How many cave divers are here?

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

Just for the sake of curiosity how many certified cave divers are here?

What year certified as a cave diver, how long certified as an O/W diver before you completed cave training, by what agency, how many cave dives logged, how many different caves have you been in, and what configuration you primarily dive caves in?

Are you stage cave certified, DPV cave certified, sidemount certified?

 

[Kevin Carlisle]

Finished Full cave in 09, did 218 dives from cavern to present with 41 being Full cave dives. I was OW for over a year before I took cavern and had around 100 dives at the time. Certified both TDI and NACD and so far been in 10 systems. I primarily dive sidemount, easier on my back but will use the right tool for the job. I have done stage dives but I have limited myself to NO DPV dives until I have 100 dives at Full Cave.

 

[Cave Diver]

Just for the sake of curiosity how many certified cave divers are here?

What year certified as a cave diver, how long certified as an O/W diver before you completed cave training, by what agency, how many cave dives logged, how many different caves have you been in, and what configuration you primarily dive caves in?

Are you stage cave certified, DPV cave certified, sidemount certified?

Certified full cave in 2001 through NACD, a year and a half and a couple hundred dives after taking OW.

Became more focused on making long, quality dives than just doing a bunch of short ones to up counts so I quit logging dives a long time ago unless they're training dives. Been in most of the popular N. Florida caves. Marianna is our normal spot due to closer distance.

Diving config on OC is LP 108 doubles, DR regs, Halcyon wing, Jets and DUI TLS 350.
CCR config is Meg with radial scrubber and steel 19 tanks. Bailout config depends on dive.

Edit-No DPV certs, or stage, but I was trained on the internet to carry extra bottles when required.

 

[LiteHedded]

started my cave training in 06. i've been in about 20 or so systems so far I think. probably less. I tend to over estimate. ...all in Florida so far.

hogarthian backmount configuration

 

[ucfdiver]

OW Cert 12/13/1999 (12th birthday!)
Basic Cave Aug 2007
Full Cave Cert 2/7/2009

Waited about 50 dives between Basic/Apprentice, then took Apprentice and dove a bit more than that because I had access to mentors and was doing the dives I wanted to do, but the Wakulla/Abe Davis award restricted sites, specifically Hart, convinced me to finish up full cave. Since full cave I have 53 full cave dives, but racked up quite a few stage dives before then.

I have not taken a stage diving course because I haven't heard a compelling reason to. I would love to hear from an instructor what one would gain from taking the course.

DPV class is in the list of things to do. Currently diving as often as I can with a mentor to get my basics covered, then I plan to take the course. I didn't wait 100 dives to get a DPV because I don't think it's necessarily a tool to get further, nor do I see it adding any additional danger to the dive unless abused. The other night we scootered to the white room, less than 1000ft.

At this point, any class I take is because I want to, and feel I'll get something from it. I don't feel rushed to take the specialty courses. I'll take them at my own pace when I feel that I need to or I'm ready for them. I feel that I have a group of mentor/friends who I can go to for advice if there's something I'm unsure about, including my instructor.

I have only managed to dive 12 cave systems so far.

 

[wb416]

Just for the sake of curiosity how many certified cave divers are here?

What year certified as a cave diver, how long certified as an O/W diver before you completed cave training, by what agency, how many cave dives logged, how many different caves have you been in, and what configuration you primarily dive caves in?

Are you stage cave certified, DPV cave certified, sidemount certified?

Full Cave Certified in 2003 TDI/IANTD; 4 years as a open water diver prior; 163 logged cave dives. Back mount 104/130's.

Don't have the number of different caves in front of me, but the usually suspects around Luraville(Peacock/Cow/LittleRiver) and Mill Pond; Madison, Manatee, Devils, Akumal area. No caves past 100-110ft deep. Tend to like JB, Madison, and Hole.

 

[UCFKnightDiver]

I'm only Intro to Cave thus far but figured I would post anyway;

OW 2006
Cavern 2008
Intro March 2009

I have around 70 intro dives or so, have been in 15 or so systems all in FL so far, quite a few I still want to visit but just havent had time. I dive backmounted 108's.

 

[rjack321]

Just for the sake of curiosity how many certified cave divers are here?

What year certified as a cave diver, how long certified as an O/W diver before you completed cave training, by what agency, how many cave dives logged, how many different caves have you been in, and what configuration you primarily dive caves in?

Are you stage cave certified, DPV cave certified, sidemount certified?

GUE Cave1 in 2006
OW for ~13yrs before I started cave diving
GUE Cave2 in 2008 after about 50-60 cave1 level dives (includes bottom stages)
I've probably been in 40 different caves, ~35 in MX and 4 in FL
Backmount only but considering a sidemount course for the exposure to it.
DPV certified but it wasn't specific to caves

I currently have a little under 100 cave dives I think. I lost my logbook when we moved in November. My cave dives have been getting longer and more involved but less frequent as well. I have a few dives in a flooded mine here (4) and we are going to another mine to try and dive that in the early summer. As well as starting to dive the very cold, very silty, very remote sumps up on Vancouver Island. So I should have maybe 2 dozen cave or flooded mine dives in 2010.

 

[cmalinowski]

OW in '03
GUE Cave1 in 2008 after 300+ OW dives
GUE Cave2 in 2009 after 50-60 cave1 dives (FL & MX)
Haven't had opportunity to do many C2 dives since certification. Heading down to High Springs or Marianna in mid-March to fix that.

Chris

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

OW certified in 2001, did about 2400 OW dives before seeking cave training

Initial cave certification (Apprentice) in August 2009, NSS-CDS

15 post-certification cave dives ... in November 2009

Caves I've been in ...
- Ginnie
- Peacock (P1, P3, OG)
- Little River
- Madison Blue
- Hole in the Wall

Dive back-mount ... 104/130's

No stages, scoots, or sidemounts (for a while)

... Bob (Grateful Diver)