Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
22/07/2026 10:50 AM AWST
22/07/2026 10:50 AM 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.
Complete drift dives on SCUBA
Complete drift dives on SCUBA
Unit of competency
National Code
SISOSCB315A
SISOSCB315A
State Code
D6461
D6461
TGA Status
Deleted
Deleted
DTWD Status
Transition (Deleted)
Transition (Deleted)
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
03/08/2012
Field of Education
092101 - Sport And Recreation Activities
Original Release Date
03/08/2012
Nominal Hours
25
Description
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to plan and perform drift dives in open water to a maximum depth of 18 metres.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Plan drift dives.
- 1.1. Determine factors affecting selection of drift diving site and ensure selected site meets industry technical and safety criteria, relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures.
- 1.2. Identify potential hazards and impact of currents on drift diving.
- 1.3. Develop and negotiate a suitable drift dive plan with buddy and other team members.
- 1.4. Determine a suitable communication system and make ascent decisions with drift dive party.
- 1.5. Select and use drift dive equipment according to industry technical and safety criteria and organisational policies and procedures.
2. Perform drift dives.
- 2.1. Enter water with buddy and demonstrate simultaneous descents with the dive team.
- 2.2. Demonstrate positive, neutral and negative buoyancy during drift dive practice.
- 2.3. Complete drift dives with and without a surface reference float and or boat according to industry technical and safety criteria.
- 2.4. Maintain relative position with dive team throughout drift dive.
- 2.5. Give, receive and respond to hand signals as agreed in the dive plan.
- 2.6. Perform drift diving ascents according to negotiated dive plan and industry technical and safety criteria.
3. Evaluate drift dive.
- 3.1. Evaluate relevant aspects of the drift dive.
- 3.2. Identify improvements for future drift dives.
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.
Factors affecting selection of drift diving site may include:
direction and strength of tidal stream
powerful currents
boating or shipping lanes.
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
maritime legislation.
Organisational policies and procedures may include:
occupational health and safety
boat procedures
communication protocols
signalling procedures
code of ethics
minimal impact codes.
Hazards may include:
temperature extremes
group management hazards
inability to obtain neutral buoyancy
no supporting boat to follow divers
shipping lanes
separation from buddy and or diving team
eddies
rocks
gullies.
Currents may include:
on-shore
off-shore
river
tidal induced
long-shore
rip.
Drift dive plan may include:
descent and ascent
communication system
navigation
hazards
emergency procedures
team recovery.
Ascent decisions may include:
minimum air supply
location
signals.
Drift dive equipment may include:
surface floats and marker buoys
lines
emergency signalling devices.
Drift dives may include:
being carried along by current
navigating around formations
minimal effort diving
relaxing, pleasant and scenic
using less air.
Drift diving ascents may include:
buddy pairs
a group
solo in case of emergencies.
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.
Factors affecting selection of drift diving site may include:
direction and strength of tidal stream
powerful currents
boating or shipping lanes.
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
maritime legislation.
Organisational policies and procedures may include:
occupational health and safety
boat procedures
communication protocols
signalling procedures
code of ethics
minimal impact codes.
Hazards may include:
temperature extremes
group management hazards
inability to obtain neutral buoyancy
no supporting boat to follow divers
shipping lanes
separation from buddy and or diving team
eddies
rocks
gullies.
Currents may include:
on-shore
off-shore
river
tidal induced
long-shore
rip.
Drift dive plan may include:
descent and ascent
communication system
navigation
hazards
emergency procedures
team recovery.
Ascent decisions may include:
minimum air supply
location
signals.
Drift dive equipment may include:
surface floats and marker buoys
lines
emergency signalling devices.
Drift dives may include:
being carried along by current
navigating around formations
minimal effort diving
relaxing, pleasant and scenic
using less air.
Drift diving ascents may include:
buddy pairs
a group
solo in case of emergencies.
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:
applies relevant process to plan drift dive with buddy and dive team and selects appropriate equipment according to the conditions
communicates with and monitors buddy's progress throughout the drift dive and uses surface signalling procedures to communicate with dive team and boat crew
negotiates hazards and undertakes drift diving ascents according to industry technical and safety criteria
evaluates and reflects on own drift diving performance to identify strengths, weaknesses and areas that need improvement.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must ensure participation in multiple drift dives to demonstrate competency and consistency of performance.
Assessment must also ensure access to:
resources and information to plan and select appropriate drift dive equipment
an open water dive site, suitable for drift diving to a maximum depth of 18 metres
a suitable buddy to participate in drift diving
a suitable diving boat
SCUBA diving and drift diving 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:
observation of safe participation in drift diving activities, including ascents and use of drift diving equipment
oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of potential drift diving hazards, and direction and strength of tidal streams and currents
third-party reports from a supervisor detailing performance.
Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:
SISOSCB309A Complete dives off boats.
Overview of assessment
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Evidence of the following is essential:
applies relevant process to plan drift dive with buddy and dive team and selects appropriate equipment according to the conditions
communicates with and monitors buddy's progress throughout the drift dive and uses surface signalling procedures to communicate with dive team and boat crew
negotiates hazards and undertakes drift diving ascents according to industry technical and safety criteria
evaluates and reflects on own drift diving performance to identify strengths, weaknesses and areas that need improvement.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must ensure participation in multiple drift dives to demonstrate competency and consistency of performance.
Assessment must also ensure access to:
resources and information to plan and select appropriate drift dive equipment
an open water dive site, suitable for drift diving to a maximum depth of 18 metres
a suitable buddy to participate in drift diving
a suitable diving boat
SCUBA diving and drift diving 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:
observation of safe participation in drift diving activities, including ascents and use of drift diving equipment
oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of potential drift diving hazards, and direction and strength of tidal streams and currents
third-party reports from a supervisor detailing performance.
Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:
SISOSCB309A Complete dives off boats.
Replaces
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| C6281 | SROSCB023A | Complete drift dives on SCUBA | Unit of competency |
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| J761 | SIS30413 | Certificate III in Outdoor Recreation | Qualification |