Cavern Diving

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.

Advanced Open Water Diver or equivalent.

Students should be able to demonstrate comfort and competency in open water skills to the instructor’s satisfaction

This course will last a minimum of two days. There is one classroom presentation, land line drills, and four dives minimum. Three dives will be in a cavern and one open water dive with a minimum of 90 minutes of bottom time.

The issuing of the cavern certification authorizes a person to dive in the daylight in caverns. This includes 130 feet maximum depth. No decompression diving and no restrictions.

• Two first and second stage regulators with SPG for configured for sidemount
• One with a seven foot hose for air sharing
• Approved sidemount harness (dual bladder or dual wings unless drysuit diving)
• Mask and fins (no snorkel, no split fins)
• Two battery powered lights one of which can not be rechargeable
• Safety spool or reel (~150ft)
• Dive computer (single or multi-gas), and either back-up computer or timer & depth gauge
• Cutting tool such as a line cutter (a leg mounted dive knife is not acceptable)
• Exposure protection (dry suit use requires prior dry suit diving experience)
• Weight system (if needed)
• Two primary cylinders at least 72cuft