This unit applies to current or aspiring specialty SCUBA dive guides or instructors working in conditions suitable for drift diving to a maximum depth of 18 metres. This may include those working for private dive schools or companies operating at coastal sites or through holiday resorts.

SISOSCB301A SCUBA dive in open water to a maximum depth of 18 metres

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Plan drift dives.

1.1. Determine factors affecting selection of drift diving site and ensure selected site meets industry technical and safety criteria, relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures.

1.2. Identify potential hazards and impact of currents on drift diving.

1.3. Develop and negotiate a suitable drift dive plan with buddy and other team members.

1.4. Determine a suitable communication system and make ascent decisions with drift dive party.

1.5. Select and use drift dive equipment according to industry technical and safety criteria and organisational policies and procedures.

2. Perform drift dives.

2.1. Enter water with buddy and demonstrate simultaneous descents with the dive team.

2.2. Demonstrate positive, neutral and negative buoyancy during drift dive practice.

2.3. Complete drift dives with and without a surface reference float and or boat according to industry technical and safety criteria.

2.4. Maintain relative position with dive team throughout drift dive.

2.5. Give, receive and respond to hand signals as agreed in the dive plan.

2.6. Perform drift diving ascents according to negotiated dive plan and industry technical and safety criteria.

3. Evaluate drift dive.

3.1. Evaluate relevant aspects of the drift dive.

3.2. Identify improvements for future drift dives.

Required skills

planning and organising skills to develop a drift dive plan with buddy and dive team

problem-solving skills to:

identify direction and strength of tidal streams and currents

determine factors influencing site selection

demonstrate positive, negative and neutral buoyancy during drift diving

communication skills to:

signal buddy and dive team throughout drift dive

use surface signalling equipment to maintain contact with boat skipper

first aid and emergency response skills appropriate to drift dive site to enable initial response to emergencies and personal health care.

Required knowledge

legislation, organisational policies and procedures and industry technical and safety criteria to enable safe conduct of all drift diving activities

selection of drift dive equipment and its role in signalling and communicating with others

water entry and exit techniques from dive boats

hazards commonly associated with drift diving in open water to a depth of 18 metres

direction and strength of tidal stream and currents and their impact on drift diving

emergency, first aid and rescue procedures appropriate to the boat and location to ensure risk minimisation to self and group.

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of the following is essential:

applies relevant process to plan drift dive with buddy and dive team and selects appropriate equipment according to the conditions

communicates with and monitors buddy's progress throughout the drift dive and uses surface signalling procedures to communicate with dive team and boat crew

negotiates hazards and undertakes drift diving ascents according to industry technical and safety criteria

evaluates and reflects on own drift diving performance to identify strengths, weaknesses and areas that need improvement.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure participation in multiple drift dives to demonstrate competency and consistency of performance.

Assessment must also ensure access to:

resources and information to plan and select appropriate drift dive equipment

an open water dive site, suitable for drift diving to a maximum depth of 18 metres

a suitable buddy to participate in drift diving

a suitable diving boat

SCUBA diving and drift diving equipment.

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

observation of safe participation in drift diving activities, including ascents and use of drift diving equipment

oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of potential drift diving hazards, and direction and strength of tidal streams and currents

third-party reports from a supervisor detailing performance.

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:

SISOSCB309A Complete dives off boats.

Guidance information for assessment

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Factors affecting selection of drift diving site may include:

direction and strength of tidal stream

powerful currents

boating or shipping lanes.

Industry technical and safety criteria may include:

British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC)

Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI)

SCUBA Schools International (SSI).

Relevant legislation may include:

occupational health and safety

permits or permission for access

environmental regulations

maritime legislation.

Organisational policies and procedures may include:

occupational health and safety

boat procedures

communication protocols

signalling procedures

code of ethics

minimal impact codes.

Hazards may include:

temperature extremes

group management hazards

inability to obtain neutral buoyancy

no supporting boat to follow divers

shipping lanes

separation from buddy and or diving team

eddies

rocks

gullies.

Currents may include:

on-shore

off-shore

river

tidal induced

long-shore

rip.

Drift dive plan may include:

descent and ascent

communication system

navigation

hazards

emergency procedures

team recovery.

Ascent decisions may include:

minimum air supply

location

signals.

Drift dive equipment may include:

surface floats and marker buoys

lines

emergency signalling devices.

Drift dives may include:

being carried along by current

navigating around formations

minimal effort diving

relaxing, pleasant and scenic

using less air.

Drift diving ascents may include:

buddy pairs

a group

solo in case of emergencies.

Relevant aspects may include:

objectives

planning process

activity site

weather

equipment selection

clothing selection

food selection

instructional content

instructional technique

assessment technique

group feedback

directing techniques

rescue techniques employed.

Unit sector

Outdoor Recreation

This unit contains employability skills.