Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
22/07/2026 6:26 PM AWST
22/07/2026 6:26 PM AWST
Whilst all efforts are made to provide accurate and timely information from the relevant source/documentation, please be aware that the information supplied may not be the most current version. The accuracy of the detail has not been confirmed by the Department and therefore should not be relied upon without first confirming the contents.
Instruct SCUBA diving skills
Instruct SCUBA diving skills
Unit of competency
National Code
SISOSCB419A
SISOSCB419A
State Code
D6465
D6465
TGA Status
Replaced
Replaced
DTWD Status
Transition (Replaced)
Transition (Replaced)
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
03/08/2012
Field of Education
092103 - Sports Coaching, Officiating And Instruction
Original Release Date
03/08/2012
Nominal Hours
100
Description
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to instruct SCUBA diving skills. This unit focuses on planning, instructing and evaluating instructional SCUBA diving sessions to enable participants to achieve the skills and knowledge required to participate independently, or with minimal supervision, in an open water SCUBA diving activity.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Plan a SCUBA diving session.
- 1.1. Establish participant's needs and characteristics.
- 1.2. Assess participant's current SCUBA diving knowledge in order to determine the session'saims and objectives.
- 1.3. Determine an appropriate instructional plan according to participant's needs and characteristics.
- 1.4. Develop a SCUBA diving plan according to participant's needs and characteristics, industry technical and safety criteria, relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures.
- 1.5. Identify potential hazards associated with SCUBA diving and minimise risks according to organisational policies and procedures.
- 1.6. Access relevantsources to interpret detailed weather and environmental information and determine contingency plans.
- 1.7. 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.
2. Select and organise equipment and resources.
- 2.1. Select and access equipment and resources according to contextual issues, industry technical and safety criteria and organisational policies and procedures, and check serviceability.
- 2.2. Check equipment for safety and suitability according to relevant legislation and manufacturer's recommendations and adjust and fit to ensure personal comfort.
- 2.3. Check contents of first aid and repair kits to ensure suitability to the location and activity.
3. Brief participants.
- 3.1. Communicate instructions and relevant information about the SCUBA diving session in a manner appropriate to the participants.
- 3.2. Encourage participants to seek clarification, information and feedback as required during the session.
- 3.3. Establish a suitable communication system for participants to use while SCUBA diving.
- 3.4. Inform participants of known and anticipated hazards, safety procedures and appropriate behaviour.
- 3.5. Check and confirm that all participant equipment is fitted and adjusted.
4. Instruct a SCUBA diving session.
- 4.1. Conduct introductory SCUBA diving activities to reduce risk.
- 4.2. Monitor individual participant's performance during SCUBA diving session.
- 4.3. Apply instructional techniques to impart activity specific knowledge, SCUBA diving techniques and safety and rescue procedures.
- 4.4. Observe participants during SCUBA diving and adjust or refine individual and or group technique as required.
- 4.5. Demonstrate procedures for dealing with emergency and non-routine situations according to organisational policies and procedures.
5. Complete post session responsibilities.
- 5.1. Inform participants of opportunities to further develop their SCUBA diving skills and knowledge.
- 5.2. Retrieve, inspect, wash, and store equipment according to organisational policies and procedures.
- 5.3. Provide opportunities for participants to identify their personal progress and satisfaction with the session, and give feedback as required.
- 5.4. Evaluate relevant aspects of the SCUBA diving session and determine the level of learning achieved.
- 5.5. Identify potential areas of improvement for future SCUBA diving instructional sessions.
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.
Characteristics may include:
age
cultural and situational factors
previous experience and knowledge
physical development.
Session's aims and objectives may include:
developing SCUBA diving instruction skills
education
development
therapy
fitness targets
recreation.
Instructional plan may include:
SCUBA diving activities and drills
duration of activities and drills.
SCUBA diving plan may include:
aims and objectives
date, time and duration
location, equipment and resources
safety requirements.
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
assessment procedures
time and budget constraints
communication protocols
confidentiality of participant information
code of ethics
minimal impact codes.
Hazards may include:
temperature extremes
group management hazards
SCUBA hazards.
Risks may include:
hypothermia
heat exhaustion
injuries
lost party of party member
equipment failure
barotrauma
nitrogen narcosis
contaminated SCUBA air
pressure or volume or density relationships
buoyancy
respiration
air consumption
oxygen toxicity
carbon monoxide toxicity
stings or bites
Decompression Illness (DCI).
Relevant sources may include:
Bureau of Meteorology
media
land managers or agencies
coastal patrol or coastguards
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 levels
synoptic charts
high and low tide predictions.
Contingency plans may include:
change in weather and water conditions
equipment failure.
Equipment may include:
SCUBA diving equipment
safety and rescue equipment
navigation equipment
communication equipment.
Resources may include:
clothing
food and water
teaching aids.
Contextual issues may include:
weather conditions, including times
season
transport
location
trip distance and duration
group objectives
group size.
Safety procedures may include:
suitable buddy
communication signs and signals
in-water supervision
safety and rescue equipment.
Instructional techniques may include:
simple to complex
part to whole
chronological
known to unknown
D.E.D.I.C.T.
E.D.I.C.T.
I.D.E.A.
orientate, enhance, synthesise
Required knowledge may include:
risk and hazard prevention and management
safety procedures
SCUBA diving techniques
communication and buddy systems
responsible and safe behaviour.
SCUBA diving techniques may include:
entries to and exits from the water
removal and replacement of equipment on surface
mask and regulator removal, recovery and replacement in water
use of buddy and communication system
buoyancy control
underwater navigation
controlled breathing
descending and ascending
equalising pressure
self and buddy rescues
bearings or reciprocal bearings
dive calculations
air supply monitoring.
Safety and rescue procedures may include:
emergency response procedures
group management in emergency situations
symptoms, treatment and prevention of common SCUBA diving risks.
Relevant aspects may include:
objectives
planning process
activity site
weather
equipment selection
clothing selection
food selection
instructional content
instructional technique
assessment technique
group feedback
directing techniques
rescue techniques employed.
Characteristics may include:
age
cultural and situational factors
previous experience and knowledge
physical development.
Session's aims and objectives may include:
developing SCUBA diving instruction skills
education
development
therapy
fitness targets
recreation.
Instructional plan may include:
SCUBA diving activities and drills
duration of activities and drills.
SCUBA diving plan may include:
aims and objectives
date, time and duration
location, equipment and resources
safety requirements.
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
assessment procedures
time and budget constraints
communication protocols
confidentiality of participant information
code of ethics
minimal impact codes.
Hazards may include:
temperature extremes
group management hazards
SCUBA hazards.
Risks may include:
hypothermia
heat exhaustion
injuries
lost party of party member
equipment failure
barotrauma
nitrogen narcosis
contaminated SCUBA air
pressure or volume or density relationships
buoyancy
respiration
air consumption
oxygen toxicity
carbon monoxide toxicity
stings or bites
Decompression Illness (DCI).
Relevant sources may include:
Bureau of Meteorology
media
land managers or agencies
coastal patrol or coastguards
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 levels
synoptic charts
high and low tide predictions.
Contingency plans may include:
change in weather and water conditions
equipment failure.
Equipment may include:
SCUBA diving equipment
safety and rescue equipment
navigation equipment
communication equipment.
Resources may include:
clothing
food and water
teaching aids.
Contextual issues may include:
weather conditions, including times
season
transport
location
trip distance and duration
group objectives
group size.
Safety procedures may include:
suitable buddy
communication signs and signals
in-water supervision
safety and rescue equipment.
Instructional techniques may include:
simple to complex
part to whole
chronological
known to unknown
D.E.D.I.C.T.
E.D.I.C.T.
I.D.E.A.
orientate, enhance, synthesise
Required knowledge may include:
risk and hazard prevention and management
safety procedures
SCUBA diving techniques
communication and buddy systems
responsible and safe behaviour.
SCUBA diving techniques may include:
entries to and exits from the water
removal and replacement of equipment on surface
mask and regulator removal, recovery and replacement in water
use of buddy and communication system
buoyancy control
underwater navigation
controlled breathing
descending and ascending
equalising pressure
self and buddy rescues
bearings or reciprocal bearings
dive calculations
air supply monitoring.
Safety and rescue procedures may include:
emergency response procedures
group management in emergency situations
symptoms, treatment and prevention of common SCUBA diving risks.
Relevant aspects may include:
objectives
planning process
activity site
weather
equipment selection
clothing selection
food selection
instructional content
instructional technique
assessment technique
group feedback
directing techniques
rescue techniques employed.
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 and delivers information, explanations and demonstrations for SCUBA diving sessions to ensure activities are conducted safely according to participant's needs and characteristics
observes and monitors the progress of participants and provides constructive feedback and intervention to improve SCUBA diving technique and performance
uses and modifies instructional techniques and or activities to cater for a range of individual learning styles
evaluates and reflects on own instruction performance to identify strengths, weaknesses and areas that need improvement.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must ensure instruction of SCUBA diving activities that reflect the needs and characteristics of a range of participants to demonstrate competency and consistency of performance
Assessment must also ensure access to:
an open water SCUBA diving site and controlled location for the conduct of instructional dive sessions
groups of participants with different needs and characteristics to take part in SCUBA diving sessions
a suitable diving boat, if required
SCUBA diving, navigation, communication, safety, rescue, first aid and teaching equipment
resources and information regarding participants and location to plan, instruct and document SCUBA diving sessions 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 processes, such as consulting with participants to determine their needs and characteristics
oral or written questioning to assess application of legislation, industry technical and safety criteria and organisational policies and procedures to ensure safe conduct of all SCUBA diving activities
observation of safe SCUBA diving instruction, monitoring and adjustment according to participant's needs and characteristics
portfolio of SCUBA diving session 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.
Overview of assessment
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Evidence of the following is essential:
plans and delivers information, explanations and demonstrations for SCUBA diving sessions to ensure activities are conducted safely according to participant's needs and characteristics
observes and monitors the progress of participants and provides constructive feedback and intervention to improve SCUBA diving technique and performance
uses and modifies instructional techniques and or activities to cater for a range of individual learning styles
evaluates and reflects on own instruction performance to identify strengths, weaknesses and areas that need improvement.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must ensure instruction of SCUBA diving activities that reflect the needs and characteristics of a range of participants to demonstrate competency and consistency of performance
Assessment must also ensure access to:
an open water SCUBA diving site and controlled location for the conduct of instructional dive sessions
groups of participants with different needs and characteristics to take part in SCUBA diving sessions
a suitable diving boat, if required
SCUBA diving, navigation, communication, safety, rescue, first aid and teaching equipment
resources and information regarding participants and location to plan, instruct and document SCUBA diving sessions 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 processes, such as consulting with participants to determine their needs and characteristics
oral or written questioning to assess application of legislation, industry technical and safety criteria and organisational policies and procedures to ensure safe conduct of all SCUBA diving activities
observation of safe SCUBA diving instruction, monitoring and adjustment according to participant's needs and characteristics
portfolio of SCUBA diving session 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.
Replaces
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| C6271 | SROSCB013A | Instruct SCUBA diving skills | Unit of competency |
Replaced By
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| OBE78 | SISOSCB010 | Lead SCUBA diving activities | Unit of competency |
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| J768 | SIS40313 | Certificate IV in Outdoor Recreation | Qualification |
| AZV7 | SIT30116 | Certificate III in Tourism | Qualification |