FIELD                        COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL SERVICES

 

Change of standard setting body, and review of Diving - Recreational unit standards

 

Subfield

Domain

Id

Diving

Diving - Recreational

4383-4403, 8273

 

The Sport Fitness and Recreation Industry Training Organisation (Sfrito) has completed the review of the Diving - Recreational unit standards listed above that were registered in November 1995 and September 1996.

 

Date new versions published                        February 2005

 

New comments by date                        February 2007

 

Expiry date of new versions of the unit standards    December 2008

 

Summary of review and consultation process

 

The Diving Industry Training Organisation (DITO), prior to its disestablishment, commenced a review of the Diving unit standards in 2003.  The Tertiary Education Commission granted Sfrito the responsibility for these unit standards in March 2004.

 

Sfrito has completed the review of the Diving - Recreational unit standards listed above and is in the process of completing the review of the Diving - Instruction unit standards.  The changes made to the Diving - Recreational unit standards do not affect their overall outcomes.  The changes were made to add context and clarity to the elements and the performance criteria.

 

In the agreement to pass responsibility to Sfrito, DITO had assured Sfrito of the following.

 

·               All known assessors against diving unit standards had been asked to comment on any need for unit standard modifications during the review process.

 

·               The New Zealand Underwater Recreational Training Council through its members (all registered dive employers in NZ) and through its international affiliation with the USA based Recreational Scuba Training Council had consulted dive employers for their views on training related needs.

 

·               That New Zealand wide, approximately 2500 students per year participated in tertiary programs based on Diving unit standards and Sfrito anticipated this demand to continue.

 

Main changes resulting from the review

 

While the review process had found continued support for the unit standard purposes and learning outcomes for both domains, as the industry had anticipated, there was a unanimous call for the credit values of the unit standards to properly reflect the learning and teaching time required for learners to achieve the desired outcomes.  There was a strong opinion expressed that the current credit value of many of the unit standards did not provide enough time for the valid and reliable assessment of learner competence nor sufficient time for the learner to apply the knowledge and practice the skills to enable them to reach a level of competence acceptable to the industry.

 

Credit values originally allocated to the dive unit standards were based on a recreational training history and only took account of direct contact hours spent with highly motivated fee-paying learners on compressed courses of up to five days.  This process did not account for self directed study, varying learning styles, the unsuitability of such short course intensity for typical tertiary learners or the practical experience required for students to progress from one level to another.  For example, for a Dive Instructor graduate to be employable, they would have to have completed a minimum of 100 dives.  None of the Recreational subfield unit standards reflected this experience requirement.

 

Summary of changes are as follows:

·               Credit values of the unit standards adjusted across the domain.

·               Minor amendments to titles to add context to the outcome.

·               Name of the standard setting body updated to reflect the change in responsibility from the former Dive Industry Training Organisation to the Sport Fitness and Recreation Industry Training Organisation.

·               The addition of special notes to update or clarify information.

 

Impact on existing provider accreditations

 

None.

 

Impact on Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP)

 

AMAP 0180 was updated to reflect the change in responsibility of the standards setting body.

 

Impact on existing qualifications

 

None.

 

Summary of main changes to standards' Ids, classification, titles, levels, and credits

 

The following summary shows the changes made to the standards as a result of the review.  All changes are in bold.

 

Key to review category

 

A

Dates changed, but no other changes are made - the replacement standard carries the same Id and a new version number

B

Changes made, but the overall outcome remains the same - the replacement standard carries the same Id and a new version number

C

Major changes that necessitate the registration of a replacement standard with a new Id

D

Standard will expire and not be replaced

 

Subfield            Diving

Domain            Diving - Recreational

Id

Title

Level

Credit

Review Category

4383

Snorkel dive

Snorkel dive with safety

2

2

B

4384

Scuba dive in open water to a maximum depth of 18 metres

Scuba dive and perform rescues in open water to a maximum depth of 18 metres

3

3

7

B

4385

Navigate prescribed routes underwater

3

1

4

B

4386

Complete computeraided dives

Complete computer-aided dives

3

1

3

B

4387

Perform diver rescues

4

3

7

B

4388

Complete night dives

Complete a night dive

3

1

4

B

4389

Take still photographs under water

3

2

4

B

4390

Complete an underwater video

3

2

4

B

4391

Complete dry suit dives

Complete a dry suit dive

3

1

3

B

4392

Complete drift dives on SCUBA

3

1

3

B

4393

Complete underwater search and recovery dives

3

2

4

B

4394

Complete cavern dives

3

2

5

B

4395

Dive at altitude greater than 300 metres

Dive at an altitude greater than 300 metres

3

1

3

B

4396

Complete wreck dives

Complete a wreck dive

4

2

5

B

4397

Execute a dive using a diver propulsion vehicle

Complete dives using a diver propulsion vehicle

3

1

3

B

4398

Complete deep dives to between 18 and 40 metres

Complete deep dives to between 18 and 40 metres, and perform tasks

4

2

5

B

4399

Complete dives under ice

4

1

4

B

4400

Identify marine species common to dive site

Identify marine species at a dive site

3

1

4

B

4401

Hunt and collect pre-selected objects underwater

Hunt and collect preselected objects underwater

3

1

3

B

4402

Complete dives off boats

Complete a dive off a boat

3

1

3

B

4403

Complete shore dive

Complete a shore dive

3

1

4

B

8273

Supervise and control dive operations

5

6

15

B