NZQA registered unit standard
28403 version 1
Page 1 of 4
Title
Complete wreck SCUBA dives in open water
Level
4
Credits
5
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to: demonstrate
knowledge of wreck diving; and plan and perform wreck
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, the Guidelines
for Occupational Diving 2004, and the section 105 of the Heritage New Zealand
Pouhere Taonga Act 2014.
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.
Skills Active Aotearoa Limited
SSB Code 101576
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
28403 version 1
Page 2 of 4
SSI refers to Scuba Schools International.
Wreck refers to a shipwreck, wreckage defined as fragments of a ship or its cargo,
remains of substantial manmade objects that have been ruined, or artificial reefs
made from any hard structure.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Demonstrate knowledge of wreck diving.
Evidence requirements
1.1
Wreck dive objectives are described in accordance with industry technical and
safety criteria.
1.2
Legislation relating to wreck diving is described in accordance with industry
technical and safety criteria.
1.3
Reasons for researching a wreck and sources of wreck information are
described in accordance with industry technical and safety criteria.
Range
reasons may include but are not limited to – the wreck’s history
and significance, the wreck’s identity, points of interest, suitability
as a dive site, potential hazards;
a minimum of two is required.
sources may include but are not limited to – dive stores, charter
boat skippers, local knowledge, magazines, libraries, museums,
archives, historical or archaeological groups, maritime societies,
insurance companies, internet;
a minimum of is required.
1.4
Wreck diving techniques are described in accordance with industry technical
and safety criteria.
Range
1.5
may include but is not limited to – locating a wreck, wreck
evaluation, wreck exploration and navigation, avoiding potential
hazards, depth considerations, wreck penetration, use of tether
lines, up line reels, descent and ascent lines, currents lines
(granny line), trail lines (surface current line), cross wreck line (tag
line), safety tanks, maintaining buddy contact, maintaining neutral
buoyancy or anti silting, monitoring gauges, safety stops;
a minimum of eight is required.
Potential wreck diving hazards are described in accordance with industry
technical and safety criteria.
Range
may include but is not limited to – sharp objects, entanglement,
entrapment, aquatic life, unstable structure, surge pockets and
suction, penetration, disorientation, restricted passages, no direct
access to the surface, falling objects, silting;
Skills Active Aotearoa Limited
SSB Code 101576
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
28403 version 1
Page 3 of 4
a minimum of five is required.
Outcome 2
Plan and perform wreck SCUBA dives in open water.
Evidence requirements
2.1
Dive planning and preparation is conducted and parameters established for
wreck dives in accordance with industry technical and safety criteria.
Range
2.2
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.
Wreck dives are performed in accordance with the dive plan and industry
technical and safety criteria.
may include but is not limited to – entry, descent or ascent using a
reference line as a tactile guide, free descent or ascent,
navigation, exploring the wreck, maintaining buddy contact,
underwater communication using hand signals or dive lights, exit;
a minimum of eight is required.
Range
Replacement information
This unit standard replaced unit standard 4396.
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
28403 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