This unit specifies the skills and knowledge required to act as a standby (air) diver in support of diving operations (from a platform and in water) in an open water environment.

It includes preparing and positioning required diving equipment and emergency resources; meeting the readiness states as detailed by the dive supervisor; maintaining communications with dive supervisor throughout the dive; and taking rapid steps to resolve incidents, ranging from resupplying emergency air reserves to locating and rescuing injured or unconscious diver/s.

This unit covers the Australian Diver Accreditation Scheme (ADAS) occupational grouping of standby diver.

This unit was developed for Defence divers but may be applicable to anyone in this field.

The skills and knowledge described in this unit must be applied within the legislative, regulatory and policy environment in which they are carried out. Organisational policies and procedures must be consulted and adhered to.

Persons undertaking this unit work independently and perform specific tasks in a range of contexts that could be unpredictable.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1

Prepare as a standby diver

1.1

Inspect and don diving equipment for immediate readiness

1.2

Confirm dive plan and reaction to incidents with dive supervisor

1.3

Prepare and position emergency resources in accordance with dive plan

2

Operate as a standby diver

2.1

Maintain situational awareness and status of deployed diver/s during dive operation

2.2

Respond to incidents or unplanned situations in accordance with emergency response and dive plan

2.3

Locate deployed diver via life line or float line

2.4

Ferry emergency air supplies to submerged divers

2.5

Recover unconscious diver in accordance with emergency response and dive plan

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria on at least one occasion and include:

applying relevant industry standards, and organisational policies and procedures

assembling equipment

interpreting orders and dive plan

diving using self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) in open water to 30 metres

locating and recovering an unconscious diver from a depth of 20 metres to the surface

performing standby diver duties.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria and include knowledge of:

dive equipment

dive physics

dive physiology and medicine including:

heat and cold illnesses

compression illnesses

decompression illnesses

diving descent and ascent techniques

general diving safety awareness including:

diving in harbours

diving in tidal waters, currents and tides

diving on and/or near a ship’s bottom

lost/separated

entrapment/foul lines

marine animal threats

pollution/weeds

working in confined spaces

general boat awareness and safety

marine hazards including marine animal threats

oceanography

relevant industry standards and organisational policies and must include one of the following:

dive plan and/or instructions/orders

emergency response procedures/plan.

As a minimum, assessors must satisfy applicable regulatory requirements, which include requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

As a minimum, assessment must satisfy applicable regulatory requirements, which include requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

Assessment must occur in workplace operational situations where it is appropriate to do so; where this is not appropriate, assessment must occur in simulated workplace operational situations that replicate workplace conditions.

Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.

Resources for assessment must include access to:

a range of relevant exercises, case studies and/or other simulations

relevant and appropriate materials, tools, equipment and personal protective equipment currently used in industry

ocean with a range of oceanic, diurnal and nocturnal environments

relevant documentation including organisational procedures, regulations, codes of practice and operation manuals.

When practicable, assessment should relate to the diver’s vocational focus.

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

Range is restricted to essential operating conditions and any other variables essential to the work environment.

Non-essential conditions may be found in the Companion Volume Implementation Guide.

Not applicable.

Work Diving