Divers Altert Network
Join DAN Today!

Mailing List

Introduction to Cave

Ron teaching an Intro to Cave course

In this 2-day, 4-dive course you will actually enter Florida's underwater caves and learn how to handle emergencies when direct ascent is not an option. These will include:

  • Exiting with no lights (you will experience total darkness!)
  • Sharing air with a buddy
  • Searching for a lost buddy
  • Searching for a lost guideline
  • Some combinations of these.

You will also learn the conventions used in marking the permanent main guideline running through cave systems.

Prerequisites

Cave Diving Sign

Intro to Cave requires a Cavern Diver certification. Certification as a Nitrox Diver is highly recommended. Rescue Diver is also helpful, since it gives experience with handling emergencies.

Limitations

  1. Cave penetrations are limited to following the main line. No jumps off the line, circuits (exiting through a different route than on the way in), or traverses (exiting through a different entrance) are permitted.
  2. Intro to Cave divers may only use single tanks, except under supervision of an instructor when doubles are allowed, but only 1/6th of their gas supply may be used before turning around.
  3. 30 feet minimum visibility
  4. 100 feet maximum depth
  5. No decompression diving
  6. Minor restrictions only (areas too small for two divers to fit side by side, but large enough for a diver to pass through without manipulating his/her body or equipment)

Required Equipment

All of the gear listed for the Cavern diver, including the recommended equipment, is required at this level (that's why it was recommended for cavern!). One of your three lights should be a high-powered canister model—Splash has a limited supply of rental lights, make sure you ask for one to be reserved for you if you need to borrow one. In addition, each diver must carry at least three line markers. An additional cutting device—knife, Z-knife, or EMT shears—is recommended.

Tuition: $315
If you take cavern and intro to cave in the same trip, we take $50 off the total tuition.

Check Splash's training schedule.