Application

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to snorkel as part of a group in confined or open water. It requires the ability to use a snorkel while surface swimming and diving underwater.
It applies to leaders, guides or instructors who use these snorkelling skills when leading participants during snorkelling activities. Leadership skills are provided in complementary units. The unit can also apply to assistants or support staff.
This unit applies to any type of organisation that delivers outdoor recreation activities including commercial, not-for-profit and government organisations.
No occupational licensing, certification or specific legislative requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

What You'll Learn

Assessment Requirements

Performance Evidence

Evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit in the context of the job role, and:
• complete two group snorkelling activities
• during each activity consistently:
• follow safety procedures and safely negotiate hazards
• utilise effective techniques to:
• defog mask
• enter and exit the water
• breath through a snorkel to maintain a comfortable rate of respiration
• clear a snorkel and mask after flooding
• equalise pressure
• duck dive underwater using a snorkel
• propel self using fins on the surface and underwater
• maintain buoyancy.

Knowledge Evidence

Demonstrated knowledge required to complete the tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit:
• organisational safety and emergency response procedures for snorkelling activities
• exposure protection swim wear suitable for snorkelling activities:
• types of swim wear and fabrics that protect against the effects of weather and water conditions including sun, temperatures and winds of different levels and extremes
• features and uses of exposure suits, booties and gloves of different styles and grades suited to different conditions
• features and functions of the following equipment and how to fit and adjust these for comfort and safety:
• inflatable snorkel vests
• snorkel masks
• fins, both adjustable and full foot
• snorkel and snorkel keeper
• communication protocols for group snorkelling activities to include:
• calls
• hand signals
• whistles
• techniques used to:
• defog masks using spit and solutions
• enter and exit the water
• breath through a snorkel to maintain a comfortable rate of respiration
• clear a snorkel and mask after flooding
• equalise pressure
• duck dive underwater using a snorkel
• propel self using fins on the surface and underwater
• factors affecting buoyancy and how to control sinking and floating
• sea features including currents, waves and tides sufficient to understand the impacts on snorkelling activities and locations
• typical hazards associated with snorkelling and swimming in confined and open waters, and techniques used to safely negotiate these:
• marine life including coral and stingers
• underwater vegetation
• submerged objects
• sections of dark, deep or cold water
• tidal flow and currents
• water craft
• atmospheric risks associated with snorkelling and how to manage these:
• hypothermia
• hyperthermia
• sunburn
• barotrauma:
• meaning
• cause, at a basic level of understanding
• common types associated with snorkelling, including mask squeeze and facial barotrauma
• ways of minimising risk
• shallow water blackout:
• causes, including hyperventilation and overexertion
• consequences
• ways of minimising risk
• the relationship between pressure, volume and temperature at a basic level of understanding and consequences for snorkellers.

Assessment Conditions

Skills must be demonstrated in confined or open waters within natural aquatic environments.
Confined waters can be confined swimming areas at natural venues such as lakes, dams and non-surf beaches. Open waters can include an unrestricted body of water including that accessed from beaches with direct access to ocean waters.
The following resources must be available to replicate industry conditions of operation:
• first aid equipment
• communication equipment for emergency response
• surface flags or markers
• rescue equipment.
Assessment must ensure use of:
• a group of participants with whom the individual interacts during snorkelling activities
• exposure protection swim wear suitable for conditions, and exposure suits as required
• snorkel masks
• snorkels and snorkel keepers
• fins
• organisational safety and emergency response procedures for snorkelling activities.
Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations requirements for assessors.

Foundation Skills

• {'skill': 'Reading skills to:', 'description': 'interpret detailed and familiar organisational safety and emergency response procedures.'}
• {'skill': 'Oral communications skills to:', 'description': 'use clear and unambiguous verbal and non-verbal communications to make intent known.'}
• {'skill': 'Numeracy skills to:', 'description': 'interpret and calculate numerical data involving distances, times, pressures and temperatures.'}
• {'skill': 'Planning and organising skills to:', 'description': 'manage own timing to complete activities within planned timeframes.'}

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