Sump Diving Help (Regiment)

[chuck50124]

Hi,

I'm new to this forum and could use some advice. I'm a caver wanting to make the transition to cave diver..........more precisely, sump diver. I *completely* understand what I am getting into (at least the dangers of it).

I could really use some advice on a training schedule. Better put, there's so many classes and so many opinions, I don't know where to go with this. I complete my open water class this weekend. I want to immediately take more classes to log dives and become a competent scuba diver. I don't know many scuba divers and basically want to get as much time in the water as possible.

How do I put this other than:

My instructors (scuba) are divers and not cavers so they don't understand why I want so badly to do this. They cave dive because there's water filled environment.

My dry caving friends think I'm nuts and going to die.

All cave divers I have spoken with have given me positive energy but none are experienced sump divers. I need someone who knows what they are doing to give me some advice. I am not doing this just for diving, but rather to increase my potential for virgin cave. Anyone who does this will be able to relate with me and my motives. Thank you in advance. -Chuck Perkins

 

[BigJetDriver]

Chuck,

The best place to go to get instructional help with your specialty, and even in the cave world it is a specialty, is to the NSS-CDS and to NACD.

They will know who on their membership list is a "pot-holer" as opposed to a "traditional" cave diver.

I know some of the pot-holers in the UK, but not here, otherwise I could give you some telephone numbers.

 

[chuck50124]

Rob, I am very familiar with NSS-CDS and NACD. I'm pretty sure I know a little of what I need to do, but I havent had the luck to run into a "sump diver" who is really experienced. I have gotten so many opinions on how to go about this but not from anyone who is actually a very experienced sump diver or sidemount specialist.

What I am really looking for advice on is what training should I seek prior to Cavern/Intro. I will only be certified open water as of this weekend. I immediately want to start taking more classes......Which classes are practical for what I am wanting to do.


I am a caver wanting to cave dive, not a diver wanting to cave dive. I'm just not sure what classes to start taking before cave classes. Thanks.



QUOTE=BigJetDriver69]Chuck,

The best place to go to get instructional help with your specialty, and even in the cave world it is a specialty, is to the NSS-CDS and to NACD.

They will know who on their membership list is a "pot-holer" as opposed to a "traditional" cave diver.

I know some of the pot-holers in the UK, but not here, otherwise I could give you some telephone numbers.[/QUOTE]

 

[Bobby]

I am a side mount diver and an instructor, though I don't do dry caves. I would suggest to get your advanced o/w out of the way right away. Take the wreck with it and at least you will be getting some of the basics on over head introduction. Get with someone that is cave certified (or even cavern) and work with them on the skills you will need to get through the course. Most important is bouyancy and reel work. Then take the cavern as soon as you think you can get through the class. Another class that would be good is rescue, even if it does not apply in the water much for sump diving it will give you a load of knowledge you can apply in many places. Bill Renneker who owns cave excursions is a side mount instructor as well as others in cave country. I would suggest getting with an instructor that teaches side mount so you can pick their brains through your classes. Best of luck and welcome to the club. Don't be suprised if you get hooked on the wet caves and want to do it not only for sump diving in the future.

Bobby

 

[chuck50124]

Thanks for the help guys. I'm sure since caves are my thing that I will be hooked on "wet caving" - For that matter, this scuba stuff is pretty neat too!

Have either one of you guys heard of Brian Kakuk? I hear he is Mr. Sidemount. I havent been able to get a hold of him yet. I also know Paul Heinerth is supposed to be good instructor. There is also an instructor here in Indiana, Steve Keene, who is supposed to be good. All of these guys are alive so I'm sure they know what they are doing. Larry Green (nacd) recommended me to Brian Kakuk. Some of my caving buddies who also dive have told me about S. Keene. I know of Paul H. from trip reports and a buddy of mine here in Indy.

So many instructors.....Who / how do you choose? Should you work with all of them in some form (mixed gases, etc)? Thanks. -CP

 

[MikeFerrara]

Thanks for the help guys. I'm sure since caves are my thing that I will be hooked on "wet caving" - For that matter, this scuba stuff is pretty neat too!

Have either one of you guys heard of Brian Kakuk? I hear he is Mr. Sidemount. I havent been able to get a hold of him yet. I also know Paul Heinerth is supposed to be good instructor. There is also an instructor here in Indiana, Steve Keene, who is supposed to be good. All of these guys are alive so I'm sure they know what they are doing. Larry Green (nacd) recommended me to Brian Kakuk. Some of my caving buddies who also dive have told me about S. Keene. I know of Paul H. from trip reports and a buddy of mine here in Indy.

So many instructors.....Who / how do you choose? Should you work with all of them in some form (mixed gases, etc)? Thanks. -CP

Steve Keene is the guy you want to talk to around here. I've seen him dive and survey sumps that a cave creyfish wouldn't want any part of.

 

[Bobby]

Thanks for the help guys. I'm sure since caves are my thing that I will be hooked on "wet caving" - For that matter, this scuba stuff is pretty neat too!

Have either one of you guys heard of Brian Kakuk? I hear he is Mr. Sidemount. I havent been able to get a hold of him yet. I also know Paul Heinerth is supposed to be good instructor. There is also an instructor here in Indiana, Steve Keene, who is supposed to be good. All of these guys are alive so I'm sure they know what they are doing. Larry Green (nacd) recommended me to Brian Kakuk. Some of my caving buddies who also dive have told me about S. Keene. I know of Paul H. from trip reports and a buddy of mine here in Indy.

So many instructors.....Who / how do you choose? Should you work with all of them in some form (mixed gases, etc)? Thanks. -CP

All three are top notch divers and the best in thier class though I only know Steve through reputation.

Bobby

 

[crawford]

Steve Keene is the guy you want to talk to around here. I've seen him dive and survey sumps that a cave creyfish wouldn't want any part of.

Yup. Was just going to say that myself. He's in Indiana, great guy, and can hook you up with some other sump divers. I'd call Steve immediately and let him know what you want to do. He'll tell you what to do next, and help you avoid wasting time and money on foolish classes where you basically buy a piece of plastic with your name and picture on it.

You guys have fun with that sump stuff, somebody's gotta do it.

Ciao.