Basic Cave 18 mo or loose it?

[Veronica]

Here's my question..I have my basic cave restricted to 1/6 doubles...so if I'm okay with staying on the goldline and only having my basic.. why do I have to get my full within 18 mo or I loose my basic..and then what.. go back to cavern?
I am going to continue to get my full cave but, thought it was not fare to make someone loose there basic or have to continue forward.. by the way.I love to dive cave and wrecks..always staying as safe as possible and fully aware of what's going on.
Thanx,
Tadpole

[Trixxie]

I don't know the exact reason (even though I asked my cave inst the same thing and was given an answer - it's the CRS syndrome kicking in) but it's a safety factor reason

I think they want the diver to be full cave or just cavern....not in limbo in between

[TSandM]

It doesn't make a lot of sense, really, but maybe it's one way to make sure you are actively cave diving? Having the cert expire ensures, I think, that you don't take the class and then come back five years later to do some diving. GUE does the same thing with ALL their cave certs -- they all expire, and you have to submit proof of 25 dives at the level to renew them. Seems like a pretty good idea for cave diving to me.

[SparticleBrane]

Just FYI they also do it for the GUE-F cert as well. ;)

[ucfdiver]

Here's my question..I have my basic cave restricted to 1/6 doubles...so if I'm okay with staying on the goldline and only having my basic.. why do I have to get my full within 18 mo or I loose my basic..and then what.. go back to cavern?
I am going to continue to get my full cave but, thought it was not fare to make someone loose there basic or have to continue forward.. by the way.I love to dive cave and wrecks..always staying as safe as possible and fully aware of what's going on.
Thanx,
Tadpole
Your instructor can reissue your card, or cut you an intro card that's good for a lifetime if they choose to, from my understanding. My instructor made me aware of this before I gave him $$$ for the class (that it expires).

I don't think I've ever seen an "official" statement on why the card expires, but intro divers in doubles don't have a great track record, where as historically, intro divers in a single, do.....plus, let's face it, we both know after a few dives, you start wanting to do the grand traverse, see the bone room, head down the hill 400, and the list goes on.....at least I know I'm starting to wonder "what's over there", and will take my apprentice well before the 18 months are up :)

[packman]

It's my understanding that, after 18 months, the basic cave reverts to intro. So you still maintain your cave certification, but you become limited to single cylinders instead of doubles. I don't believe there is an expiration beyond that, however...you can continue at the intro level forever, if you want.

Apprentice has an expiration, too, FTR.