Is cave diving safer than Open Water

[Manatee Diver]

Yeah, guess for some reason I was imagining someone freaking out and going blank on how to calmly resolve it

During training they will randomly tangle you, sometimes even during mask drills. And as you run lines particularly early one, you will occasionally get tangled up.

People prone to panic should avoid cave diving, the most important skill they teach you in cave training is to think through problems.

 

[kaylee_ann]

During training they will randomly tangle you, sometimes even during mask drills. And as you run lines particularly early one, you will occasionally get tangled up.

People prone to panic should avoid cave diving, the most important skill they teach you in cave training is to think through problems.

that'd be one of the worst decisions to make. if you know you're horrible under pressure, anything beyond maybe snorkeling should be avoided LOL (not funny, but seriously)

I re-read my post. I was and am pretty sure the OP isn't cave certified and I'm sure he wouldn't think to bring a certified buddy. well, any smart certified cave diver wouldn't take a non-cave diver along. "proficient" meant proficient in general dive skills

 

[Manatee Diver]

I re-read my post. I was and am pretty sure the OP isn't cave certified and I'm sure he wouldn't think to bring a certified buddy. well, any smart certified cave diver wouldn't take a non-cave diver along. "proficient" meant proficient in general dive skills

I don't think OP is cave trained either, but I think the question is assuming with the right equipment and training. As it is obvious without cave equipment or training venturing into caves is very dangerous. The dozen or more bodies that they were pulling out of the caves every year before OW divers were educated on the risks is proof of that.

And within that context while cave diving is objectively more dangerous, to some of us those dangers are one that we often have more control to help mitigate.

 

[arew+4]

I don't think OP is cave trained either, but I think the question is assuming with the right equipment and training. As it is obvious without cave equipment or training venturing into caves is very dangerous. The dozen or more bodies that they were pulling out of the caves every year before OW divers were educated on the risks is proof of that.

And within that context while cave diving is objectively more dangerous, to some of us those dangers are one that we often have more control to help mitigate.

No. You can train, and drill all you want, carry all the redundant equipment you can, but you cannot eliminate the risks, or, ever say cave diving is safer than open water. PERIOD!

You can say that the average cave dive is better trained and better equipped, and will likely respond better under duress. And that will certainly be true,
but cave diving cannot be called "safer" that would be diametrically opposed the entire philosophy of the training.

How many cave divers die on open water dives every year vs. how many die in caves?

 

[Wibble]

No. You can train, and drill all you want, carry all the redundant equipment you can, but you cannot eliminate the risks, or, ever say cave diving is safer than open water. PERIOD!

Being run over by a speedboat?

Bitten by a shark / other critter?

Being surrounded by people clacking their clackers to heard their divers?

Loosing buoyancy with no reserve (normal for OC) and sinking? (Can walk out of a cave, but you'd have a contingency anyway)

The risks are different. Cave divers mitigate those risks through training and steady progression. OW divers jump in and may (often?) have very little experience and training.

(This is a bit of a moot discussion though).

 

[arew+4]

Being run over by a speedboat?

Bitten by a shark / other critter?

Being surrounded by people clacking their clackers to heard their divers?

Loosing buoyancy with no reserve (normal for OC) and sinking? (Can walk out of a cave, but you'd have a contingency anyway)

The risks are different. Cave divers mitigate those risks through training and steady progression. OW divers jump in and may (often?) have very little experience and training.

(This is a bit of a moot discussion though).

Is a fully trained fireman, in full fire fighting gear, safer inside or outside the burning building?

 

[The Chairman]

any smart certified cave diver wouldn't take a non-cave diver along.

Amen, sister, amen. However, we have a few cavidiots around who don't have the sense God gave a goose.

 

[Manatee Diver]

No. You can train, and drill all you want, carry all the redundant equipment you can, but you cannot eliminate the risks, or, ever say cave diving is safer than open water. PERIOD!

I don't think I did say that, in fact:

And within that context while cave diving is objectively more dangerous...

The risks are different. Cave divers mitigate those risks through training and steady progression. OW divers jump in and may (often?) have very little experience and training.

Exactly the risks are different and often are ones that I have more control over to mitigate compared to open water. Where as open water the risk might be objectively lower they are ones I have less control over, like being left behind by the boat, run over by a boat, entanglements, stings, etc.

So personally I am more comfortable in caves.

 

[The Chairman]

or, ever say cave diving is safer than open water. PERIOD!

Easy killer. Cave diving isn't for everyone. Nothing wrong with only sticking with OW. We just have a different mindset and a honed situational awareness.

 

[greeniguana]

The last open water rec trip I went on, they let one (?!?!) asshat spearfish. The guy wasn't very good at spearfishing. He wounded and lost a grouper which caused a bullshark feeding frenzy. I had no idea what was going on until I surfaced. I was beating bullsharks away with my go-pro for 5-10 minutes trying to GTFO.

I'll stick to cave diving.