NZQA registered unit standard
28401 version 1
Page 1 of 4
Title
Complete underwater search and recovery SCUBA dives in open
water
Level
3
Credits
4
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to: demonstrate
knowledge of search and recovery diving; plan and perform
underwater SCUBA dive searches in open water to locate an
object; and recover an object while SCUBA diving 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.
Skills Active Aotearoa Limited
SSB Code 101576
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
28401 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 search and recovery diving.
Evidence requirements
1.1
Planning in relation to search and recovery diving is described in accordance
with industry technical and safety criteria.
Range
1.2
Underwater search patterns and techniques using a compass are described in
accordance with industry technical and safety criteria.
Range
1.3
hand carry, lift bag, lines to the surface.
Potential search and recovery diving hazards are described in accordance with
industry technical and safety criteria.
Range
1.6
may include but is not limited to – circular, semi-circular, jackstay,
sweep, parallel, grid;
a minimum of two is required.
Underwater object recovery methods and procedures are described in
accordance with industry technical and safety criteria.
Range
1.5
may include but is not limited to – U pattern, expanding square,
expanding rectangle;
a minimum of two is required.
Underwater search patterns and techniques using ropes and rope signals are
described in accordance with industry technical and safety criteria.
Range
1.4
may include but is not limited to – defining the dive objective,
collecting and analysing available information, evaluating the
bottom topography of the potential search area, environmental
factors, risk verses benefit, equipment, roles and responsibilities
including that of topside personnel, communication;
a minimum of six is required.
sharp objects and debris, entanglement, environmental conditions,
falling objects, runaway ascent, boat traffic.
Planning in relation to search and recovery 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
28401 version 1
Page 3 of 4
may include but is not limited to – search and recovery 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 underwater SCUBA dive searches in open water to locate an object.
Evidence requirements
2.1
Dive planning and preparation is conducted and parameters established for
underwater search dives in accordance with industry technical and safety
criteria.
Range
2.2
Underwater searches using a compass are performed in accordance with
industry technical and safety criteria.
Range
2.3
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.
may include but is not limited to – U pattern, expanding square,
expanding rectangle;
a minimum of one is required.
Underwater searches using ropes are performed in accordance with industry
technical and safety criteria.
Range
may include but is not limited to – circular, semi-circular, jackstay,
sweep, parallel, grid;
a minimum of one is required.
Outcome 3
Recover an object while SCUBA diving in open water.
Evidence requirements
3.1
An object weighing between 6 and 45 kilos is brought to the surface using a lift
bag in accordance with industry technical and safety criteria.
Skills Active Aotearoa Limited
SSB Code 101576
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
28401 version 1
Page 4 of 4
Replacement information
This unit standard replaced unit standard 4393.
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