Assessor Resource

SISOCVE520A
Apply sump diving skills

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: May 2024


This unit applies to those working as specialist sump divers, sump diving adventure guides, instructors or program managers who are required to sump dive independently, in situations where there is no access to a buddy due to cave features, visibility or communication difficulties.

This unit may also apply to leaders working for outdoor education or adventure providers; volunteer groups; not-for-profit organisations or government agencies.

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to apply specific sump diving skills used in flooded cave systems where independent negotiation of underwater restrictions is required.

No licensing, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)

Prerequisites

SISOCVE518A Apply cave diving skills

SISOCVE416A Apply cavern diving skills

SISOSCB302A Complete night dives

Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.



Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

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 processes to devise a suitable dive plan and select, maintain and fit equipment for the specific sump dive

negotiates hazards, risks, restrictions and features using various techniques, causing minimal environmental impact

applies sump diving specific navigation techniques to move through the water-filled sump efficiently

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

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure participation in sump diving activities in sumps that reflect local conditions and are of sufficient breadth and duration to demonstrate competency and consistency of performance.

Assessment must also ensure access to:

information on the sump dive site to plan a sump dive and select appropriate equipment

suitable locations, including fresh water, for the conduct of sump diving activities

diving, safety and rescue, communication and navigation 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 sump diving techniques, and techniques to minimise environmental impact

observation of safe participation and negotiation of sump restrictions, hazards and risks

copy of dive plans

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.

Guidance information for assessment

Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)

Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Required skills

problem-solving skills to:

check equipment serviceability prior to use

identify and negotiate potential hazards, risks, restrictions and stressful situations

apply sump diving specific navigation and anti-silting techniques

maintain buoyancy control

planning and organising skills to:

access information on sump diving site

prepare a dive plan

select and fit equipment

apply minimal impact techniques

apply independent or solo diving procedures

communication skills to convey information regarding dive to other participants and to implement safety systems

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

Required knowledge

legislation and organisational policies and procedures to enable safe conduct of all sump diving activities

types and characteristics of equipment to enable its safe and efficient selection, use and maintenance

features of a water-filled sump and safe negotiation methods

factors affecting buoyancy to control sinking and floating

hazards, risks, restrictions and sources of stress commonly associated with sump diving

communication systems commonly used in a sump diving environment

sump diving specific navigation techniques, including line placement and use of a cave reel, to avoid getting lost under water

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

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.

Dive plan may include:

objectives

maximum time and depth

gas consumption and rules

planned turn around

roles and sequence of divers within the group

communication signals

decompression requirements.

Relevant legislation may include:

occupational health and safety

sump access and permit requirements

environmental regulations.

Organisational policies and procedures may include:

occupational health and safety

risk management and emergency procedures

communication protocols

manufacturer's design specifications and recommendations for equipment use

Australian Speleological Federation Codes and Guidelines:

Cave Safety Guidelines

Code of Ethics and Conservation

Minimal Impact Caving Code

Cave Diving Code of Practice.

Hazards may include:

rock piles

unstable roof

low visibility water

changed surface weather conditions

phobias

restrictions

darkness

water depth

decompression

entanglement

current.

Risks may include:

near drowning

hypothermia

injury

separation from group

cramps

exhaustion

Decompression Illness (DCI).

Sources of stress may include:

light failure

out of air situation

silt out

lost line

cold water

narcosis

dislodged mask.

Dive team may include:

other sump divers

cavers in support roles to the sump exploration

other surface based personnel.

Personal equipment may include:

diving equipment

safety and rescue equipment

communication equipment

navigation equipment.

Contextual issues may include:

cylinder weight

isolation of the sump

size and shape of the passage

water and air temperature

length of dive

jaggedness of the cave walls

visibility

activity to be conducted on other side of sump

non-diving support team members to carry heavy equipment

elevated carbon dioxide (foul air)

conditions and restrictions

time of day.

Group equipment may include:

shot-lines

decompression or safety tanks

emergency first aid equipment.

Underwater breathing systems may include:

redundant side mounted SCUBA

redundant back mounted SCUBA

manifolded SCUBA systems

re-breather systems.

Sump diving skills may include:

anti-silting

buoyancy control

propulsion

digging

navigation

walking or crawling on the floor of a flooded passage.

Buoyancy control may include:

correct weighting

hovering

controlled descent and ascent

level swimming

positive or negative buoyancy for specific circumstances.

Anti-silting techniques may include:

buoyancy control

propulsion techniques

gear management

body trim.

Minimal impact techniques may include:

avoiding sensitive areas

keeping to marked routes.

Features may include:

squeezes

rock-piles

sumps

streams

water pools

thermoclines

haloclines

silty floors

loose roofs

speleothems

bones

fossils

fixed lines

survey stations

dumped rubbish in the cave

current.

Strategies to reduce risk may include:

pre-dive checks

low silting propulsion

continuous guidelines to the surface

redundant breathing gas and regulator supplies.

Techniques to deal with stress may include:

use of backup light or breathing supply

line search

controlled exit from the dive

relaxation or breathing techniques.

Navigation aids may include:

sump and cave map

survey markers

compass

water flow

trogged paths

fixed guidelines and markers.

Use of a cave reel may include:

deploying and retrieving the line

maintaining tension

locking or unlocking the reel.

Relevant aspects may include:

planning processes

sump diving skills and minimal impact techniques

buoyancy control and anti-silting techniques.

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Access information on the site and formulate a dive plan according to relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures. 
Identify and plan for potential hazards and risks associated with the sump dive. 
Identify possible sources of stress associated with sump diving. 
Convey the dive plan to the rest of the dive team. 
Select and fit personal equipment according to contextual issues. 
Check personal equipment for safety and serviceability prior to the dive according to organisational policies and procedures and manufacturer's specifications. 
Identify, fit and use group equipment according to manufacturer's specifications. 
Use underwater breathing systems appropriately. 
Demonstrate appropriate techniques to transport equipment through the dry cave with minimal impact. 
Apply sump diving techniques, demonstrating correct posture. 
Demonstrate buoyancy control and anti-silting techniques. 
Apply minimal impact techniques to minimise damage to the environment while sump diving. 
Use a range of sump diving techniques to negotiate features of a water-filled sump within a cave. 
Negotiate hazards and apply communication techniques and strategies to reduce risk while sump diving. 
Apply techniques to deal with stress where required. 
Demonstrate gas consumption according to gas rules and organisational policies and procedures. 
Apply techniques to manage a casualty of a sump diving or caving accident. 
Apply sump diving navigation aids to navigate through the sump. 
Demonstrate line placement and use of a cave reel. 
Monitor personal equipment, including access to emergency gas. 
Apply techniques to negotiate and escape from restrictions. 
Evaluate relevant aspects of the sump diving activity. 
Identify improvements for future sump diving experiences. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

SISOCVE520A - Apply sump diving skills
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I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

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Result: Competent Not yet competent

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Assessment Record Sheet

SISOCVE520A - Apply sump diving skills

Student name:

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Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

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Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

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