At the end of April I undertook a full cave course here in Thailand. I completed 7 out of the 8 dives (I had ear problems on the last dive and could not make it) which were logged on the course forms and undertook the final exam. These dives were well in excess of the total required dive time needed under the course pre-requistes.
The instructor told me at the time that I would have to join them on the next trip for a make up dive to complete the course.
When I recently enquired about doing the make up dive and offering to pay for doing such, I was told that I would have to do the entire course again! Is this correct?
The status of what I previously did on the 7 dives is as follows:-
The following land drills must be covered during this course:
1. How to properly deploy a guideline. Done
2. How to properly follow a guideline. Done
3. Use of safety reel in lost diver procedures. Done
4. Use of safety reel in lost line drill. Done
The student must perform the following S-drill and skills during all dives:
1. Demonstrate adequate pre-dive planning. Done
2. Equipment check and gear matching. Done
3. Bubble check. Done
4. Demonstrate specialized propulsion techniques in varying types of flow.
5. Demonstrate proper buoyancy control. Done
6. Demonstrate proper body posture. Done
7. Demonstrate proper stress analysis (detection and management). Done
The student must perform the following in-water skills during cave dives:
1. Properly deploy a guideline. Done
2. Properly use directional and non directional line markers. Done
3. Properly follow a guideline with eyes open and closed (simulating loss of visibility). Done
4. Air share with a buddy with eyes open , following the guideline. Done
5. Air share with a buddy with lights off and eyes closed and use touch contact, following the guideline. Done
6. Remove and replace mask while in contact with guideline. Done
7. Demonstrate light / hand -signals and touch contact. Done
8. Conservation and awareness techniques. Done
9. Referencing as back-up navigation. Done
10. Demonstrate adequate anti-silting techniques. Done
11. Simulate a primary light failure, and use back light to exit the cave. Done
12. Demonstrate lost line and lost diver drills. Done
13. Demonstrate to use of reels to perform jumps and gaps required in circuits and traverses to maintain a continuous guideline to open water. Done
In order to complete this course, students must:
1. Satisfactorily complete the TDI Cave Diver written examination. Done
2. Perform all land drills and cave dive requirements safely and efficiently. Done
3. Demonstrate mature, sound judgment concerning dive planning and execution. Done
4. Maintain an appropriate level of awareness and respect for the cavern environment. Done
5. Log all dives. Done
Can anybody give me any advise as it what to do in this situation?
The instructor told me at the time that I would have to join them on the next trip for a make up dive to complete the course.
When I recently enquired about doing the make up dive and offering to pay for doing such, I was told that I would have to do the entire course again! Is this correct?
The status of what I previously did on the 7 dives is as follows:-
The following land drills must be covered during this course:
1. How to properly deploy a guideline. Done
2. How to properly follow a guideline. Done
3. Use of safety reel in lost diver procedures. Done
4. Use of safety reel in lost line drill. Done
The student must perform the following S-drill and skills during all dives:
1. Demonstrate adequate pre-dive planning. Done
2. Equipment check and gear matching. Done
3. Bubble check. Done
4. Demonstrate specialized propulsion techniques in varying types of flow.
5. Demonstrate proper buoyancy control. Done
6. Demonstrate proper body posture. Done
7. Demonstrate proper stress analysis (detection and management). Done
The student must perform the following in-water skills during cave dives:
1. Properly deploy a guideline. Done
2. Properly use directional and non directional line markers. Done
3. Properly follow a guideline with eyes open and closed (simulating loss of visibility). Done
4. Air share with a buddy with eyes open , following the guideline. Done
5. Air share with a buddy with lights off and eyes closed and use touch contact, following the guideline. Done
6. Remove and replace mask while in contact with guideline. Done
7. Demonstrate light / hand -signals and touch contact. Done
8. Conservation and awareness techniques. Done
9. Referencing as back-up navigation. Done
10. Demonstrate adequate anti-silting techniques. Done
11. Simulate a primary light failure, and use back light to exit the cave. Done
12. Demonstrate lost line and lost diver drills. Done
13. Demonstrate to use of reels to perform jumps and gaps required in circuits and traverses to maintain a continuous guideline to open water. Done
In order to complete this course, students must:
1. Satisfactorily complete the TDI Cave Diver written examination. Done
2. Perform all land drills and cave dive requirements safely and efficiently. Done
3. Demonstrate mature, sound judgment concerning dive planning and execution. Done
4. Maintain an appropriate level of awareness and respect for the cavern environment. Done
5. Log all dives. Done
Can anybody give me any advise as it what to do in this situation?
