Two alternative tests are available. The candidate may choose which alternative to attempt
This test should be done in benign water in swimming costume without buoyancy aids. Swim goggles. nose clip , swim cap or thin hood and/or half mask may be worn. If temperatures are too cold a heated pool may be used. The candidate should not be exposed to conditions which will cause failure due to hypothermia. (particularly for alternative b)
The entire test must be done without interruption or delay between items.
The test may be repeated as many times as may be necessary until successfully completed. Each attempt must start with item 1 and continue until all items are successfully completed in the listed order. An adequate break should be allowed between attempts.
This test should be successfully completed before the learner starts with in-water training. Variations from this point are at the discretion and responsibility of the course director and should be guided by considerations of health and safety of the learner.
These skills are prerequisites for diver training. The diving school is not obliged to teach swimming skills.
Alternative "a"
Item No.
Description
1
25 m underwater swim from a standing start (in water)
2
300 m free style (To be completed within 10 minutes)
3
100 m back stroke
4
50 m swim with 5 % of body mass on weight belt
5
60 seconds treading water with hands on head
6
30 seconds rest period
7
20 second breath hold with head submerged
Alternative "b"
Item No.
Description
1
25 m underwater swim from a standing start
2
300 m free style (To be completed within 10 minutes)
3
100 m back stroke
4
"Drown proof" for 15min (stay afloat without holding the sides of the pool).
5
30 seconds rest period
6
20 second breath hold with head submerged (timed by assessor)
General criteria for Surface Supplied Diving skills assessment
As a general principle competence in a composite skill implies competence in the component skills. RPL assessment should target the composite skill to save time.
Skills must be practiced and assessed until each one can be performed competently.
If the assessor has any doubts that a critical skill can be consistently performed the skill should be demonstrated competently 3 times in succession
RPL assessment may be done in open water.
Several skills may be assessed together when convenient (integrated assessment).
Any practicable combination of these skills may be summatively assessed during an open water dive.
Whenever practicable the skill should be personally observed by the assessor. This may be done by diving with the candidate/learner, through a window in a tank, via CCTV or by video recording. Where this is not possible, another instructor or assistant instructor should observe the demonstration. The assessor/instructor is not required to dive using the same mode as the learner.
Bottom time follows the definition in the US Navy decompression tables. It is the time from when the diver leaves the surface to when the diver leaves the bottom to start his ascent to the surface. Descent time is included in bottom time. Ascent and decompression time is not. Ascent starts when the tasks/exercises are complete, and the diver has reached a place where movement towards the surface at approximately the required rate can be started. Lateral movement is included in bottom time. Delays in ascent below the first decompression stop will generally be considered part of bottom time. In case of dispute, the US Navy tables or other approved decompression tables in use for the operation will be considered authoritative.
Where a number of dives for a given experience is specified those dives MAY NOT BE COMBINED. An exit from the water and removal of helmet/FFM (preferred) or a ten minute surface interval (if exit is not reasonably practicable) is the minimum acceptable separation between dives.
A surface interval of at least 10 minutes between dives is recommended but not compulsory if the diver has exited and removed helmet or mask.
As a general principle, any dive that has a minimum time specified may be made up by two or more dives with the same accumulated bottom time using the specified equipment and doing the specified tasks. When more than one dive for specified tasks is required, the specified total time and minimum number of dives must both be complied with.
Order of exercises may vary from that listed below provided that conditions specified in each exercise are met. This applies particularly to depth range requirements for each type of breathing apparatus.
The use of a downloadable bottom timer or decompression computer can provide a useful record of the dive profile and is strongly recommended.
If you think that the number of dives required is not important, or that a specific exercise is not useful, or that an exercise should be added, or any other change should be made, apply to the DoL in writing with detailed and reasoned motivation for the standard to be amended.
If you think that the school has interpreted a requirement incorrectly, provide a detailed explanation of what you consider to be the correct, or at least a better interpretation, including your reasons, preferably in writing.
Doff and don Scuba set under water between 2 and 5m deep including:
Regulator and Half mask ditch and recovery, OR
FFM ditch and recovery AND
Free swimming ascent
Dive back to submerged equipment from surface
Buoyancy control using BC
Inflation at surface
Deflation for descent
Neutral buoyancy at bottom and mid-water
Control of ascent rate
ascend at nominal rate of 9 to 10 metres per minute
without contact with fixed objects or shotline
maintain neutral buoyancy or slight negative buoyancy throughout ascent
Finning techniques
Flutter kick (bicycle kick)
Frog kick
Dolphin kick
Side kick (scissor kick)
Dive 1 - < 9 m AGA mask user orientation
To be done before deeper dives with this equipment (Pool or tank is appropriate)
Mask must seal adequately and not free flow copiously.
A slight continuous leakage is acceptable if the mask will not fully seal on facial hair or diver’s hood or is not a good fit to the face.
Diver must use the positive pressure lever correctly
If the AGA mask can not make a reasonable seal to the diver’s face another similar mask may be substituted
Dive bottom time required 60 minutes (may be done as 2 or more dives)
Diver pre-dive checks for this equipment
Check seal with positive pressure
Check voice comms function
Check bailout activation and pressure
Report bailout status to panel
Check pneumo in reach
Voice communication exercises
Line signal exercises
Bailout activation
Pneumo depth checks and pneumo breathing exercises
Dive 2 – < 9 m EXO 26 mask user orientation
To be done before deeper dives with this equipment (Pool or tank is appropriate)
Mask must seal adequately and not free flow copiously or flood continuously.
A slight continuous leakage is acceptable if the mask will not fully seal on facial hair or diver’s hood or is not a good fit to the face.
If the EXO mask can not make a reasonable seal to the diver’s face another similar mask may be substituted
Diver must use the “dial a breath” DV adjustment knob correctly
Dive bottom time required 60 minutes (may be done as 2 or more dives)
Diver pre-dive checks for this equipment
Check voice comms function
Check bailout activation and pressure
Report bailout status to panel
Check pneumo in reach
Voice communication exercises
Line signal exercises
Bailout activation
Pneumo depth checks and pneumo breathing exercises
Dive 3 – < 9 m Band mask user orientation
To be done before deeper dives with this equipment (Pool or tank is appropriate)
As for item 4 (dive 2)
Dive 4 – < 9 m Lightweight demand helmet user orientation
To be done before deeper dives with this equipment (Pool or tank is appropriate)
Dive bottom time required 60 minutes (may be done as 2 or more dives)
Diver pre-dive checks for this equipment
Check voice comms function
Check bailout activation and pressure
Report bailout status to panel
Check pneumo in reach
Voice communication exercises
Line signal exercises
Bailout activation
Pneumo depth checks and pneumo breathing exercises
Dive 5 – < 9 m Emergency procedures
SSDE type not specified. Exercises to be done before deeper dives may be done on SSDE (Pool or tank is appropriate)
Emergency swimming ascents
Buoyant emergency ascents (ditch weights)
Dive 6 – < 9 m Standby diver rescue
SSDE type not specified. Exercises to be done before deeper dives may be done on SSDE
Stand by diver enters water on instruction from supervisor
Stand by diver proceeds along umbilical to distressed diver
Stand-by diver informs surface of progress and any changes in own status Stand by diver informs surface when arriving at distressed diver and reports on condition of distressed diver
Stand-by diver assists distressed diver as instructed by surface
One of the rescues should include recovery of unconscious diver to the surface and removal of unconscious diver from the water.
Dive 7 – < 9 m Standby diver rescue
As for dive 6
One of the rescues should include supply of pneumo air to the distressed diver
Dive 8 – < 9 m Standby diver rescue
As for dive 7
One of the rescues should include umbilical changeout
Dry suit dive 1
SSDE type not specified
At least one of the dry suit dives must be substantially dry (slight leakage at cuffs or dump valve is acceptable)
At least one of the dry-suit dives should be in open water
At least one of the dry suit dives should include a neutral buoyancy swim
Dry suit dive 2
As for Dry suit dive 1
Dry suit dive 3
As for Dry suit dive 1
Jackstay search 1 (Movable jackstay search)
Set up search equipment (at least once in the three dives)
Conduct jackstay search
Avoid umbilical twists and wraps
Inform surface control of any objects found which may relate to the search
Describe object if requested
Mark or recover object if requested
Recover search equipment (at least once in the three dives)
Jackstay search 2
As for jackstay search 1
Jackstay search 3
As for jackstay search 2
Circular search 1
Set up search equipment (at least once in the three dives)
Conduct circular search
Avoid umbilical twists and wraps
Inform surface control of any objects found which may relate to the search
Describe object if requested
Mark or recover object if requested
Recover search equipment (at least once in the three dives)
Circular search 2
As for circular search 1
Circular search 3
As for circular search 2
Compass navigation dive
Use a compass to navigate on headings as instructed by surface control, or according to listed instructions. Diver should end up at marked target.
Night dive 1 (shallow)
The dive shall be done between the hours of sunset and sunrise in open water
Night dive 2 (middle depth range)
As for night dive 1
Night dive 3 (deep)
As for night dive 1
Lift bag and rigging 1
Maximum (apparent) weight 1000kg
There is no specification that these tasks must take place on separate dives, however there must be 3 separate tasks
At least one lift bag task should involve use of a lift bag for a buoyancy assisted lift
At least one lift bag task should involve use of a lift bag to move an item from one place to another under water
At least one lift bag task should involve lifting an item to the surface and moving it to a specified place.
Select bag volume to suit the lift
Ensure the lift does not run away
Ensure that divers not involved with filling stay well clear of the lift zone
Lift bag and rigging 2
As for lift bag and rigging 1
Lift bag and rigging 3
As for lift bag and rigging 1
Camera or video 1
Use an underwater still camera or video recorder to take photographs or record video as specified in the dive briefing
These tasks can be usefully combined with the inspection and report task item 19
Useful results should be produced within the context of the briefing
Many digital still cameras have a video facility, and many digital video recorders have a still photo facility, so it will often be possible to do combined tasks
External lighting and flash should be provided when conditions warrant.
Camera or video 2
As for camera or video 1
Hand tool assembly 1
A specification of two spanners per task and a depth of more than 10 m is given. This depth requirement has no apparent benefit. However, though apparently pointless, it is at least not onerous, and should not cause undue difficulty, as the task requirement is in any case trivial. It is recommended that more than two hand tool tasks be provided during the training programme, as divers generally like to have something to do underwater.
A wider range of tools is suggested
At least one of the hand tool dives should involve assembly using spanners
Hand tool assembly 2
As hand tool assembly 1
Inspection and report 1
Take measurements of an underwater object or site and make any sketches necessary
A depth of at least 20m is specified. This may be to allow the influence of nitrogen narcosis and if so this is a reasonable requirement.
Produce a written report on the inspection after the dive using the measurements, and if appropriate a drawing and or photographs and/or video (see practical tasks Camera or video 1 and 2)
It is suggested that other inspection tasks be set to provide useful learning opportunities for divers when there is no other task to be done.
Boat dive 1
Dive from a boat in open water: enter the water from the boat and return to exit onto the boat
The air panel must be on the boat, and the divers must be tended and controlled from the boat
These tasks are not currently compulsory, however they are recommended as additional tasks when the divers are required to get more dive time, or combined with required tasks, so they spend their time doing something which extends their learning opportunities. A training dive should always have at least one task or assessment. Dive time should not be wasted.
Voice directed search
Work in progress - Content must still be added to this section.
{{{1}}}
Line signal directed search
Work in progress - Content must still be added to this section.
{{{1}}}
Pendulum search
Work in progress - Content must still be added to this section.
{{{1}}}
Shotline descents and ascents
Work in progress - Content must still be added to this section.
{{{1}}}
Simulated decompression stops
A safety stop at a specified depth between 3 and 6m for 3 minutes should be done for all dives where no stops are required and the depth exceeds 9m, or where the diver's decompression computer requests a safety stop, both for reduction of risk and for practice at maintaining depth at a stop.
Simulated or real overhead penetration using an underwater line tender
Possible examples: Under a jetty/wharf, or under a vessel alongside in a harbour.
Use of a guideline for navigation from entry point to underwater worksite
Work in progress - Content must still be added to this section.
Report on whether the tool is appropriate for a given application
Inspect ropes, webbing and chain for condition and safety
Inspect item and report on condition and visible defects
Report whether the item is suitable for a given application
Inspect splices, stitched webbing connections, shackles and other rigging components for condition and safety
Inspect items and report wear and visible damage
Tie the required knots (Reef, sheet bend, bowline, clove hitch, round turn and two half hitches, rolling hitch?)
Specified knot is tied correctly at first attempt and in reasonable time
Divers should preferably be able to tie a bowline, a sheet bend, and a round turn and two half hitches blindfolded, so they can use them in zero visibility, but this is not compulsory.
Make up the required splices (back splice, eye splice, short splice) in three strand fibre rope
Specified splice is produced
Splice is started correctly
Recommended number of tucks are made
Splice is worked off neatly and tightly
Coil a rope for storage
Given rope is coiled neatly and without twists
Coils are of approximately even size
Coils are secured to prevent coming loose during ordinary handling
Flake a rope
Flake a rope into a bag, box or bucket for free running deployment
Flake/coil a rope on a suitable surface for snag-free manual deployment
Make a soft eye in a wire rope using wire clamps
Clamps are orientated correctly
Clamps are tightened sufficiently, but not excessively
Clamps are sufficient in number and spaced correctly
Rig a rope tackle to lift from a strong point
Line rove correctly
Block/s fixed safely to strong point
Purchase appropriate for the task
Rig a chain block to lift from a strong point
Block safely suspended
Chains free and not twisted
Rig an endless sling to lift a drum
Sling positioned correctly on drum
Use appropriate personal safety equipment when rigging
Hard hat, gloves and/or toecap boots worn as appropriate
Use a turnbuckle to tension a stay
Turnbuckle attached correctly at both ends
Turnbuckle of suitable size for application
Turnbuckle tightened correctly and evenly
Turnbuckle locked if appropriate (lock nuts or split pins)
Use a webbing tie-down with ratchet to secure a load to a vehicle or pallet
Webbing hooked to appropriate points
No unnecessary twists
Ratchet neat and correctly applied
Loose ends secured
Webbing leads secure and safe, no excessive loads on cargo
Use a net to secure a load to a vehicle
Net spread neatly over load,
Net secured with sufficient tension to prevent loss or shifting of load
Calculation of the minimum free air delivery and working pressure for a LP compressor for a given dive depth and number of divers using standard values for RMV recommended by the authorised CoP
HP Gas requirement calculations
Calculation of the total volume or number of 50 litre HP cylinders required for a given dive profile, and the required pressure using standard values for RMV recommended by the authorised CoP
Buoyancy and lifting
Estimate lift bag volume required to lift an object. State all assumptions and approximations. Specify size of bag/s to be used and rigging to be used
Identify site hazards
Recognise site hazards which are apparent and deduce probable hazards based on knowledge and experience of similar sites
Decompression Tables
Find decompression schedule for given repetitive dive profiles at sea level and altitude
Decompression Computer
Operate own or issued dive computer.
Identify readouts of current depth, elapsed dive time, remaining no-stop time and decompression obligation (ceiling and stop time) or such equivalents as provided on the particular model of computer.
Recall data from previous dive/s and use the planning function to find no-stop time available at a given depth.
Practical assessment records and class attendance records are correct and up to date
Report writing
Report on diving inspection exercise is of acceptable standard (legible and logically laid out and adequately describes the subject of the inspection. Ability to use a word processor is recommended, though not compulsory)
Feedback forms and reports have been completed and provide useful information
Complies with statutory and organisational safety requirements without having to be constantly reminded. (Diving regulations, ACoP’s, Operations manual etc.)
Diver reports incidences of non-compliance to the appropriate authority
Situational awareness
Diver pays attention to surroundings and appears aware of changes in circumstance which should be apparent.
Diver recognises changes in circumstances which may affect team safety
Diver alerts team to changes in circumstances that they should know about
Diver is able to communicate effectively with other members of the team
Diver communicates when appropriate and provides useful information.
Information provided is not known to be incorrect.
Diver timeously notifies diving team of information that he is required to provide (particularly relating to fitness to dive, hazards, non-compliance with safety requirements and equipment failure, loss and defects)
