Unit of competency details

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the Evidence Guide.

1. Plan a night dive.

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

1.2. Access information on the dive site and identify potential night hazards  and physics and physiology  associated with the night dive and implement procedures to minimise risks .

1.3. Access relevant sources  to interpret detailed weather and environmental information  to determine night dive plan .

1.4. Establish a communication system  to use with buddy and other participants while night diving.

2. Select and use night dive equipment.

2.1. Select dive equipment  and lighting equipment  according to diver's needs and characteristics  and industry technical and safety criteria.

2.2. Assess equipment for safety and suitability and adjust and fit to ensure personal comfort.

2.3. Use and maintain equipment according to industry technical and safety criteria, relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures.

2.4. Calculate no-decompression times according to industry technical and safety criteria.

3. Perform night dives.

3.1. Perform entries to and exits from the water  maintaining orientation and buddy contact, according to industry technical and safety criteria.

3.2. Complete ascents and descents with reference without losing orientation or buddy contact.

3.3. Use hand signals and dive lights to achieve communication with buddy and other participants.

3.4. Negotiate hazards safely while maintaining buddy contact throughout the night dive.

3.5. Navigate the route by compass and or natural phenomena.

3.6. Ensure personal dive lights illuminate dive site and identify nocturnal aquatic life.

3.7. Demonstrate light failure drill according to industry technical and safety criteria.

4. Evaluate night diving activity.

4.1. Evaluate relevant aspects  of the night diving activity.

4.2. Identify improvements for future night dives.

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

• communication skills to inform progress and interact with buddy throughout night diving via physical contact and underwater hand and light signals
• teamwork skills to:

• check, assemble and fit buddy's dive equipment
• negotiate maximum time and depth limits
• take extra precautions during night diving to ensure safety of buddy

• swimming and navigating skills to safely dive at night
• problem-solving skills to:

• determine time, depth and air supply limits
• adapt to changing weather and sea conditions
• navigate underwater at night
• use a dive light to check for other divers and hazards

• self and buddy rescue, first aid and emergency response skills appropriate to the 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 night diving activities
• minimal impact interactions and techniques to minimise negative impact on nocturnal aquatic animal and plant life
• selection, use and maintenance of SCUBA equipment suitable for night diving, characteristics and technology, the advantages and disadvantages of the range of equipment, such as lighting options
• physics and physiology, such as the direct and indirect effects of pressure and signs, symptoms, prevention and treatment of common SCUBA diving risks such as decompression illness to enable safe performance
• weather and environmental information to interpret forecast conditions and their effect on the diving activity
• sea features such as currents, waves and tides and how these might impact on the night dive
• factors affecting buoyancy and how to control sinking and floating
• no-decompression dive tables to determine air requirements
• underwater communication systems used at night such as hand and torch signals to communicate with and ensure safety of buddy
• night navigation techniques to avoid getting lost under water
• hazards and risks commonly associated with open water night diving to a depth of 18 metres
• emergency, first aid and rescue procedures appropriate to the 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 select, maintain and fit dive and lighting equipment and calculates maximum dive time and depth using a no-decompression table
• practices night navigation techniques while maintaining contact and communication with buddy at all times
• negotiates hazards and risks and minimises negative impact on nocturnal aquatic animal and plant life throughout night dive according to industry technical and safety criteria, relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures
• evaluates and reflects on own night diving performance to identify strengths, weaknesses and areas that need improvement.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Assessment must ensure participation in multiple night diving activities to demonstrate competency and consistency of performance.

Assessment must also ensure access to:

• resources and information to plan and select appropriate equipment for the SCUBA diving activity
• a suitable open water dive site for night diving
• a buddy to participate in night dive process
• a suitable diving boat, if required
• SCUBA, night, navigation, communication and safety 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 the planning and review process
• oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of open water night diving techniques, hazards and risks
• observation of safe participation and communication with buddy throughout night dives
• written and or verbal self evaluation
• third-party reports from a supervisor detailing performance.

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

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 site selection  may include:

• entry and exit points
• bottom conditions
• aquatic life
• environmental conditions
• visibility.

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
• marine regulations.

Organisational policies and procedures  may include:

• occupational health and safety
• communication protocols
• code of ethics
• manufacturer's recommendations.

Night hazards  may include:

• lack of light
• poor weather
• light failure
• buddy separation
• disorientation
• squeezes
• barotrauma
• panic
• aquatic animals and plants.

Physics and physiology  may include

• pressure or volume or density relationships
• temperature
• buoyancy
• respiration
• air consumption
• ingassing and offgassing
• decompression sickness
• nitrogen narcosis
• oxygen toxicity
• carbon monoxide toxicity
• hypothermia.

Risks  may include:

• hypothermia
• heat exhaustion
• injuries
• exhaustion
• lost part or party member
• equipment failure
• other diver's shining flash light in eyes
• near drowning
• getting lost or separated from group
• barotrauma
• nitrogen narcosis
• contaminated SCUBA air
• cramps
• stings or bites
• Decompression Illness (DCI).

Relevant sources  may include:

• Bureau of Meteorology
• media
• land managers or agencies
• coastal patrol or coastgard
• volunteer marine rescue
• local knowledge.

Weather and environmental information  may include:

• satellite images
• daily and weekly forecasts
• maximum and minimum temperatures
• weather warnings
• event warnings
• river levels
• synoptic charts
• high and low tide predictions.

Plan  may include:

• objectives
• date, time and duration of night dive
• site end equipment
• suitable buddy
• time, depth and air supply limits
• safety and emergency procedures.

Communication system  may include:

• calls
• radio
• hand signals
• whistles.

Dive equipment  may include:

• fins
• mask
• snorkel
• wetsuit or drysuits
• buoyancy control device (BCD) with low pressure inflator
• compressed air cylinder and valve
• regulator and backpack
• alternate air source
• submersible pressure gauge
• torch or flashlight and backup
• strobe light 
• timing device
• depth gauge
• no-decompression tables
• computer
• weight belt and weights
• diver's tool
• communication equipment
• navigation equipment.

Lighting equipment  may include:

• primary
• back-up
• chemical.

Diver's needs and characteristics  may include:

• age
• cultural and situational factors
• previous experience and knowledge
• physical development
• diver's build, weight and lung capacity.

Entries to and exits from water  may include:

• off-shore
• off dive boats
• exit points lit up or contain a buoy.

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.