Elements and Performance Criteria
- Plan for deep recreational dives.
- Determine specific and realistic objectives for deep recreational dives, accounting for time limits at depth.
- Determine site, depth and duration of dives suited to own and buddy abilities.
- Identify specific site hazards and medical problems associated with diving at depths beyond 18 metres and assess risks.
- Prepare dive plans for single and repetitive deep dives according to industry technical and safety criteria.
- Calculate no-decompression limits.
- Use dive computer or dive tables, as required, to plan requirements.
- Complete deep dives.
- Select and assemble dive equipment suitable for use at depths beyond 18 metres.
- Execute controlled descents and ascents holding a reference line as a tactile guide.
- Execute controlled free descents and ascents using a reference point as a visual only guide.
- Adjust buoyancy to account for diminishing cylinder weight.
- Utilise deep diving breathing techniques to conserve air, and regularly monitor air supply and pressure gauges.
- Maintain close physical and visual contact with buddy throughout all diving activities and share data from gauges or computer.
- Use depth gauge and timing device or dive computer to measure and control ascent rate.
- Complete appropriate safety stops during ascents according to industry technical and safety criteria.