Unit of Competency Mapping – Information for Teachers/Assessors – Information for Learners

SISOSCB308A Mapping and Delivery Guide
Guide a SCUBA dive

Version 1.0
Issue Date: May 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency SISOSCB308A - Guide a SCUBA dive
Description This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to guide a SCUBA dive. This unit focuses on the application of planning skills to make suitable arrangements to guide groups safely on SCUBA diving activities.
Employability Skills This unit contains employability skills.
Learning Outcomes and Application This unit applies to those working as SCUBA diving guides who conduct SCUBA diving activities in a range of open water conditions. This may include those working for private dive schools or companies operating at coastal sites or through holiday resorts.
Duration and Setting X weeks, nominally xx hours, delivered in a classroom/online/blended learning setting.
Prerequisites/co-requisites SISOSCB301A SCUBA dive in open water to a maximum depth of 18 metres
Competency Field
Development and validation strategy and guide for assessors and learners Student Learning Resources Handouts
Activities 		Slides
PPT 		Assessment 1 Assessment 2 Assessment 3 Assessment 4
Elements of Competency Performance Criteria              
Element: Plan a SCUBA diving activity.
  • Conduct relevant assessments to determine the conditionofparticipants.
  • Develop an activity plan according to participant's needs, relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures.
  • Select an appropriate site for SCUBA diving according to participant's abilities, activity objectives, industry technical and safety criteria, relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures.
  • Identify hazards associated with SCUBA diving and minimise risks to ensure personal safety of participants.
  • Access relevantsources to interpret detailed weather and environmental information to determine activity plan.
  • Determine food and water requirements according to principles of nutrition and contextual issues of the activity.
  • Establish the need for a dive lookout and or above-water dive supervisor according to conditions, industry technical and safety criteria, relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures.
       
Element: Select SCUBA diving equipment.
  • Supervise selection of equipment according to design and construction features and organisational policies and procedures and check serviceability.
  • Assess equipment for safety and suitability and adjust and fit to ensure personal comfort.
  • Check safety and rescue equipment to ensure suitability to the group and the dive.
       
Element: Brief participants.
  • Communicate instructions and relevant information about the SCUBA diving activity in a manner suitable to the participants.
  • Outline safe diving procedures relevant to the dive site, dive conditions and planned dive activity.
  • Explain symptoms, treatment and prevention of common SCUBA diving risks to assist participants in self-monitoring.
  • Establish a suitable communication system for participants to use while SCUBA diving.
  • Check and confirm participants are properly equipped for the dive.
       
Element: Lead SCUBA diving activity.
  • Demonstrate correct SCUBA diving techniques to participants.
  • Apply in-water supervision techniques and monitor SCUBA diving techniques to ensure safety of participants.
  • Identify potential hazards and determine how they can be overcome or avoided.
  • Identify underwater features and aquatic life.
  • Implement appropriate modifications to activity in regard to all variable factors that are monitored.
  • Respond to emergencies or no-routine situations according to industry technical and safety criteria and organisational policies and procedures.
       
Element: Complete post activity responsibilities.
  • Ensure all divers are accounted for and notify relevant authority of dive completion.
  • Retrieve, inspect, repair and store equipment according to organisational policies and procedures.
  • Ensure dive safety logs are completed before and after the dive according to industry technical and safety criteria and organisational policies and procedures.
  • Evaluate relevant aspects of diving activity.
  • Identify potential areas of improvement for future diving activities.
  • Review own performance and identify potential improvements.
       


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:

plans within activity constraints and guides and monitors groups in a safe and professional manner

applies contingency management techniques to deal with a range of problems and issues that commonly arise during SCUBA diving

encourages and responds to group feedback and evaluates and reflects on own guiding performance to identify strengths, weaknesses and areas that need improvement.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure the safe guiding of SCUBA diving activities that reflect the needs of a range of participants to demonstrate competency and consistency of performance.

Assessment must also ensure access to:

a suitable open water SCUBA dive site that enables the demonstration and practice of SCUBA diving techniques

participants to take part in the SCUBA diving activity

a suitable diving boat if required

SCUBA, navigation, communication and safety equipment

resources and information regarding participants and location to plan, guide and document SCUBA diving activity for a variety of participants.

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 planning and guiding processes and interacting with a group of participants including conveying information for safe participation

oral or written questioning to assess knowledge and application of relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures to enable safe conduct of all SCUBA diving activities

observation of dealing with contingencies such as changing weather conditions and equipment failure

review of SCUBA diving activity 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.

Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assignment, 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

communication skills to:

consult with participants to identify individual and group needs

convey information about the safety aspects of the activity

interact with participants to create a safe and positive diving environment

problem-solving skills to:

plan a suitable SCUBA diving activity according to participant's needs and abilities

make decisions about potential hazards that may affect the activity

respond to non-routine situations

planning and organising skills to:

source, allocate and coordinate resources, equipment and a suitable dive site

organise participants into buddy pairs for diving

language and literacy skills to

produce a plan for the SCUBA diving activity

complete post activity participant and self evaluations

first aid and emergency response skills appropriate to the location to enable initial response and or rescue in dive emergencies.

Required knowledge

legislation, organisational policies and procedures and industry technical and safety criteria to enable safe and legal conduct of all SCUBA diving activities

site specific information to assist in the planning process and enable management of potential dive hazards and any special restrictions applying to the area

equipment types, characteristics and technology used for SCUBA diving, the advantages and disadvantages of the range of equipment and factors affecting appropriate selection

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

principles of nutrition to maintain health and energy during the activity

SCUBA diving techniques and underwater communication systems used between buddy and other divers to reduce risk

no-decompression dive tables and limits to determine air requirements

hazards and risks commonly associated with open water SCUBA diving

navigation techniques to avoid getting lost under water

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

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

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.

Condition of participants may include:

age

cultural and situational factors

previous experience and knowledge

physical development

diver's build, weight and lung capacity.

Plan may include:

aims and objectives

date, time and duration

location, equipment and resources

safety and emergency requirements.

Relevant legislation may include:

occupational health and safety

permits or permission for access

working with children

environmental regulations

marine regulations.

Organisational policies and procedures may include:

occupational health and safety:

medically fit to dive to a maximum of 18 metres

communication protocols

assessment procedures

time and budget constraints

confidentiality of participant information

code of ethics.

Industry technical and safety criteria may include:

British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC)

Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI)

SCUBA Schools International (SSI).

Hazards may include:

temperature extremes

rough conditions

rocks and reefs

boat traffic

phobias

darkness or poor visibility

decompression

water depth

squeezes

barotrauma

panic

aquatic animals and plants.

Risks may include:

hypothermia

heat exhaustion

injuries

exhaustion

lost party or party member

equipment failure

near drowning

getting separated from group

barotrauma

nitrogen narcosis

contaminated SCUBA air

cramps

pressure or volume or density relationships

buoyancy

respiration

air consumption

direct and indirect effects of pressure

nitrogen narcosis

oxygen toxicity

carbon monoxide toxicity

stings or bites

Decompression Illness (DCI):

Ingassing or offgassing nitrogen

residual nitrogen.

Relevant sources may include:

Bureau of Meteorology

media

land managers or agencies

coastal patrol or coastguard

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 warnings

synoptic charts

high and low tide predictions.

Food and water requirements may include:

menu planning and preparation

range of foods.

Principles of nutrition may include:

food groups

dietary guidelines

individual food requirements and allergies.

Contextual issues may include:

weather conditions, including times

season

transport

location

trip distance and duration

group objectives

group size

season and weather

participant characteristics

number of staff

safety and rescue requirements

dive duration

depth and currents.

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

timing device

depth gauge

no-decompression tables

computer

weight belt and weights

diver's tools

safety and rescue equipment

specialist diving equipment

communication equipment

navigation equipment.

Relevant information may include:

personal equipment requirements

safety procedures

buddy and communication systems

responsible behaviour

risk and hazard prevention and management.

Communication system may include:

calls

radio

hand signals

whistles

head signals

dive slate

dive flags

dive site maps

visual or physical contact with buddy.

SCUBA diving techniques may include:

entries to and exits from the water

mask and regulator removal, recovery and replacement in water

buddy system

buoyancy control

underwater navigation

descending and ascending

equalising pressure

self and buddy rescues

bearings or reciprocal bearings

dive calculations.

In-water supervision may include:

monitoring diver's air

ensuring planned bottom times aren't exceeded

ensuring divers don't get separated or run low on air.

Variable factors may include:

change of weather

equipment failure

water conditions.

Relevant aspects may include:

objectives

planning process

activity site

weather

equipment selection

clothing selection

food selection

instructional content

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
Conduct relevant assessments to determine the conditionofparticipants. 
Develop an activity plan according to participant's needs, relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures. 
Select an appropriate site for SCUBA diving according to participant's abilities, activity objectives, industry technical and safety criteria, relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures. 
Identify hazards associated with SCUBA diving and minimise risks to ensure personal safety of participants. 
Access relevantsources to interpret detailed weather and environmental information to determine activity plan. 
Determine food and water requirements according to principles of nutrition and contextual issues of the activity. 
Establish the need for a dive lookout and or above-water dive supervisor according to conditions, industry technical and safety criteria, relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures. 
Supervise selection of equipment according to design and construction features and organisational policies and procedures and check serviceability. 
Assess equipment for safety and suitability and adjust and fit to ensure personal comfort. 
Check safety and rescue equipment to ensure suitability to the group and the dive. 
Communicate instructions and relevant information about the SCUBA diving activity in a manner suitable to the participants. 
Outline safe diving procedures relevant to the dive site, dive conditions and planned dive activity. 
Explain symptoms, treatment and prevention of common SCUBA diving risks to assist participants in self-monitoring. 
Establish a suitable communication system for participants to use while SCUBA diving. 
Check and confirm participants are properly equipped for the dive. 
Demonstrate correct SCUBA diving techniques to participants. 
Apply in-water supervision techniques and monitor SCUBA diving techniques to ensure safety of participants. 
Identify potential hazards and determine how they can be overcome or avoided. 
Identify underwater features and aquatic life. 
Implement appropriate modifications to activity in regard to all variable factors that are monitored. 
Respond to emergencies or no-routine situations according to industry technical and safety criteria and organisational policies and procedures. 
Ensure all divers are accounted for and notify relevant authority of dive completion. 
Retrieve, inspect, repair and store equipment according to organisational policies and procedures. 
Ensure dive safety logs are completed before and after the dive according to industry technical and safety criteria and organisational policies and procedures. 
Evaluate relevant aspects of diving activity. 
Identify potential areas of improvement for future diving activities. 
Review own performance and identify potential improvements. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

SISOSCB308A - Guide a SCUBA dive
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

SISOSCB308A - Guide a SCUBA dive

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: