Unit of competency details

Unit Descriptor 

This unit covers the competency required to act as a standby (air) diver in support of diving operations (both from a platform  and in-water) in an open water environment .

The diver will need to prepare and position the required diving equipment, and emergency resources, meet the readiness states as detailed by the dive supervisor, maintain communications with the supervisor throughout the dive, and take rapid steps to resolve incidents, ranging from the resupplying of emergency air reserves, to locating and rescuing injured or unconscious diver/s.

Note: This Unit of Competency covers the Australian Diver Accreditation Scheme (ADAS) occupational grouping of standby diver. All information was correct at the time of development of this Unit of Competency; however, any diver seeking ADAS accreditation should consult ADAS and not rely on the information contained in this Unit of Competency.

Application of the Unit 

The application of this unit in the workplace - the environments, complexities and situations involved - will be written during Phase II of the Review of the PUA00 Public Safety Training Package.

This text will be useful for the purposes of job descriptions, recruitment advice or job analysis; where possible, it will not be too job specific to allow other industries to import it into other Training Packages, where feasible.

Prerequisite Unit /s 

PUADEFDV001B Dive using self-contained underwater breathing apparatus in open water to 30 metres.

Employability Skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a Unit of Competency.

Performance Criteria describe the required performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the Required Skills and Knowledge and/or the Range Statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the Evidence Guide.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Prepare for standby diver responsibilities 

1.1 Diving equipment  is inspected  and donned for immediate readiness

1.2 Emergency resources  are prepared and positioned

1.3 Dive plan and reaction to incidents  are confirmed with dive supervisor and task-readiness is confirmed in the designated medium 

2. Perform standby duties during the dive 

2.1 Overall awareness of the dive operation including the status of deployed diver/s is proactively maintained with dive supervisor

2.2 Incidents are responded to immediately

2.3 Deployed diver is located via life-line or float-line

2.4 Emergency air supplies are ferried to submerged divers

2.5 An unconscious diver is recovered from under the water to the surface platform

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit.

Required Skills 

• assemble equipment
• interpret orders
• swim

Required Knowledge 

• dive equipment
• dive physics
• dive physiology and medicine
• general boat awareness and safety
• marine animal threats
• marine hazards
• oceanography

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

Assessment must confirm the ability to maintain readiness timings throughout the dive.

Consistency in performance 

Competency should be demonstrated over a variety of tasks performing the duties of a standby diver at least twice and locating and recovering an unconscious diver from a depth of 20 m to the surface.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Context of assessment 

Competency should be conducted in the ocean supported by questioning on shore or aboard vessels.

When practicable, assessment should relate to the diver’s vocational focus.

Specific resources for assessment 

Access to a complete range of diving, safety and accessory equipment; and a dive platform.

Guidance information for assessment  

Information that will assist or guide assessment will be written during Phase II of the Review of the PUA00 Public Safety Training Package.

RANGE STATEMENT 

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 in the Performance Criteria is detailed below.

Platforms may include 

Boats

Ships

(semi) -Permanent platforms

Open water environment includes 

Day or night

Oceans, seas, lakes and rivers

Sub-surface conditions:

• current (0-2 knots)
• visibility (0 metre +)
• temperature (0 degrees +)
• surface and sub-surface hazards such as:
• anchor drop zones
• cathodic protection devices
• electrical cabling
• inlets and sonar/radio frequency hazards
• marine animals
• piers and jetties
• pipelines
• pollutants
• propellers/thrusters
• trapping hazards:

• beams
• culverts
• gates
• grottoes and caves
• intakes and out-falls
• nets
• safety, anchor and communications lines
• sewers
• submerged ships, vehicles and structures
• sluices

• vessel rocking and associated movement

Diving equipment may include 

Breathing system devices:

• cylinder configuration:
• single
• pressure:
• demand
• positive
• supply:
• independent primary

Buoyancy devices:

• buoyancy compensator
• weight belt

Dive clothing:

• gloves
• facemask
• fins
• wet-suit (including booties and hood)

Diving accessory equipment:

• knife
• watch
• compass
• communications slate

Facemask/mouthpiece ensemble

Safety equipment:

• diver's safety lines

Inspecting diving equipment may include 

Anchorage of safety lines

Confirmation of necessary equipment

Function of apparatus

• air
• buoyancy device

General fit and form

Security of buckles and attachments

Emergency resources may include 

Breathing system and devices (see above)

Buoyancy devices (see above)

Safety equipment (see above)

Incidents may include 

Diver with equipment malfunction

Injured diver

Lost diver

Medium includes 

In-water

Out-of-water

Co-requisite Unit /s 

Nil