Assessor Resource

SISOSCB311A
Take still photographs underwater

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


This unit applies to current or aspiring specialty SCUBA dive guides or instructors working in a range of conditions that include taking still photographs underwater 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.

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to plan and perform a dive to a maximum depth of 18 metres for the purpose of taking underwater still photographs.

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

Prerequisites

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

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 relevant process to select and use underwater photography equipment and undertakes pre and post dive equipment care

negotiates hazards and risks and minimises negative impact on aquatic life throughout dive according to industry technical and safety criteria, relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures

evaluates and reflects on own underwater photography performance to identify factors affecting quality of photographs and own strengths, weaknesses and areas requiring improvement.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure participation in multiple underwater photography activities to demonstrate competency and consistency of performance.

Assessment must also ensure access to:

resources and information to plan and select appropriate underwater photography equipment

a suitable open water dive site to a maximum depth of 18 metres

SCUBA diving and photography 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:

oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of underwater photography techniques, hazards and risks

observation of safe participation and use of photography equipment

portfolio of underwater photographs, showing a range of subjects and techniques

third-party reports from a supervisor detailing performance.

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

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

planning and organising skills to:

operate and maintain underwater photography equipment

select underwater subjects to photograph

practice a range of techniques

problem-solving skills to negotiate underwater hazards and risks

technology s kills to operate underwater photography equipment

numeracy skills to use angles and distances when taking still photographs of subjects underwater

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 and legal conduct of underwater photography activities

minimal impact interactions and techniques to minimise negative impact on aquatic animal and plant life

selection, use and maintenance of underwater photography equipment, characteristics and technology, the advantages and disadvantages of the range of equipment, and factors affecting appropriate selection of equipment

underwater photography techniques, principles of photograph composition and effects of water on light and photography

hazards and risks associated with underwater photography at a depth of 18 metres

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.

Factors affecting site selection may include:

entry and exit points

bottom conditions

aquatic life

subject

environmental conditions

tides and currents

water conditions.

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

minimal impact codes.

Underwater photography hazards may include:

currents

bottom composition

loss of buoyancy

hazardous aquatic life

concentrating on subject rather than diving

nitrogen narcosis

decompression illness

barotrauma

equipment failure

mobility

dexterity

corrosion.

Risks may include:

hypothermia

heat exhaustion

injuries

exhaustion

lost part or party member

equipment failure

Principles of photograph composition may include:

definition

image completeness

foreground

background

subject direction and position

lighting

contrast.

Underwater photography equipment may include:

camera

housing

strobe

aiming lights

lenses

trays

arms

sealing rings

recharging systems

film

maintenance kit

developing facilities.

Pre-dive equipment care may include:

tools

cleaning

lubrication

sealing rings

batteries or electronics

lens

strobe

camera.

Underwater photography techniques may include:

proximity to the subject to minimise loss of colour

maintaining smooth movements

lighting and composition

using interesting angles

focussing

strobe

different environmental conditions

taking photographs of different subject matter.

Subjects may include:

fish

aquatic mammals

aquatic plant life

shipwrecks

cave systems

portraits of other divers.

Position may include:

diver propulsion

buoyancy control

body positioning.

Negative impact may include:

suspended particles

light loss

colour absorption.

Post-dive equipment care may include:

washing

lubricating

batteries

electronics.

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.

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
Determine factors affecting site selection and ensure selected photography dive site meets industry technical and safety criteria, relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures. 
Access information on the dive site and identify potential underwater photography hazards and implement procedures to minimise risks. 
Identify and apply principles of photograph composition according to industry technical and safety criteria. 
Select underwater photography equipment according to industry technical and safety criteria. 
Assess equipment for safety and suitability and demonstrate pre-diveequipment care according to industry technical and safety criteria. 
Apply underwater photography techniques to different subjects according to dive plan and organisational policies and procedures. 
Maintain position that limits the negative impact of environmental conditions on the photographs. 
Take photographs using strobe lighting to minimise backscatter. 
Complete photographs that are satisfactorily exposed and focused. 
Demonstrate post-diveequipment care according to industry technical and safety criteria. 
Evaluate relevant aspects of the underwater photography dive. 
Identify improvements for future photography dives. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

SISOSCB311A - Take still photographs underwater
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Assessment Record Sheet

SISOSCB311A - Take still photographs underwater

Student name:

Student ID:

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

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: