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Title / Snorkel dive in open water
Level / 2 / Credits / 2
Purpose / People credited with this unit standard are able to: demonstrate knowledge of open water snorkel diving; and plan and perform snorkel dives in open water.
Classification / Diving > Diving -Recreational
Available grade / Achieved
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 two 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.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Demonstrate knowledge of open water snorkel diving.
Evidence requirements
1.1Snorkel 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, exposure protection, snorkelling vest, knife, underwater light, equipment bag;
a minimum of six is required.
1.2The open water environment in relation to snorkel 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.
1.3Snorkel diving physics are described in accordance with industry technical and safety criteria.
Rangepressure, volume, buoyancy, vision, sound.
1.4Snorkel diving physiology is described in accordance with industry technical and safety criteria.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – causes, treatment and prevention of barotraumas, hypothermia, hyperthermia, carotid-sinus reflex, shallow water blackout, vertigo;
a minimum of four is required.
1.5Snorkel diving hazards are described in accordance with industry technical and safety criteria.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – panic, overexertion, barotraumas, hypothermia, hyperthermia, carotid-sinus reflex, shallow water blackout, vertigo, disorientation, buddy separation, entanglement, boat traffic, aquatic animals;
a minimum of six is required.
1.6Planning in relation to snorkel 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, entry and exit 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 six is required.
Outcome 2
Plan and perform snorkel dives in open water.
Evidence requirements
2.1Dive planning and preparation is conducted and parameters established inaccordance with industry technical and safety criteria.
Rangedive objective, assessment of dive site and environmental conditions, hazard identification, emergency procedures including lost buddy,entry and exit 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 snorkel dive equipment matches the diver’s build and experience.
2.3Selected snorkel dive equipment is assembled or disassembled, used and maintained in accordance with industry technical and safety criteria and manufacturer’s recommendations.
2.4Dives are performed in accordance with the dive plan and industry technical and safety criteria.
Rangeentry, objective, positive, neutral and negative buoyancy, equipment, direction, proximity to buddy, surface and underwater communication, exit.
2.5Self and buddy rescue techniques are demonstrated in accordance with industry 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.
2.6Snorkel skills are demonstrated in accordance with industry technical and safety criteria.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – proper weighting, buoyancy control, mask clearing, surface dives, surface and underwater swimming, snorkel clearing – blast method, snorkel clearing – displacementmethod, removal and replacement of weight belt at surface,step in entry, backward roll entry;
a minimum of six is required.
Replacement information / This unit standard replaced unit standard 4383.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 2018