Student suitability for this activity is to be determined in collaboration with the qualified dive supervisor and in accordance with the recreational diving, recreational technical diving and snorkelling—code of practice 2024.
Ensure participants' current level of confidence and skills in the water have been tested. Consult the sequence of competency found in the
water safety and swimming education program for guidance at each year/band level.
Adjustments are required for
students with disability to support access and participation in the curriculum. Consult with the parents/carers of students with disability or, when appropriate, the student to ensure risks related to their child's participation in the activity are identified and managed.
Schools must consult current student medical information and/or health plans in accordance with the
managing students' health support needs at school procedure. Record information about any student condition (e.g. physical or medical, such as
epilepsy) that may inhibit safe engagement in the activity and include specific support measures within emergency procedures.
For activities with students with a medical condition or disability that may impact on safety during the activity, consultation with parents is required prior to allocating supervision to determine the impact of students' medical condition or disability on safety during the activity.
For participants with known allergies, schools must comply with the
supporting students with asthma and/or at risk of anaphylaxis at school procedure and the school's
anaphylaxis risk management plan (DOCX, 159KB), including an adult supervisor of the activity with
anaphylaxis training.
Emergency plans and injury management procedures must be established in collaboration with the qualified dive supervisor for foreseeable incidents (e.g. hyperventilation, safety signals, identification/control of drowning or injury hazards, separation from the group, provision of
first aid) and incorporate the advice from local authorities (e.g. marine rescue processes).
Adult supervisors must have:
- emergency contact details of all participants
- a medical alert list and a process for administering student medication
- communication equipment in weatherproof containers suitable to conditions (e.g. marine VHF radio, mobile phone, signalling mirror, sea emergency water dye) and a process for obtaining external assistance and/or receiving emergency advice. Note that battery life can be impacted by weather conditions
- recovery/rescue equipment suitable to the location, for example, emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) or personal locator beacon (PLB), flares; light-weight poles/water noodles/ropes with a float attached for shallow, calm swimming areas; or a rescue tube/board for bodies of water exposed to rips, waves or currents
- an appointed emergency contact (e.g. the principal,
local volunteer marine rescue service ) who is provided with a route card listing activity details (outline of the route to be followed, the number and names of the party, the estimated time of departure/arrival)
- emergency shelter/protection locations and alternative routes that consider foreseeable emergencies (e.g. injury, thunderstorm, extreme temperature, tides).
Safety procedures must be determined for the location in collaboration with the qualified dive supervisor (e.g. water entry, out of bounds areas, head counting processes) and in compliance with the
recreational diving, recreational technical diving and snorkelling—code of practice 2024 (PDF, 606KB).
Access is required to
first aid equipment (e.g. defibrillator, emergency thermal blanket, tourniquet) and consumables (e.g. ice pack, vinegar) suitable for foreseeable incidents.
Ready access is required to rescue equipment (e.g. working emergency signal such as whistle or air horn, a suitable means of cutting fishing line or rope and a means of towing a person).
Induction is required for all adult supervisors on emergency procedures (e.g. emergency ascent, low on air, separation from the group, raising alarm, rescue process) and safety procedures (e.g. signalling for assistance, roll marking mechanisms, process to rapidly communicate emergency advice to adult supervisors of impending severe events). If the activity is conducted at an off-site facility, induction is to be informed by advice provided in consultation with expertise at the venue and in collaboration with the qualified dive supervisor.
Instruction is required for students and adult supervisors on correct techniques (e.g. first aid support) to ensure preliminary water safety knowledge and learning prior to entering the water. Rule-reminders are to be provided throughout the activity. Rule-reminders are to be provided throughout the activity.
Parent consent (DOCX, 309KB) is required for all activities conducted
off-site and all
extreme risk level activities conducted onsite. It is
strongly recommended that parent consent is obtained for
high risk level activities conducted on-site.
Supervision
Principals, in collaboration with the qualified dive supervisor, make final supervision decisions for the activity that considers the local context.
Appropriate adult supervision must be provided to manage the activity safely (i.e. prevent an incident from occurring and manage an incident if one were to occur, including managing emergency situations). At no time should students be relied upon to recover a person in difficulty. The principal must give active consideration to the minimum standards set in the CARA guideline for the activity, the CARA planner and the risk assessment when determining the appropriate level of supervision.
See
number of adult supervisors below.
Prepare a supervision plan to prevent drowning that considers the advice provided in this CARA guideline. Consider
Surf Life Saving Australia's (SLSA) beachsafe and/or
Royal Life Saving Society Queensland's (RLSSQ) guidelines for inland waterways safety for support when supervision planning.
Note: Lifeguard services are not considered as supervisors of the activity.
Before the activity, all adult supervisors:
- must be familiar with the contents of the CARA record, including the emergency and supervision plans.
During the activity, all adult supervisors:
- must provide active and direct supervision—be constantly vigilant, attentive and rescue ready
- must comply with control measures from the CARA record and adapt as hazards arise
- must
not rely on students to recover a person in difficulty at any time.
The activity must be suspended if the conditions become unfavourable (e.g. poor visibility, extreme temperatures, thunderstorms).
Number of adult supervisors
Principals, in consultation with the qualified adults of the activity, determine the final number of supervisors to fulfil instructional, emergency and supervision roles for the local context that consider the nature of the activity, students' ages, abilities and specialised learning, access and/or health needs. In some instances, the final supervision ratio may be 1:1.
To support decisions about the number of qualified adults required for the activity, confirmation of student water safety and swimming ability is required prior to participation.
See
frequently asked questions (FAQs) for further support.
The process is determined by the school and must consider the specific aquatic environments in which the activity will take place. Consult the sequence of competency
water safety and swimming education program for support in determining age-appropriate suitability and consider student self-rescue skills in the specific aquatic environment.
At least 2 adult supervisor, including both of below:
All adult supervisors must be able to identify, and respond to, risks or hazards that may emerge during the activity including the ability to:
- recover a participant from the water
- operate signalling devices needed in a duress situation, including marine radio and flares must be readily identifiable.
Specific roles for supervisors, including dive guides and lookouts, are determined by the qualified dive supervisor to ensure compliance with the
recreational diving, recreational technical diving and snorkelling—code of practice 2024 (PDF, 606KB).
In addition to the above, for
high risk level activities:
- Minimum of 2 adult supervisors to perform all of the roles below
In addition to the above, for
extreme risk level activities:
- Minimum of 3 adult supervisors to perform all of the roles below
If the minimum safety standard cannot be met, modify the activity (or elements of it) and use the
hierarchy of controls to implement alternative control measures to meet or exceed the minimum safety standard (e.g. reduce the number of students participating at any one time).
*See
FAQs for further support.
Supervisor qualifications
Qualifications support the minimum safety standard for this activity. Principals make final decisions* in determining supervisor capability (competence, relevance and currency) and whether the activity leader meets an appropriate teaching standard.
*See
FAQs for further support.
All adult supervisors must comply with the
working with children authority—blue cards procedure.
Qualified adults for the activity
Recovery/emergency—CPR, first aid, rescue
Adults, including registered teachers, engaged for recovery/emergency are to have
current knowledge, judgement, technique and physical ability to carry out safe water rescues and enact an emergency procedure.
Supervisors must have CPR and first aid qualifications relevant to the activity. Emergency qualifications may include:
An adult with concussion management knowledge or training is recommended. Consult
concussion in sport resources.
The
lookout must have current
anaphylaxis training.
The following adult supervisors are required:
- an experienced
dive instructor (if required for type of dive) with a SCUBA Instructor qualification, such as
SISOSCB010—Lead SCUBA diving activities or equivalent) and certification from a recreational dive training association, for example Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI).
- an experienced
dive supervisor with certification from a recreational dive training association.
- an adult
lookout who holds current first aid qualifications including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and who is able to perform all of the below:
- recognise relevant hazards
- recognise when a diver or snorkeller is in difficulty
- rescue a diver or snorkeller in difficulty and provide first aid or direct a person who is immediately available and capable to rescue a diver or snorkeller in difficulty and provide first aid.
Extreme risk activities
*See
FAQs for further support.
Maritime-related enquiries should be directed to the nearest
Maritime Safety Queensland regional office.
Facilities and equipment
The qualified
snorkelling supervisor, in consultation with the principal, determines the requirements for facilities and equipment appropriate to the local context and in compliance with the
recreational diving, recreational technical diving and snorkelling—code of practice 2024 (PDF, 606KB).
Depth of dive to be advised by the
dive supervisor/dive instructor as per their certification and must consider student experience, skill ability and/or level, and other variables including weather and location.
SCUBA equipment must be available (e.g. fins, masks, compressed air cylinders and valve, buoyancy control device fitted with a power inflator device, regulator fitted with an alternative air source/supply, submersible depth and cylinder pressure indicators, quick release system), that is correctly fitted and complies with the requirements of
recreational diving, recreational technical diving and snorkelling—code of practice 2024 (PDF, 606KB).
Participants must wear
personal protective equipment as relevant for the location and conditions (e.g. sunscreen, high visibility stinger suit, enclosed footwear with thick soles where dangers such as stonefish may be present).
Equipment must conform to
Australian Standards specifications, be properly maintained, hygienic, in good working condition, fit for purpose, correctly fitted and used as intended in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions (Departmental staff search 'Australian Standards' in OnePortal).
Equipment must be sized to match the ability and strength of students.
Ensure adequate drinking water, food and shade is available for the duration of the activity.
In addition to the above, for
extreme risk level:
- an oxygen system capable of
- providing a spontaneously breathing person with an inspired oxygen concentration of as near as possible to 100% must be available
- facilitating oxygen enriched artificial ventilation of a non-breathing person
- oxygen equipment and oxygen levels are to be checked daily by a person who has received training to carry out the checks correctly. Any other maintenance of the oxygen system must be carried out by an authorised service agent
- sufficient oxygen must be available to supply the injured person, considering the location of the diving site and access to medical facilities
- ensure a pontoon, boat or float is in close proximity to students
- ensure no single navigation system is relied upon. Where an electronic system (e.g. GPS) is used, have spare batteries and another position-fixing method available (e.g. chart and compass)
- ensure the availability of a knife, dive tool or shears if there is a chance of entanglement
- a retirement schedule must be developed to replace plant and equipment by manufacturers' nominated expiry date or when significant wear causes a hazard.
Common hazards and controls
Further to those listed, include any additional hazards and control measures considering the local context of the activity.
Biological hazards
Body fluids (e.g. blood, bowel motions) |
Manage open wounds before, during and after the activity. Consult
infection control guidelines and Queensland Health's
exclusion periods for infectious conditions poster (PDF, 1.4MB) for first aid and hygienic practices.
Use student-owned equipment (e.g. masks), if possible, and maintain hygienic practices.
Oral/nasal equipment must be disinfected prior to use by another person
|
Dangerous marine life
(e.g. crocodiles, sharks, stonefish, marine stingers, sting rays, sea snakes, blue-ringed octopus, cone shells, cyanobacteria, coral) |
Check with the local authority (e.g. local government) for the presence of known water contaminants (e.g. blue-green algae) or other marine hazards (e.g. stonefish) at the location.
Look for and obey warnings and/or safety signs.
Follow
Queensland Government dangerous marine life and
Surf Life Saving Queensland marine stinger safety advice.
Marine organisms are not to be handled and contact is to be avoided.
Continually assess threat of dangerous marine life. Immediately move the participants to a safe location if dangerous marine life is detected or suspected
|
Environmental conditions
Weather, sun, humidity |
Assess
weather conditions prior to undertaking the activity, inspecting the intended location in order to identify variable risks, hazards and potential dangers.
Obtain accurate information on
tides, depths, currents and other expected water conditions (e.g. wind direction, wave and swell heights) prior to undertaking the activity.
Follow the
school's sun safety policy, including appropriate swimwear (e.g. swim shirts), sun protection (e.g. sunscreen) and shade facilities when outside.
Follow the
managing excessive heat in schools guidelines when participating in very hot or extreme heat conditions.
Entry and exit to the site to be reviewed for obstacles and hazards and suitable for the fitness and physical capabilities of the participants.
Participants to remain aware of their position in the training area, distance from shore, the depth of the water and other obstacles.
Continuously monitor conditions for emerging rips, strong currents, turbulence and under tows. Cease activities when environmental warnings have been issued (e.g. local government or lifeguard warning)
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Poor light |
Decrease the dive area.
A waterproof torch for each participant.
Increase the supervision ratio.
More frequent check-ins
|
| Facilities and equipment hazards |
Control measures |
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Activity location
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Location must be suitable for the activity being undertaken to ensure safe participation and that safety rules and procedures can be followed. Undertake a reconnaissance of new or infrequently used locations to ascertain suitability.
Assess suitability of surrounds and reach of water when selecting a location. Consider local water conditions and foreseeable hazards such as:
- tidal flow, currents and turbulence
- use by other watercraft and traffic patterns
- water temperature, depth and visibility
- underwater hazards (e.g. debris, coral, rocks)
Diving area of an appropriate depth, considering student age and ability, must be clearly defined. Consult the
water safety and swimming education program for guidance at each year/band level.
Navigational markers must be appropriate for use in the context of the activity and local laws or regulations (e.g. dive flags, rope floats, anchored buoys linked with ropes)
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Vessels |
For
extreme risk level, continually assess threat of other vessels, if applicable
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Manual handling
Lifting equipment, manipulating/moving students
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Use correct manual handling processes when
lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling or carrying |
| Student considerations |
Control measures |
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Swimming attire
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All supervisors are to be readily identifiable and be appropriately dressed to perform an immediate rescue at all times.
Students wear fit-for-purpose attire that is highly visible
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Injury |
Students aware of the location of emergency and first-aid equipment
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Physical exertion
Exhaustion and fatigue |
Continually monitor students for signs of distress (e.g. fear, fatigue, exhaustion, illness, hunger, dehydration, hypothermia, difficulty breathing and hyperventilation).
Adopt and rehearse a system of signals to clearly communicate the need for assistance if in difficulty.
Ensure drink breaks occur regularly. Make water available for individual participants between drink breaks
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Student issues
Student numbers, special needs, high risk behaviours, medical conditions, separation from the group
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Students must not enter the water until instructed to do so by the dive supervisor.
Participants to work far enough apart that they are not struck by another diver kicking.
Remove accessories (e.g. jewellery, lanyards) before participating.
Ensure fingernails and hair do not pose a hazard.
Develop a procedure for students who may develop sea sickness.
Instruct participants to call or signal for assistance if a problem cannot be rectified immediately.
Implement procedures (e.g. buddy system, roll marking mechanisms) to account for all participants before, during and after the activity
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Visibility |
Have students wear easily identifiable clothing (e.g. high visibility rash vest).
Ensure staff can easily recognise those students with health support needs (in and out of the water) and are familiar with their needs. Consider using the same colour fins or masks, or attaching coloured ribbons/high-visibility wrist bands for medically at-risk students (e.g. asthma, anaphylaxis) if appropriate.
Consider the use of binoculars and polarised sunglasses to improve visibility across and into the water for adult supervisors who are designated lookouts
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Additional links