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Unit of Study BIO92005 - Scientific Diving (2017)

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Unit Snapshot

  • Pre-requisites

    NA

  • Enrolment information

    There are additional costs associated with this unit and prerequisite diving and first aid training. Dive-operator costs include updating of existing recreational certificates into occupational certificates and the ASQA Nationally Recognised Training course RTD3508A: Perform diving for scientific purposes. For further information on prerequisites, please contact the Unit Assessor. Offered only at the National Marine Science Centre in a 3 week intensive mode, which includes a compulsory 6 day residential held outside of normal residential weeks. Please refer to http://scu.edu.au/timetables for further information on timetables.

Unit description

Provides students with theoretical, practical and technical training in the principles and safe practice of diving as it relates to research in marine science. Successful completion of the unit will provide students with an entry-level Scientific Diving qualification (Australian Skills Quality Authority, Nationally Recognised training course RTD3508A: Perform diving for scientific purposes), which is recognised across the marine science sector in Australia and is essential for those continuing in postgraduate studies, or seeking work, that involves diving. The unit includes classroom and in situ instruction in a range of underwater survey methods and best practice diving techniques. Data management and analysis pertaining to underwater research will also be taught and assessed.

Unit content

PADI Scientific Diver content (RTD3508A: Perform diving for scientific purposes)
An introduction to scientific diving (restricted occupational diving) in the workplace
Workplace Health and Safety requirements and safe diving practice
Environmentally sensitive (low impact) diving
Underwater visual census for fish
Quadrats and transects for large invertebrates
Underwater video techniques
Underwater photography
Case studies of other sampling methods and scientific diving tasks
Trip planning and logistic

Availabilities

Location Domestic International
National Marine Science Centre Coffs Harbour Session 3 Session 3

Learning outcomes and graduate attributes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

GA1: Intellectual rigour, GA2: Creativity, GA3: Ethical practice, GA4: Knowledge of a discipline, GA5: Lifelong learning, GA6: Communication and social skills, GA7: Cultural competence
Learning outcome count Learning outcome description GA1 GA2 GA3 GA4 GA5 GA6 GA7
1 lead underwater surveys across a range of habitats and conditions focusing on safety, WH&S, best-practice diving techniques, and environmental considerations
2 critically evaluate and choose the most appropriate survey designs and methods to maximise outcomes of diving surveys
3 organise, and participate in, dives to safely and rigorously collect a range of data types from underwater environments
4 demonstrate advanced interpretation of underwater surveys taking relevant factors into consideration (e.g. observer error, limitations and biases of methods)
5 demonstrate advanced knowledge of procedures for conducting diving research in marine protected areas.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. lead underwater surveys across a range of habitats and conditions focusing on safety, WH&S, best-practice diving techniques, and environmental considerations
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
    • GA6:
  2. critically evaluate and choose the most appropriate survey designs and methods to maximise outcomes of diving surveys
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
  3. organise, and participate in, dives to safely and rigorously collect a range of data types from underwater environments
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
  4. demonstrate advanced interpretation of underwater surveys taking relevant factors into consideration (e.g. observer error, limitations and biases of methods)
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
  5. demonstrate advanced knowledge of procedures for conducting diving research in marine protected areas.
    • GA1:
    • GA4:

Prescribed learning resources

Prescribed Texts
  • No prescribed texts.

Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods.