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Title / SCUBA dive in open water to a maximum depth of 18 metres
Level / 3 / Credits / 7
Purpose / People credited with this unit standard are able to: demonstrate knowledge as an entry level diver of open water SCUBA diving to a depth of 18 metres; and plan and perform SCUBA dives as an entry level diver in open water to a maximum depth of 18 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.
Explanatory notes
1Industry 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.
2All 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.
3Sufficiency for this unit standard requires a minimum of four open water dives.
4Definitions
Dive plan refers to the procedures by which the accredited dive provider’s divingoperations 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.
SCUBA refers to Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Demonstrate knowledge as an entry level diver of open water SCUBA diving to a depth of 18 metres.
Evidence requirements
1.1SCUBA diving equipment types, features, selection and maintenance are described in accordance with industry technical and safety criteria.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – mask, snorkel, fins, weight system, buoyancy compensator, exposure protection, cylinder, regulator, alternate air sources, dive computer, submersible pressure gauge, depth gauge, timing device, compass, signalling devices, underwater lights, diver’s tool, luggage, flags and floats;
a minimum of ten is required.
1.2The open water environment in relation to SCUBA diving is described in accordance with industry technical and safety criteria.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – waves, tides, currents, surge, temperature, visibility, bottom composition, aquatic animals and plants, potential hazardous life;
a minimum of six is required.
1.3SCUBA diving physics are described in accordance with industry technical and safety criteria.
Rangepressure, volume, density, buoyancy, vision, sound.
1.4SCUBA diving physiology is described in accordance with industry technical and safety criteria.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – causes, treatment and prevention of nitrogen narcosis, decompression sickness,overexpansion injuries, barotraumas, hypothermia, hyperthermia, hypercapnia, hypocapnia, hypoxia, carbon monoxide poisoning, carotid-sinus reflex, vertigo;
a minimum of six is required.
1.5SCUBA diving hazards are described in accordance with industry technical and safety criteria.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – panic, out of air emergencies, nitrogen narcosis, decompression sickness, overexpansion injuries, barotraumas, hypothermia, hyperthermia, hypercapnia, hypocapnia, hypoxia, carbon monoxide poisoning, carotid-sinus reflex, vertigo, disorientation, buddy separation, equipment malfunction, entanglement, boat traffic, aquatic animals;
a minimum of ten is required.
1.6Planning in relation to SCUBA diving is described in accordance with industry technical and safety criteria.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – 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 SCUBA dives as an entry level diver in open water to a maximum depth of 18 metres.
Evidence requirements
2.1Dive planning and preparation is conducted and parameters established in accordance with industry technical and safety criteria.
Rangedive 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.
2.2Selected SCUBA dive equipment is in accordance with industry technical and safety criteria and manufacturer’s recommendations.
Rangematches the diver’s build and experience, is assembled or disassembled,used and maintained.
2.3Dives are performed in accordance with the dive plan and industry technical and safety criteria.
Rangeentry, descent, objective, positive, neutral and negative buoyancy, monitoring of time, depth, air supply, equipment, direction, proximity to buddy, surface and underwater communication, ascent, exit.
2.4Emergency out-of-air techniques are demonstrated in accordance with industry technical and safety criteria.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – alternative air source stationary, alternate air source ascent, buddy breathing stationary, buddy breathing ascent, emergency swimming ascent;
a minimum of two is required.
2.5Self and buddy rescue techniques are demonstrated in accordance withindustry technical and safety criteria.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – surface swimming, relieving cramps, equipment removal, establishing buoyancy, calling for assistance, towing;
a minimum of four is required.
2.6Dive skills are demonstrated in accordance with industry technical and safety criteria.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – proper weighting, buoyancy control, full mask clearing, partial mask clearing, mask removal and replacement, regulator retrieval and clearing – purge method, regulator retrieval and clearing – exhalation method, removal and replacement of buoyancy compensator and weight belt at surface,removal and replacement of buoyancy compensator and weight belt underwater, step in entry, backward roll entry;
a minimum of ten is required.
Replacement information / This unit standard replaced unit standard 4384.Planned review date / 31 December 2019
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for AssessmentRegistration / 1 / 20 November 2014 / N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference / 0099
This CMR can be accessed at
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 you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
Skills Active Aotearoa LimitedSSB Code 101576 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2019