Cavern and Cave Training
Cavern
The cavern diver course will develop the minimum skills and knowledge for cavern diving. Planning, environment, procedures, techniques, problem solving and other specialized needs of cavern diving are covered. Problem solving in cavern diving includes, but is not limited to: body positioning (trim), buoyancy control, emergency procedures, line following, and propulsion techniques. Special emphasis is placed on the unique environment including silting, entanglement, disorientation and equipment modifications. The cavern diver course is in no way intended to provide instruction for cave diving. There are additional courses required for cave diving.
Intro. To Cave Diver
This course covers the basis principles of actual cave diving and follows the cavern diver course. This course develops the minimum skills and knowledge required for limited penetration cave diving. This is the second step in development of safe cave diving. This course is aimed at perfecting basic skills and mastering the techniques and procedures required for the most elementary of cave diving. Cave dives are planned around very limited penetrations so the diver may progress into cave diving at a conservative pace. Intro to Cave Diving is not intended to train divers for all facets of cave diving.
Apprentice Cave Diver
Apprentice Cave Diver course is designed for those divers who wish to enter the cave environment where vertical access is not possible using proper techniques. This includes a variety of underwater cave zones found throughout the world in both fresh and salt water environments. This course takes the diver beyond the “daylight zone” of the cave overhead environment. Decompression for this course shall be limited to a single stop on one (1) deco mix. Stage cylinders to extend the range of penetration are prohibited. Simple jumps and gaps are permitted.
The Apprentice Cave Diver certification is a temporary certification with a time limit of one (1) year from the date of issuance. The certified Apprentice Cave Diver must (is expected) in that effective certification period of one (1) year to complete training by taking the Full Cave Diver course. If the diver fails to complete Full Cave training within the one (1) year effective period, upon expiration, the diver will be certified to the Intro to Cave Diver level and be required to abide by the constraints of that level. In order for the diver whose Apprentice Cave Diver certification has expired to continue to progress in cave diving, the Apprentice Cave Diver course must be repeated.
Full Cave Diver
This course covers the principles of actual cave diving and follows the Intro cave and Apprentice cave diver course. This course develops the skills and knowledge required for penetration cave diving. This is the final step in development of safe cave diving. This course is aimed at perfecting skills and mastering the techniques and procedures required of cave diving. Cave dives are planned penetration dives, so the diver may progress into cave diving at a conservative pace.
CCR Cave Diver
This course is aimed at the experienced rebreather diver giving them all the skills necessary to operate safely in a cave environment. This is the penultimate step in cave diving, exploration and requires the highest level of skill to complete.
