Elements and Performance Criteria

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.
Dive plan may include:
objectives
maximum time and depth
gas consumption and rules
planned turn around
roles and sequence of divers within the group
communication signals
decompression requirements
staging cylinders.
Relevant legislation may include:
occupational health and safety
cave access and permit requirements
environmental regulations.
Organisational policies and procedures may include:
occupational health and safety
risk management and emergency procedures
communication protocols
manufacturer's design specifications and recommendations for equipment use
Australian Speleological Federation Codes and Guidelines:
Cave Safety Guidelines
Code of Ethics and Conservation
Minimal Impact Caving Code
Cave Diving Code of Practice.
Hazards may include:
rock piles
unstable roof
changing surface weather conditions
phobias
darkness
water depth
decompression
entanglement
current.
Risks may include:
near drowning
hypothermia
injury
separation from group or buddy
cramps
exhaustion
Decompression Illness (DCI).
Sources of stress may include:
light failure
lost buddy
out of air situation
silt out
lost line
cold water
narcosis
dislodged mask.
Communication system may include:
hand signals
light signals
line signals
torch signals
written notes.
Personal equipment may include:
diving equipment
safety and rescue equipment
communication equipment
navigation equipment.
Group equipment may include, but not be limited to:
shot-lines
decompression or safety tanks
emergency first aid equipment.
Underwater breathing systems may include:
multiple redundant SCUBA
staged SCUBA cylinders rigged and placed within the cave
re-breather systems
mixed gas SCUBA.
Cave diving skills may include:
anti-silting
buoyancy control
propulsion
navigation.
Buoyancy control may include:
correct weighting
hovering
controlled descent and ascent
level swimming
positive or negative buoyancy for specific circumstances.
Anti-silting techniques may include:
buoyancy control
propulsion techniques
gear management
body trim.
Minimal impact techniques may include:
avoiding sensitive areas
keeping to marked routes.
Features may include:
squeezes
rock-piles
sumps
streams
water pools
thermoclines
haloclines
silty floors
loose roofs
speleothems
bones
fossils
fixed lines
survey stations
current.
Strategies to reduce risk may include:
pre-dive checks
low silting propulsion
continuous guidelines to the surface
redundant breathing gas and regulator supplies
use of backup lights.
Buddy diving procedures may include:
monitoring buddy
providing emergency gas to buddy where required.
Techniques to deal with stress may include:
use of backup light or breathing supply
buddy or octopus breathing with buddy
line search
controlled exit from the dive
relaxation or breathing techniques.
Navigation aids may include:
cave map
survey markers
compass
water flow
trogged paths
fixed guidelines and markers.
Use of a cave reel may include:
deploying and retrieving the line
maintaining tension
locking or unlocking the reel.
Exploration techniques may include:
mapping the cave
pushing leads, at the extent of the known cave
use of a Diver Propulsion Vehicle (DPV) in a cave.
Relevant aspects may include:
planning processes
communication systems
cave diving skills and minimal impact techniques
buoyancy control, anti-silting and exploration techniques.

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 processes to devise a suitable dive plan and select, maintain and fit dive equipment for the specific cave dive
negotiates hazards, risks and features of a water-filled extended cave system using various techniques, causing minimal environmental impact
applies navigation techniques to move through the water-filled cave efficiently, and communicates with and monitors buddy's progress
evaluates and reflects on own cave diving performance to identify strengths, weaknesses and areas that need improvement.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must ensure participation in advanced cave diving activities in extended cave systems that reflect local conditions and are of sufficient breadth and duration to demonstrate competency and consistency of performance.
Assessment must also ensure access to:
information on the cave dive site to plan a cave dive and select equipment
suitable locations, including at least one fresh water, for the conduct of advanced or extended cave diving activities
a suitable buddy to participate in dive process
diving, safety and rescue, communication and navigation 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 cave diving techniques, hazards and risks, and techniques to minimise environmental impact
observation of safe participation and communication with buddy throughout diving process
copy of dive 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.