NZQA registered unit standard
28405 version 1
Page 1 of 4
Title
Complete SCUBA dives in open water to locate and observe common
aquatic organisms
Level
4
Credits
5
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to: demonstrate
knowledge of common aquatic organisms; and plan and
perform SCUBA dives in open water to locate and observe
common aquatic organisms.
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
28405 version 1
Page 2 of 4
Organism refers to any of the following living biological entities – animal, flowering
plant or algae.
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 common aquatic organisms.
Evidence requirements
1.1
Body plan and form, life history, feeding, defence and habitat of animal species
likely to be encountered during a SCUBA dive at a local open water dive site
are described.
Range
1.2
Body structure and habitat of species of algae or flowering plants likely to be
encountered during a SCUBA dive at a local open water dive site are described.
Range
1.3
may include but is not limited to – species of anemones, bony fish,
brittlestars, crabs, jellyfish, lobsters, marine mammals, octopus,
rays, sea cucumbers, sea lillies, sea squirts, sea stars, segmented
worms, sharks, shrimp, skates, slugs, snails, sponges, squid,
turtles, urchins;
a minimum of five bony fish and five other species of animals is
required.
may include but is not limited to – species of red, brown and green
algae, eel, surf and turtle grass;
a minimum of one algae and one flowering plant is required.
Relationships between aquatic organisms likely to be encountered during a
SCUBA dive at a local open water dive site are described.
Range
predator or prey, symbiotic relationships, mutualism,
commensalism, parasitism;
a minimum of one of each is required.
1.4
Potential aquatic organism hazards are described in accordance with industry
technical and safety criteria.
1.5
Planning in relation to organism identification diving is described in accordance
with industry technical and safety criteria.
Range
may include but is not limited to – organism identification 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
Skills Active Aotearoa Limited
SSB Code 101576
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
28405 version 1
Page 3 of 4
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 SCUBA dives in open water to locate and observe common aquatic
organisms.
Evidence requirements
2.1
Dive planning and preparation is conducted and parameters established for
aquatic organism identification dives in accordance with industry technical and
safety criteria.
Range
2.2
Dives are performed to locate and observe identified common aquatic
organisms, predator or prey and symbiotic relationships in accordance with the
dive plan and industry technical and safety criteria.
Range
2.3
entry, descent, maintaining buddy contact, underwater
communication, passive interaction and minimal disturbance to
aquatic life, ascent, exit.
Logged dives record identified species and relationships.
Range
2.4
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.
a minimum of three bony fish, three other species of animal
organisms, one algae, one flowering plant, one predator or prey
relationship and one symbiotic relationship is required.
Logged dives record species and relationships observed other than those that
were identified.
Replacement information
This unit standard replaced unit standard 4400.
Planned review date
31 December 2019
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Skills Active Aotearoa Limited
SSB Code 101576
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
28405 version 1
Page 4 of 4
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