NZQA registered unit standard
28404 version 1
Page 1 of 4
Title
Complete SCUBA dives in open water to depths between 18 and 40
metres
Level
4
Credits
5
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to: demonstrate
knowledge of deep diving; and plan and perform SCUBA dives
in open water to depths between 18 and 40 metres.
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 each of
which must exceed 18 metres in depth but be less than 40 metres in depth.
4
Definitions
Deep refers to water depths greater than 18 metres but less than 40 metres.
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
28404 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 deep diving.
Evidence requirements
1.1
Deep diving objectives are described in accordance with industry technical and
safety criteria.
1.2
Deep diving equipment is described in accordance with industry technical and
safety criteria.
1.3
Deep diving limits are described in accordance with industry technical and
safety criteria.
1.4
Deep diving techniques are described in accordance with industry technical and
safety criteria.
Range
1.5
may include but is not limited to – maintaining buddy contact,
maintaining neutral buoyancy or anti silting, making feet first
descents, descents and ascents with or without reference,
estimating proper ascent rate, breathing, monitoring gauges,
safety stops, decompression stops;
a minimum of eight is required.
Potential deep diving hazards are described in accordance with industry
technical and safety criteria.
Range
may include but is not limited to – nitrogen narcosis,
decompression illness, environmental conditions, buddy
separation, altitude, hypothermia;
a minimum of four is required.
Outcome 2
Plan and perform SCUBA dives in open water to depths between 18 and 40 metres.
Evidence requirements
2.1
Dive planning and preparation is conducted and parameters established for
deep dives in accordance with industry technical and safety criteria.
Range
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
Skills Active Aotearoa Limited
SSB Code 101576
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
28404 version 1
Page 3 of 4
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
Deep 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, descent or ascent using the
contour of a sloping bottom or wall as a reference, free descent or
ascent, navigation, performing set tasks at depth, maintaining
buddy contact, underwater communication using hand signals or
dive lights, safety stop, exit;
a minimum of eight is required.
Range
2.3
Perform a three minute safety stop at five metres as part of the ascent
procedure after a deep dive in accordance with the dive plan and industry
technical and safety criteria.
Replacement information
This unit standard replaced unit standard 4398.
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
28404 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