Unit of competency Outline

Date retreived
22/07/2026 11:27 PM AWST

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Apply vertical canyoning skills

Apply vertical canyoning skills

Unit of competency
National Code
SISOCAY302A
State Code
D6282
TGA Status
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Current Release Number
3.00
Current Release Date
06/03/2013
View on TGA
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
25
Description
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to undertake vertical canyoning activities. This unit relates to independent participation as part of a canyoning party. The canyon should have a gentle to moderate horizontal gradient with intermittent vertical pitch or pitches; it may be dry or wet, including sections of swimming or liloing and may have terrain obstacles and or hydrological formations.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Plan for the canyoning activity.
  • 1.1. Identify and plan food and water requirements according to principles of nutrition and the duration of the activity.
  • 1.2. Identify an appropriate activity site according to relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures.
  • 1.3. Access relevantsources to interpret detailed weather and environmental information to determine activity plan.
  • 1.4. Select personal clothing according to design and or construction features appropriate for the activity.
2. Select and utilise canyoning equipment.
  • 2.1. Select and use equipment in a safe and efficient manner after consideration of contextual issues.
  • 2.2. Fit and adjust equipment to ensure personal comfort and safety according to organisational policies and procedures.
  • 2.3. Complete all necessary personal and equipment safety checks prior to commencing canyoning and or belaying.
  • 2.4. Select and attach descending device to the rope and tie knots suitable to the belay system being used.
  • 2.5. Apply safety procedures at top and bottom of descent site to minimise risk.
3. Travel through a canyon.
  • 3.1. Survey the route through the canyon to identify hazards and obstacles, assess risk, and select a safe route according to conditions and group ability.
  • 3.2. Identify features of hydrological formations that are hazardous according to relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures.
  • 3.3. Apply correct body position in moving water to minimise the potential for foot entrapment where relevant.
  • 3.4. Apply navigation skills appropriate to the chosen route.
  • 3.5. Apply wading and or swimming techniques to negotiate deep rock pools where required.
  • 3.6. Remove and handle loaded backpacks to enable safe passage through the canyon where required.
4. Negotiate vertical pitches.
  • 4.1. Identify specific considerations and risks associated with the selection of equipment and the rigging of abseil anchors and systems.
  • 4.2. Descend in a controlled and safe manner according to organisational policies and procedures.
  • 4.3. Demonstrate correct posture and technique while abseiling using single and double rope taking into account pitch variations.
  • 4.4. Identify and apply techniques that minimise damage to the environment while abseiling.
  • 4.5. Respond to emergency situations according to organisational policies and procedures.
  • 4.6. Demonstrate rope retrieval skills.
5. Apply belaying skills.
  • 5.1. Establish belaying position by moving body in relation to belay device that enables effective use of belay system.
  • 5.2. Confirm attachment of belayer to anchor to minimise movement during a fall.
  • 5.3. Demonstrate a safe and efficient escape from belay system, and attachment of belayer to anchor to minimise movement during a fall.
  • 5.4. Maintain rope tension to ensure fall distance is minimised while not restricting abseiler movement.
  • 5.5. Monitor abseiler progress constantly and respond appropriately to abseiler calls.
  • 5.6. Arrest falls promptly using technique suitable to the belaying device and or situation.
  • 5.7. Demonstrate the lowering of a conscious or unconscious canyoner in the event of an emergency.
  • 5.8. Demonstrate attachment to alternate belay or safety system when self-belaying to maintain safety in the event of a fall.
6. Maintain canyoning equipment.
  • 6.1. Conduct maintenance checks and repairs of canyoning equipment prior to storage.
  • 6.2. Dry equipment prior to storage as appropriate.
  • 6.3. Store equipment according to organisational policies and procedures.
7. Evaluate canyoning activity.
  • 7.1. Evaluate relevant aspects of canyoning activity.
  • 7.2. Evaluate own performance and identify potential improvements for future performances.
  • 7.3. Make modifications to future canyoning activities where required in response to feedback from participants and own self reflection outcomes.
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.
Food and water requirements may include:
menu planning and preparation
range of foods.
Principles of nutrition may include:
food groups
dietary guidelines
essential nutrients
individual food requirements and allergies.
Relevant legislation may include:
occupational health and safety
permits or permission for access
environmental regulations.
Organisational policies and procedures may include:
occupational health and safety
emergency procedures
communication protocols
use and maintenance of equipment
code of ethics.
Relevant sources may include:
Bureau of Meteorology
media
land managers or agencies
local knowledge
police.
Weather and environmental information may include:
satellite images
daily and weekly forecasts
maximum and minimum temperatures
weather warnings
event warnings
river levels
synoptic charts.
Equipment may include:
canyoning equipment
abseiling and belaying equipment
navigation equipment
safety and first aid equipment
communication equipment
repair equipment.
Contextual issues may include:
weather conditions, including times
season
transport
location
trip distance and duration
group objectives
group size.
Safety checks may include:
A - anchors - secure and suitable to application
B - buckles - locked as per manufacturers recommendations
C - connector - locked, secured and orientated
D - devices - threaded correctly and secured
E - everything else including end or rope knots, friction hitches, belayer ready, helmet chin strap, clothing, jewellery and hair secured
F - friend - cross check.
Descending devices may include:
auto locking devices
circular devices
plate devices
tubular devices
improvised devices
in line devices.
Knots may include:
rethreaded figure 8
figure 8 on bight
friction hitches.
Belay system may include:
top belay
bottom belay
self belay.
Hazards may include:
temperature extremes
slippery or unstable terrain
dangerous animals and insects
stinging trees and nettles
dense vegetation
group management hazards.
Obstacles may include:
slippery rocks
large boulders
rock pools
tunnel swims
water slides
small drops
rapids
ledges and overhangs
squeezes
traverses.
Hydrological formations may include:
stoppers
holes
strainers
undercuts
still bodies of extremely cold water.
Emergency situations may include:
injured canyoner
unconscious canyoner
'frozen' canyoner
trapped canyoner.
Belay devices may include:
plate devices
auto locking devices
tubular devices.
Maintenance checks and repairs may include:
lilo puncture repair
lilo valve repair or replacement
cleaning of rope and harnesses.
Relevant aspects may include:
objectives
planning process
activity site
weather
equipment selection
clothing selection
food selection
instructional content.
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 processes to plan equipment and supply requirements according to the conditions and duration of the canyoning activity
conducts pre- activity checks of the canyon site and equipment to identify potential hazards, obstacles and risks, and applies risk minimisation techniques
demonstrates canyoning techniques such as operating a belay system and handling ropes efficiently to negotiate a vertical pitch
negotiates obstacles and hazards during canyoning activities and adapts to non-routine situations
evaluates and reflects on own canyoning performance to identify strengths and weaknesses and areas that need improvement.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must ensure participation in multiple vertical canyoning activities, within the current or intended context of the candidate's work region to demonstrate competency and consistency of performance.
Assessment must also ensure access to:
resources and information, such as meteorological data, to plan for the canyoning activity
a suitable outdoor environment with a canyoning site with simple obstacles and features including vertical pitches and wet sections
canyoning, abseiling and belaying, navigation, safety and first aid, communication and repair 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 the planning and review process
oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures to enable safe conduct of all canyoning activities
observation of safe participation and demonstration of abseiling and belaying skills to participate in vertical canyoning activities
observation of dealing with contingencies, such as equipment failure or change in weather conditions
third-party reports from a supervisor detailing performance.
Guidance information for assessment
Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:
SISOCAY303A Establish belays in canyons
Replaced By
State Code National Code Title Type
OBF88 SISOCAY002 Abseil in easy to intermediate canyons Unit of competency