Application
This unit applies to current or aspiring SCUBA dive guides or instructors working in controlled open water environments 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.
Prerequisites
SISOSCB301A SCUBA dive in open water to a maximum depth of 18 metres
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the Evidence Guide. |
1. Determine rescue requirements. | 1.1. Assess situation to determine appropriate response to dive incident, according to industry technical and safety criteria, relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures. 1.2. Identify and assess immediate hazards and risks to self and others. 1.3. Determine the type of rescue required and formulate a rescue plan according to industry technical and safety criteria, relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures. |
2. Apply diver rescue or rescues. | 2.1. Access equipment as required. 2.2. Perform underwater search techniques to recover diver or divers. 2.3. Administer action and perform rescue or rescues in simulated dive incidents. 2.4. Monitor the condition of the diver or divers and provide appropriate treatment according to industry standards and organisational policies and procedures. |
3. Use supplemental oxygen. | 3.1. Ensure that prepared oxygen equipment meets oxygen use standards and industry technical and safety criteria. 3.2. Comply with the standards specified in the Dangerous Goods Regulations (Class 2 - Gases) while using oxygen. 3.3. Demonstrate that the administration of supplemental oxygen complies with industry technical and safety criteria. |
4. Evaluate diver rescues. | 4.1. Evaluate relevant aspects of the rescue or rescues. 4.2. Identify improvements for future diver rescue experiences. |
Required Skills
Required skills |
problem-solving skills to: identify factors leading to diving incidents assess and evaluate emergency situations determine search and rescue techniques to perform according to the situation communication skills to alert others where possible and to provide reassurance to diver planning and organising skills to devise a mental rescue plan under pressure after assessing the situation observation skills to identify diving emergencies and to monitor condition of diver fitness, strength and diving skills to perform underwater search and rescues in open water of up to 18 metres deep first aid and emergency response skills appropriate to the location to enable initial response to emergencies and personal health care. |
Required knowledge |
legislation, organisational policies and procedures, industry technical and safety criteria and industry standards to enable safe conduct of rescues communication systems used during rescues to inform of progress potential hazards and risks in open water to enable safe conduct of rescues principles of search and rescue techniques to perform suitable to dive incident and situation first aid, emergency and rescue procedures appropriate to the conditions to ensure risk minimisation. |
Evidence Required
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: assesses the dive situation for hazards and risks to self and others before formulating a suitable rescue plan identifies and applies underwater search and rescue techniques according to the situation monitors diver's condition and applies first aid treatment according to industry criteria, organisational policies and procedures and relevant legislation evaluates and reflects on search and rescue performance to identify strengths, weaknesses and areas that need improvement. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Assessment must ensure participation in multiple open water rescue activities that are of a sufficient duration to demonstrate competency and consistency of performance. Assessment must also ensure access to: an open water SCUBA dive site suitable for simulated dive rescues suitable participants to take part in underwater rescues a suitable diving boat, if required dive, navigation and search and rescue 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 emergency diving situations and open water rescues observation of safe demonstration of search and rescue techniques according to legislative and organisational requirements third-party reports from a supervisor detailing performance. Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended. |
Range Statement
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. | |
Assess may include: | number and condition of people contributing factors hazards and risks first aid or treatment required. |
Dive incident may include: | near drowning hypothermia cramps choking running low on air entanglement conscious or unconscious decompression illnesses barotrauma nitrogen narcosis contaminated air minor aquatic life injuries. |
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. |
Hazards may include: | temperature extremes group management partial and or changing pressure temperature and weather extremes rough conditions rocks and reefs water depth entanglement disorientation squeezes barotrauma aquatic animals and plants. |
Others may include: | diver or divers to be rescued rescuers or instructors other divers. |
Rescue may include: | ascent searches equipment removal rescuee breathing tows calling expert assistance exits. |
Equipment may include: | SCUBA diving equipment navigation equipment search and rescue equipment. |
Underwater search techniques may include: | linear circular U pattern jack stay expanding square. |
Action may include: | marking diver's position freeing diver providing more gas bringing diver to the surface making diver buoyant carrying out continuous artificial respiration attracting help towing the diver to a boat or to land. |
Treatment may include: | danger, response, airway, breathing, circulation routine expired air resuscitation cardiopulmonary resuscitation injury or illness or shock related treatment providing first aid until professional medical help arrives. |
Industry standards may include: | Australian Resuscitation Council standards first aid techniques and standards. |
Oxygen equipment may include: | demand valve or free flow systems face masks regulator and cylinder flow rates. |
Oxygen use standards may include: | equipment modifications explosion fire handling charging testing. |
Sectors
Outdoor Recreation
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills.
Licensing Information
No licensing, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.