Cavern Training

[decoeric]

All,

I am looking to do a little cavern training this fall or winter. I live in Minnesota so I will be traveling for my training. I thought cavern would be a good place to start to see if I like the whole cave diving thing. Can you recommend a good place to train, I was thinking Ginnie Springs in Florida. Any other recommendations?

Thanks.

eric

 

[chickdiver]

Training location varies with conditions and instructor preference. There are a number of locations int he Ginnie Springs area where training can be done. I would advise that you find an instructor, rather than a location. A good place to start is:

http://www. safecavediving.com

This is the NACD website.

Good luck and have fun.

 

[kaz1960]

Depends on how far you want to travel. Personally I love the caverns/caves in Mexico. I did my cavern training there and continue to go back each year to advance through the cave ranks.

Kaz

 

[diverindeep]

CD

The NACD website is a good one...I have much interest in cave diving as well and I think your advice to find a good instructor is sound. I will certainly do that when the time comes.

I think no courses for me next summer. I'm just going to dive. I did basic in 2002, rescue in 2003 and advanced in 2004. Maybe I'll take a wreck diving/penetration course and then mixed and DM next but just going to take a year and continue to wreck dive. Caves are definately going to get worked in here somewhere though.

 

[divegeek]

I just finished my Cavern course. I took it with Larry Green and we dived at Ginnie Springs ( http://www.tecdivers.com/) I highly recommend him.

Heather Choat (Chickdiver) also comes highly recommended. http://www.chickdiver.com/

 

[diverindeep]

Congrats on completing the cavern course! Man I'm envious. Ah well, it will come I guess. Wrecks on the St. Lawrence are the thing for me right now.

 

[decoeric]

I just finished my Cavern course. I took it with Larry Green and we dived at Ginnie Springs ( http://www.tecdivers.com/) I highly recommend him.

Heather Choat (Chickdiver) also comes highly recommended. http://www.chickdiver.com/

Is the course good? I am very unsure about cave diving, I am Ice certified and don't have a problem with the overhead environment issue, I am looking for something new and also a bit more discipline for deeper deco diving. I figure cavern or cave diving would help in that area as well. What do you think?

 

[The Chairman]

I am taking my cavern course from GDI (aka Rick Murcur) who is an ice diver of old. Very, very thourough, and he has that dry Canuckian humor. I have had several instructors, and Rick has been the most thorough and patient. You can see his site at www.GenesisDiving.com

 

[j-valve]

I'll second the recomendation for Rick. Top notch for sure

Jody

 

[divegeek]

Is the course good? I am very unsure about cave diving, I am Ice certified and don't have a problem with the overhead environment issue, I am looking for something new and also a bit more discipline for deeper deco diving. I figure cavern or cave diving would help in that area as well. What do you think?

I really liked the course. If you have any clostrophobia, you won't like it, but if you've done ice...no prob. We focused on: reel work, fin techniques, boyancy control, comunication (by light and touch) and gas management.

The coolest drill was the combination air share/lights out. What a great feeling to find and get on the line in the dark.

I was most stressed when I had to be the lead diver and run the line. Talk about your ?task loading?...running the line, managing the reel, holding the light, maintaining boyancy AND watching my gas. I will need a lot of practice before going to cave