NZQA registered unit standard
28408 version 1
Page 1 of 4
Title
Complete SCUBA dives off shore in open water
Level
3
Credits
4
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to: demonstrate
knowledge of shore diving; and plan and perform SCUBA dives
off shore 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 which
require entries and exits from the shore. One open water dive must expose the
candidate to environmental conditions that include currents, waves or tidal flows.
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.
Skills Active Aotearoa Limited
SSB Code 101576
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
28408 version 1
Page 2 of 4
SCUBA refers to Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus.
SSI refers to Scuba Schools International.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Demonstrate knowledge of shore diving.
Evidence requirements
1.1
Types, causes and characteristics of currents are described in accordance with
industry technical and safety criteria.
Range
types may include but are not limited to – longshore currents,
offshore currents, tidal induced currents, ocean 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, coriolus
effect;
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
Causes and characteristics of waves, surf, swell and surge are described in
accordance with industry technical and safety criteria.
Range
causes may include but are not limited to – wind velocity, fetch,
duration, wave formation, wave and shore interaction, geologic
disturbance;
a minimum of four is required.
characteristics may include but are not limited to – wave length,
crest, height, trough, depth, type, water movement;
a minimum of four is required.
1.3
Shore diving techniques are described in accordance with industry technical
and safety criteria.
Range
1.4
surf entries and exits, rocky entries and exits, navigation, buddy
assistance, diving in currents, diving in surge, surface swimming,
descents and ascents;
a minimum of six is required.
Potential shore diving hazards are 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
28408 version 1
Page 3 of 4
may include but is not limited to – loss of direction, exhaustion or
fatigue, buddy separation, equipment loss or malfunction, loss of
balance, loss of airway control, entanglement, inability to return to
exit point, waves, currents, rips, surge, low visibility, navigation,
above and below water topography, boat traffic, aquatic
organisms, sharp objects, changes to environmental conditions,
dive site isolation;
a minimum of ten is required.
Range
Outcome 2
Plan and perform SCUBA dives off shore in open water.
Evidence requirements
2.1
Dive planning and preparation is conducted and parameters established for
dives off the shore in accordance with industry technical and safety criteria.
Range
2.2
shore dive objective, assessment of dive site and environmental
conditions, hazard identification, emergency procedures including
lost buddy, maximum depth and bottom time, 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.
Shore dives are performed in accordance with the dive plan and industry
technical and safety criteria.
Range
entry, descent or ascent using a reference line as a tactile guide,
free descent or ascent, navigation, maintaining buddy contact,
underwater and surface communication, exit.
Replacement information
This unit standard replaced unit standard 4403.
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
Skills Active Aotearoa Limited
SSB Code 101576
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
28408 version 1
Page 4 of 4
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