Intro to Cave Diver

The Intro to Cave Diver course is for the diver who wishes to venture past the limiting daylight zone of a cave. Though we review the foundational skills covered in the Cavern Diver course, divers are expected to have mastered them before enrolling in the Intro to Cave Diver class.

This course introduces two new scenarios which pose a safety threat while cave diving, the lost line and lost diver drills. Both drills are taught with and without visibility. Instruction begins in the classroom, continues in an elaborate land drill in the jungle, and culminates in practicing both drills inside the cave. This course can be taught in either backmount or sidemount.

Being lost off the guideline is a cave diver’s worst nightmare, a situation that with proper diving techniques and team awareness we can avoid completely. But as you will know from your Cavern Diver course we must plan for the worst-case scenario. An in-depth theory session and land drill will cover the physical procedure needed to relocate the main line, whilst looking at the different variables that might affect your mental state in this potentially high stress situation. We cover various techniques and considerations that can be applied during your search depending on the configuration of the cave, the location of the line and even the where in the world you might be cave diving. These skills and knowledge will be tested in a controlled simulation with one or our instructors, allowing you to work through the steps needed to survive this potentially fatal situation.

The team is only as strong as its weakest member. If one of your team mates is lost off the line you need to do all you can to try and bring them back to safety. We will discuss various factors that might affect your search for a missing diver and how you can overcome these obstacles whilst safely staying within your gas limits.

On top of the two core exercises introduced during this class we will continue to test your general skills as a cave diving, evaluating your line laying, reaction to gas failures, gas sharing and emergency procedures, whilst heading away from the daylight zone and deeper into the cave.

Certification for this course is offered through PSAI Mexico. This course takes a minimum of 2 days to complete and is available to all Cavern Divers or those with an equivalent certification. Alternatively, it can be combined with the Cavern Diver course for 6 days of training or the Cavern Diver and Cave Diver course for 9 days of training.

Course Content Includes:

• Fundamentals of diving in the overhead
• Equipment workshop
• Team diving and awareness
• Dive planning considerations and execution
• Passive and active team communication
• Psychological aspects of diving in the overhead environment
• How to safely and efficiently run a primary reel
• Zero visibility protocol and procedure 
• Gas sharing within the team
• Understand your equipment including problem solving in gas failure situations
• General emergency procedures and considerations
• What to do if you lose the guideline in the cave
• How to handle a separation within the team 

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ProTec offers various certification combinations to help you reach your cave diving goals. Check out our cave diver Training Tracks to help you plan your trip.