Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
22/07/2026 5:39 AM AWST
22/07/2026 5:39 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.
Apply sinkhole diving skills
Apply sinkhole diving skills
Unit of competency
National Code
SISOCVE519A
SISOCVE519A
State Code
D6346
D6346
TGA Status
Deleted
Deleted
DTWD Status
Transition (Deleted)
Transition (Deleted)
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
15/10/2014
Field of Education
092101 - Sport And Recreation Activities
Original Release Date
15/10/2014
Nominal Hours
20
Description
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to sinkhole dive in flooded caverns to a depth of 20-40 metres. This unit is conducted at safe partial pressures of the individual gases within the breathing gas mixture consumed.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Plan a deep sinkhole dive.
- 1.1. Access information on the site and formulate a dive plan according to relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures.
- 1.2. Identify and plan for potential hazards and risks associated with the sinkhole dive.
- 1.3. Identify possible sources of stress associated with sinkhole diving.
- 1.4. Convey the dive plan to the rest of the dive team.
- 1.5. Establish a communication system to use with buddy and other participants while diving.
2. Select, fit and use sinkhole diving equipment.
- 2.1. Select and fit personal equipment, so that it is streamlined to avoid snagging points.
- 2.2. Check personal equipment for safety and serviceability prior to the dive according to organisational policies and procedures and manufacturer's specifications.
- 2.3. Identify, fit and use group equipment according to manufacturer's specifications.
- 2.4. Use underwater breathing systems appropriately.
3. Perform sinkhole dives.
- 3.1. Apply sinkhole diving techniques, demonstrating correct posture.
- 3.2. Demonstrate effective buoyancy control and anti-silting techniques.
- 3.3. Apply minimal impact techniques to minimise damage to the environment while sinkhole diving.
- 3.4. Use a range of sinkhole diving techniques to negotiate features of a water-filled sinkhole.
- 3.5. Negotiate hazards and apply strategies to reduce risk while sinkhole diving.
- 3.6. Apply buddy diving procedures and communication techniques throughout sinkhole dive.
- 3.7. Apply techniques to deal with stress where required.
4. Use sinkhole diving specific navigation skills.
- 4.1. Apply sinkhole diving navigation aids to navigate through the sinkhole.
- 4.2. Demonstrate line placement and use of a cave reel.
5. Evaluate sinkhole diving activity.
- 5.1. Evaluate relevant aspects of the sinkhole diving activity.
- 5.2. Identify improvements for future sinkhole diving experiences.
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
contingency management.
Relevant legislation may include:
occupational health and safety
sinkhole access and permit requirements
environmental regulations.
Organisational policies and procedures may include:
occupational health and safety:
medically fit to dive in sinkholes
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
fauna and flora
unstable roof
changed surface weather conditions
phobias
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 techniques 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:
redundant side mounted SCUBA
redundant back mounted SCUBA
manifolded SCUBA systems.
Sinkhole diving skills may include:
anti-silting
buoyancy control
propulsion
navigation.
Buoyancy control may include:
correct weighting
hovering
controlled descent and ascent
level swimming.
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:
rock-piles
thermoclines
haloclines
flora and fauna in the sinkhole
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
backup lights
shot lines.
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
controlled exit from the dive
emergency ascent
relaxation or breathing techniques.
Navigation aids may include:
sinkhole map
survey markers
compass
water flow
trogged paths
fixed guidelines and markers.
Use of cave reel may include:
deploying and retrieving the line
maintaining tension
locking or unlocking the reel.
Relevant aspects may include:
planning processes
communication systems
sinkhole diving skills and minimal impact techniques
buoyancy control and anti-silting techniques.
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
contingency management.
Relevant legislation may include:
occupational health and safety
sinkhole access and permit requirements
environmental regulations.
Organisational policies and procedures may include:
occupational health and safety:
medically fit to dive in sinkholes
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
fauna and flora
unstable roof
changed surface weather conditions
phobias
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 techniques 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:
redundant side mounted SCUBA
redundant back mounted SCUBA
manifolded SCUBA systems.
Sinkhole diving skills may include:
anti-silting
buoyancy control
propulsion
navigation.
Buoyancy control may include:
correct weighting
hovering
controlled descent and ascent
level swimming.
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:
rock-piles
thermoclines
haloclines
flora and fauna in the sinkhole
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
backup lights
shot lines.
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
controlled exit from the dive
emergency ascent
relaxation or breathing techniques.
Navigation aids may include:
sinkhole map
survey markers
compass
water flow
trogged paths
fixed guidelines and markers.
Use of cave reel may include:
deploying and retrieving the line
maintaining tension
locking or unlocking the reel.
Relevant aspects may include:
planning processes
communication systems
sinkhole diving skills and minimal impact techniques
buoyancy control and anti-silting 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 sinkhole dive
negotiates hazards, risks and features of a water-filled sinkhole, at depths of 20-40 metres, using various techniques, causing minimal environmental impact
applies sinkhole diving navigation techniques to move through the water-filled sinkhole efficiently, and communicates with and monitors buddy's progress
evaluates and reflects on own sinkhole diving performance to identify strengths, weaknesses and areas that need improvement.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must ensure participation in sinkhole diving activities in sinkholes 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 sinkhole dive site to plan a sinkhole dive and select appropriate equipment
suitable locations, including fresh water, for the conduct of sinkhole 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 sinkhole 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.
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 sinkhole dive
negotiates hazards, risks and features of a water-filled sinkhole, at depths of 20-40 metres, using various techniques, causing minimal environmental impact
applies sinkhole diving navigation techniques to move through the water-filled sinkhole efficiently, and communicates with and monitors buddy's progress
evaluates and reflects on own sinkhole diving performance to identify strengths, weaknesses and areas that need improvement.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must ensure participation in sinkhole diving activities in sinkholes 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 sinkhole dive site to plan a sinkhole dive and select appropriate equipment
suitable locations, including fresh water, for the conduct of sinkhole 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 sinkhole 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.
No information
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| D445 | SIS50310 | Diploma of Outdoor Recreation | Qualification |