Getting Started with Cave Diving

Zynyx:

I have some generalized questions that have probably been asked here a million times before, but I didn't see them in the first few posts I've checked, so I'll try asking myself.

I'd like to try experiencing cave diving. I'll be coming to America for a week or two in July and while I'm there I'm considering taking some time to work on getting certified to cave dive. I'm not sure what I should be looking for in a cave diving program. I saw the post regarding what to look for in an instructor, which honestly seemed like good advice for any diving instructor and not just cave diving, but I'm not even sure what the minimum requirements to get involved in cave diving are.

About Myself:

I have been diving for about 18 months and in that time I've done 40 dives and will probably be closer to 50 by the time I come to the States this summer. I'm an Advanced Open Water Diver who is planning to take his Rescue Diving Course this Spring and I'd say about half of my dives have been training dives. I've gotten certified to use Nitrox and I also have PADI deep water speciality. I've done adventure dives to shipwrecks in Thailand and I've also been on one night dive. I own my own basic gear, but that consists of a Reg, dive computer, fins, wet suit, gloves, BCD, mask and snorkel (I can post specifics if necessary). About half my diving has been done in Thailand and the other half in Japan.

I'll continue reading through here after I type this post, but in the meanwhile I have a series of questions I'd like to ask because as of right now I know very little about cave diving.

1. How long does a cave diving certification generally take?

2. What does it generally cost?

3. Is there any more specialized equipment I should be buying for cave diving that I shouldn't just rent? (Probably a flashlight, is a hood necessary for anything other than warmth? Might not be an issue in Florida during July).

4. **Big one** I've heard talk of sidemounting and multiple tanks being necessary for cave diving as well as multiple mixtures. While I'm sure this information is covered in the course, is it possible to dive some caves on just air?

5. Can anyone recommend some good shops to get cave diving certification in Florida? (I'll be staying in the Orlando area, which I've read is no where near the good sites; however, I'd consider moving for part of my trip to do this if it is feasible.

6. Anything else that an aspiring cave diver should know?

Thanks!

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Zynyx:

I have some generalized questions that have probably been asked here a million times before, but I didn't see them in the first few posts I've checked, so I'll try asking myself.

I'd like to try experiencing cave diving. I'll be coming to America for a week or two in July and while I'm there I'm considering taking some time to work on getting certified to cave dive. I'm not sure what I should be looking for in a cave diving program. I saw the post regarding what to look for in an instructor, which honestly seemed like good advice for any diving instructor and not just cave diving, but I'm not even sure what the minimum requirements to get involved in cave diving are.

About Myself:

I have been diving for about 18 months and in that time I've done 40 dives and will probably be closer to 50 by the time I come to the States this summer. I'm an Advanced Open Water Diver who is planning to take his Rescue Diving Course this Spring and I'd say about half of my dives have been training dives. I've gotten certified to use Nitrox and I also have PADI deep water speciality. I've done adventure dives to shipwrecks in Thailand and I've also been on one night dive. I own my own basic gear, but that consists of a Reg, dive computer, fins, wet suit, gloves, BCD, mask and snorkel (I can post specifics if necessary). About half my diving has been done in Thailand and the other half in Japan.

I'll continue reading through here after I type this post, but in the meanwhile I have a series of questions I'd like to ask because as of right now I know very little about cave diving.

1. How long does a cave diving certification generally take?[/quote[

8 days minimum. This is not including the decompression training that you should take either before or halfway through the training. With only 50 dives experience I wouldn't even consider going through the entire course of training. It would be highly unlikely that you would be successful. With only 50 dives, I recommend taking a cavern class and growing your experience. You will need at least 50 dives in backmount or sidemount before you should even consider going beyond the cavern zone.

2. What does it generally cost?

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Thousands of dollars once you add in the cost of the specialized gear, the training, the travel, the gas fills, the experience dives in between courses.......

3. Is there any more specialized equipment I should be buying for cave diving that I shouldn't just rent? (Probably a flashlight, is a hood necessary for anything other than warmth? Might not be an issue in Florida during July).

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Yes. This page contains a list of basic gear - Cave Diving Courses « Rob Neto

A light can be rented and probably should be before you spend money on one. Cave diving lights start at about $400 for the cheap ones and can cost as much as $2000. Hood is only necessary for warmth, but you will be spending a lot of time in the water and the spring water here ranges from 20-22C.

4. **Big one** I've heard talk of sidemounting and multiple tanks being necessary for cave diving as well as multiple mixtures. While I'm sure this information is covered in the course, is it possible to dive some caves on just air?

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It is but your bottom time will be limited by this. Most of the caves in Florida are in the 20-30 meter depth range. You should dive nitrox. You're certified to dive it so why not use it? Nitrox is sold by the cubic foot here in North Florida, not by the fill.

5. Can anyone recommend some good shops to get cave diving certification in Florida? (I'll be staying in the Orlando area, which I've read is no where near the good sites; however, I'd consider moving for part of my trip to do this if it is feasible.

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Check out National Association For Cave Diving and National Speleological Society Cave Diving Section for instructors.

6. Anything else that an aspiring cave diver should know?

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Cave diving is expensive. Don't go into this thinking you're going to get by cheaply. Do it the right way. Dive nitrox. Don't go with the cheapest course. Get the proper equipment. If not done correctly cave diving can be dangerous.

Thanks!

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USFpsychDiver:

Ditto on just taking cavern. You can do that in your open water gear, cave you can't. Cavern is kind of the 'discover scuba' of the cave diving training sequence; gives you a taste and so you can decide if you really want to invest the time and money into the gear and training needed for cave training. That said, there are reputable instructors who will do the 'zero-to-hero' week-long sequence taking you from open water diver to full cave certification, although I suspect most would be reluctant to take someone on with 50 or fewer total dives.. Tanks aside (you'd rent those anyway, flying in from overseas), there's still big equipment bucks on top of the training costs.

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USFpsychDiver:

That said, there are reputable instructors who will do the 'zero-to-hero' week-long sequence taking you from open water diver to full cave certification, although I suspect most would be reluctant to take someone on with 50 or fewer total dives..

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boulderjohn:

In the only case I know that was roughly like that, the student was an experienced technical diver with hundreds of dives dressed in that configuration and using the skills that take typical beginning cave divers so long to master.

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