders;
a minimum of six is required;
selection may include but is not limited to – advantages of dry
suits, disadvantages of dry suits, water temperature, individual
thermal characteristics, activity level, depth, dive duration;
a minimum of five is required.
maintenance may include but is not limited to – general care,
zippers, valves, seal care and adjustment, storage, packing a dry
suit for transport, repair;
a minimum of three is required.
1.2
Dry suit diving equipment is described in accordance with industry technical and
safety criteria.
Range
1.3
Dry suit diving skills and techniques are described in accordance with industry
technical and safety criteria.
Range
1.4
may include but is not limited to – undergarments, buoyancy
control device, weight systems, hood, gloves, mask, snorkel, fins,
first and second stage regulators, submersible pressure gauge,
compass, knife, dive computer or timing device;
a minimum of ten is required.
may include but is not limited to – donning and doffing, eliminating
excess air, buoyancy checks and weight distribution, maintaining
positive buoyancy at the surface, adjusting buoyancy underwater.
Causes, prevention and techniques for handling dry suit diving hazards are
described in accordance with industry technical and safety criteria.
Range
suit squeeze, excess buoyancy, overweighting, flooding.
Skills Active Aotearoa Limited
SSB Code 101576
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
28399 version 1
Page 3 of 4
Outcome 2
Plan and perform dry suit SCUBA dives in open water.
Evidence requirements
2.1
Dive planning and preparation is conducted and parameters established for dry
suit dives in accordance with industry technical and safety criteria.
Range
dry suit 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.
2.2
Dry suit dives are performed in accordance with the dive plan and industry
technical and safety criteria.
2.3
Dry suit dive skills are performed in accordance with industry technical and
safety criteria.
may include but is not limited to – donning and doffing, entry,
eliminating excess air, buoyancy checks and weight distribution,
maintaining positive buoyancy at the surface, adjusting buoyancy
underwater, disconnecting and reconnecting the low pressure
hose from the dry suit inflator valve while underwater, removal and
replacement of SCUBA unit and weight system whilst at the
surface, controlled descent, ascent with a three minute safety stop
at five metres, exit;
a minimum of ten is required.
Range
Replacement information
This unit standard replaced unit standard 4391.
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.
Skills Active Aotearoa Limited
SSB Code 101576
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
28399 version 1
Page 4 of 4
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