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Cavern Diver

The cavern diver course develops the minimum skills and knowledge for cavern diving, and describes the dangers involved with cave diving. Planning, environment, procedures, techniques, problem solving, gas management, equipment configurations and other specialized needs of cavern diving are covered.

Skills taught in cavern diving include, but are not limited to:

  • body positioning (trim),
  • buoyancy control,
  • reel use,
  • emergency procedures,
  • line following, and
  • propulsion techniques.

Accident analysis forms the basis of this learning. Special emphasis of the unique environment includes silting, entanglement, disorientation, and equipment modifications. Cavern diving is in no way intended to provide instruction for cave diving. However, many of the techniques and considerations presented apply toward cave and other forms of technical diving, which makes cavern a great way to get introduced to "going tec!" Splash highly recommends students receive cavern training before moving on to technical courses such as extended range and advanced wreck.

Prerequisites

Who should take this class?

This is not really a full-blown technical course. A wide range of divers will benefit from taking it.

These types of people will most benefit from this course:

  • Advanced divers looking for adventure and something a little different.
  • Aspiring photographers and others who want to learn better buoyancy control.
  • People who want to learn to avoid stirring up silt.
  • Divers looking for ways to improve their air consumption.
  • For those interested in equipment and techniques for diving in high current, this course can serve as an introduction.
  • Anyone who enjoys diving in calm, warm, crystal clear fresh water.

You can discuss what you hope to gain from the course with your instructor to receive a more individualized education.

Cavern diving limits

  1. Daylight and free ascent zone of cavern
  2. 130 ft linear distance from surface
  3. Maximum depth not to exceed 70 ft.
  4. 40 feet minimum visibility
  5. No decompression diving
  6. No restrictions (area too small for two divers to pass through side by side)

Course Outline

Each time the class is taught the schedule may be a little different depending on schedules and who the students are. Typically, though, an equipment workshop is held at the store sometime the week prior to the trip to go over the below equipment requirements and proper gear configuration.

The cavern class itself starts with practicing some skills on land, then in open water on the first day. It continues with three to four cavern dives over the two days in at least two different caverns. When taught in Florida, the classroom work is usually done at night at the motel.

Equipment

A reasonably equipped diver should already own the minimum required gear, with the possible exception of the reel.

Note: Equipment modification is common during cavern classes. The student should be prepared for the purchase of miscellaneous hardware. Additional costs may include: air fills, transportation, lodging, food, dive site admission fees and equipment rental. For more information see the Florida Springs trip page.

Required:

  • Mask, Fins (no Snorkel). Split fins are discouraged.
  • Cylinder, 50 ft³ minimum capacity
  • Single hose regulator with SPG
  • Alternate air source
  • LP inflator for BCD
  • Exposure suit (no gloves)
    If using a dry suit, you should be well-practiced with it
  • BCD (back inflation/wings style recommended)
  • Submersible PADI Dive tables
  • Slate and pencil (wrist slate recommended)
  • Weight as required
  • Two battery powered submersible dive lights (pistol-grip lights may be problematic)
  • Small knife or cutting device
  • Dive timer
  • depth gauge or computer
  • Primary reel per team

Recommended:

All of this gear is required at the Intro to Cave level, so we recommend practicing with it during cavern as well.

  • One additional dive light (total of three). A high-powered canister light is recommended for the primary light (available for rent/borrowing)
  • Seven foot alternate air source hose
  • High-capacity steel cylinder with "Y" or "H" cylinder valve, with additional regulator first stage, or doubles if you have experience with them
  • safety reel per diver

There are also several books in the store that we recommend purchasing for the class. Come in to have a look at them.

Tuition: $315

Check Splash's training schedule.