NZQA registered unit standard
28400 version 1
Page 1 of 4
Title
Complete drift SCUBA dives in open water
Level
3
Credits
3
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to: demonstrate
knowledge of drift diving; and plan and perform drift 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.
Drift diving refers to diving which allows the diver to move underwater in the general
direction of the current and as such the exit point is significantly down current of the
entry point.
Open water is any natural body of water realistic of local diving conditions in terms of
water movement, temperature, visibility, depth and aquatic life.
Skills Active Aotearoa Limited
SSB Code 101576
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
28400 version 1
Page 2 of 4
PADI refers to the Professional Association of Diving Instructors.
SCUBA refers to Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus.
SSI refers to Scuba Schools International.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Demonstrate knowledge of drift diving.
Evidence requirements
1.1
Types, causes and characteristics of currents are identified in accordance with
industry technical and safety criteria.
Range
types may include but are not limited to – longshore currents,
offshore currents, tidal induced currents, rivers, rips, ebb currents,
flooding currents;
a minimum of three is required.
causes may include but are not limited to – wave and shore
interaction, bottom topography, tides, gravitational force;
a minimum of two is required.
characteristics may include but are not limited to – velocity,
duration, flow direction;
a minimum of two is required.
1.2
Drift diving techniques and procedures are described in accordance with
industry technical and safety criteria.
Range
1.3
Drift diving equipment is described in accordance with industry technical and
safety criteria.
Range
1.4
with a surface reference float, without a surface reference float.
may include but is not limited to – surface reference float, float
line, surface signalling devices, boats;
a minimum of two is required.
Drift diving hazards are described in accordance with industry technical and
safety criteria.
Range
may include but is not limited to – disorientation, getting lost,
exhaustion, psychological stress, buddy separation, entanglement,
boat traffic, aquatic organisms, buoyancy, sharp objects, low
visibility, equipment;
a minimum of three is required.
Outcome 2
Plan and perform drift SCUBA dives in open water.
Skills Active Aotearoa Limited
SSB Code 101576
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
28400 version 1
Page 3 of 4
Evidence requirements
2.1
Dive planning and preparation is conducted and parameters established for drift
dives in accordance with industry technical and safety criteria.
Range
2.2
drift dive objective, assessment of dive site and environmental
conditions, hazard identification, emergency procedures 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.
Drift dives are performed in accordance with the dive plan and industry
technical and safety criteria.
Range
with a surface reference float, without a surface reference float.
Replacement information
This unit standard replaced unit standard 4392.
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
Skills Active Aotearoa Limited
SSB Code 101576
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
28400 version 1
Page 4 of 4
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