Originally posted by maddiver
When are you actually a cave diver?
3. when you are committeed to doing 50+ (insert # here if you wish) cave dives a year, letting no more than 2 months elapse between immersions.
I think # 3 or some variant is a 'cave diver' the rest are 'I dive in caves' variety....if you got a card 10 years ago and haven't been cavediving since, I think it is blasphamous to call yourself a 'CAVE DIVER' as was told to me at a LDS.
Opinions? Comments? Flames?
I think that I would love to qualify as your #3, but unfortunately I can't. I live in Texas and there aren't any cave systems close to me, and the ones that I do know about are restricted in some way. Unfortunately, it just isnt feasible for me to drive to Florida every few months to dive in caves (tho I am planning on going next month) and it just isnt possible for me to fly to Mexico a couple of times a year to dive them either.
I became certified recently, because for one, caves fascinated me and two, I felt the skills I learned during a Full Cave Cert would serve me well in my recreational diving as well. And even tho I don't have the luxury of being able to dive a cave every few months, I do spend time at a local lake practicing anti-silting techniques, working on my kicks, my bouyancy control, doing line drills with mask removed, etc. That way, when I DO get the opportunity to dive a cave at least the skills wont be rusty and they will still be familiar to me.
On the flip side of this, I think some of those that do more than 50+ a year might have actually forgotten what cave diving is about. By doing so much diving there are some that may perhaps tend to push a little harder, go a littler further, try to see around the next corner. Those divers *may* end up being more of a danger than one who does less dive, simply because the become complacent because "I have done this dive 100 times."
Cave diving is more than a certification or a skill level. Being a cave diver is more than just having a log book full of recorded cave dives. It is also an attitude. And to be a cave diver you have to have that attitude. The attitude that means you pay attention to your gear. You know your dive plan. You work on your skills, even when you aren't in caves. A mental prepardedness to handle out of ordinary situations and a commitment to dive the way you know you should.
So, by your rule #3, no I am not a "Cave Diver." But from my viewpoint I am. I think the real consideration here, is not whether some one has 50 or 100, or 1000 logged dives, but rather do they go in with the proper trainining and the right attitude? Do they know their personal limits and dive within them? Do they pratice and hone their skills, whether it be breathing technique, bouyancy and silt control, our practice for emergencies?
IMHO, the person that can answer YES! to all of these questions is indeed a cave diver, regardless of the number of logs they have.
Dive often, but dive safe
John