Central Florida Divers, Inc.
Personalized SCUBA Training - Guided Diving Services
Cavern | Basic Cave Diver | Apprentice Cave Diver | Cave Diver | DPV
Stage (cave) Diver
In terms of this course, problem solving includes, but is not limited to, body positioning (trim), buoyancy control, emergency procedures, line following and propulsion techniques. Special emphasis on the unique cavern environment includes conservation, silting, entanglement, disorientation and equipment modifications. The dangers of unsafe practices and more advanced cave diving are discussed.
Cavern Diver usually takes two days to complete. Individuals that are Open Water certified are welcome to enroll in this program. However Advanced Open Water, and EANx Diver certifications are strongly recommended.
This course is available through the following training agencies: NACD, NSS-CDS, IANTD, and TDI.
Required Text
(Agency dependent, NACD or NSS-CDS)
Required Equipment
A. Mask and fins (straps taped, if required), but no snorkel.
B. A cylinder with at least 70 cu.ft./1980 L volume of gas at the beginning of each dive.
C. First and second stage regulators with additional second stage on a long intermediate-pressure hose (7 foot/2.1 m long hose is recommended), submersible pressure gauge and power inflator for buoyancy compensator.
D. Two battery-powered diving lights.
E. Dive computer or timing device, depth gauge, slate, pencil and submersible dive tables.
F. Knife configured so as to minimize entanglement. A small knife or a “Z” knife type line cutter is preferred.
G. Proper exposure suit.
H. One (1) primary line reel (minimum 350 feet/110 m) per team. At the Cavern level only, the instructor may supply each team with primary reels for use during the course.
Basic/Introductory Cave Diver
The primary focuses of the Intoductory cave Diver Program course develops the minimum skills and knowledge required for limited penetration cave diving. The second of four courses; techniques introduced in the cavern diver program are refined.
For those already cavern certified, this course requires a minmum of two days to complete. When combined with the cavern program, a minimum of three days are required, although it is strongly recommended that four days be allocated for the combined course.
A minimum of four (4) limited-penetration cave dives will be conducted in at least two (2) different cave locations with one (1) of those locations different from those utilized in the student’s cavern course. Minimum total bottom time in the overhead required to complete this level of training is 100 minutes.
Required Text
(Agency dependent, NACD or NSS-CDS)
Required Equipment
A. Mask and fins (straps taped if required), but no snorkel.
B. REQUIRED FOR BASIC CAVE DIVER: Twin-diving cylinders with a minimum starting volume of at least 140 cu.ft./3960 L. Dive cylinder configurations may consist of any back-mounted twin cylinder configuration agreed to by the instructor and student(s).
REQUIRED FOR INTRODUCTORY CAVE DIVER: A cylinder with at least 70 cu.ft./1980 L volume of gas at the beginning of each dive. Cylinder must have the ability to facilitate two first stage regulators (i.e. an ‘H’-valve)
C. Exposure suit suitable for time and duration of training dives.
D. Two first-stage regulators, each with a single second-stage regulator. One first and second stage regulator shall be equipped with a 7 ft/2.1m long intermediate-pressure hose. Hoses for the submersible pressure gauge, power inflator for buoyancy compensator or other necessary devices can be configured at the student and instructor’s discretion.
E. Buoyancy compensator, “back-mounted/inflation” type.
F. Primary light with appropriate intensity and burn time for the dives planned. The instructor reserves the right to establish minimum intensity and burn time for dives conducted under that instructor’s control.
G. Two battery-powered backup diving lights.
H. One (1) primary cave-diving line reel with minimum 350 feet/110 m of guideline per team.
I. Safety reel with at least 100 feet/30 m of guideline. Two are recommended. (Instructor may dictate line volume in excess of 100 feet/30 m if local conditions dictate).
Apprentice Cave Diver
Third in a series of four cave diver training courses. Emphasis is upon dive planning and skill refinement through actual cave dives. Techniques learned during the earlier Basic Cave Diver and Cavern Diver courses are critiqued and expanded, as is information and skills illustrating the basic fundamental principles of cave diving.
The Apprentice Cave Diver course level represents the first half of the training required to complete the Cave Diver level and, like all levels of cave training, is not intended to prepare divers for all facets of cave diving. It is intended to expose students to basic fundamental principles of cave diving including, but certainly not limited to:
Students are requiredto move on to the next level of training before attempting to plan and execute complex cave dives; complex navigation (i.e. circuits or traverses) are discussed but NOT performed as a part of this level of training.
All individuals entering this program must be Introductory Cave Diver, or Basic Cave Diver certified, or enrolled in consecutively planned classes.
This course takes a minimum of two days to complete. A total of four dives are required with a minimum of 250 minutes of bottom time in the overhead environment. Three different training dive locations are required, with at least one location being new to the student(s).
A written exam score of 80% or better is required for successful completion of this course.
This course is limited to two students for purposes of both classroom and in-water training.
This course is available through the following training agencies: NACD, NSS-CDS, IANTD, and TDI.
Required Text Required Equipment
(Agency dependent, NACD or NSS-CDS)
Each diver shall be equipped with the following:
A. Mask and fins (straps taped if required), but no snorkel.
B. Twin-diving cylinders with a minimum starting volume of at least 140 cu.ft./3960 L. Dive cylinder configurations may consist of any back-mounted twin cylinder configuration agreed to by the instructor and student(s).
C. Exposure suit suitable for time and duration at location of training.
D. Two first-stage regulators, each with a single second-stage regulator. One first and second stage regulator shall be equipped with a 7 ft/2.1m long intermediate-pressure hose. Hoses for the submersible pressure gauge, power inflator for buoyancy compensator or other necessary devices can be configured at the student and instructor’s discretion.
E. Buoyancy compensator, “back-mounted/inflation” type.
F. Primary light with appropriate intensity and burn time for the dives planned. (1.5 times the duration of any planned dive)
G. Two battery-powered backup diving lights.
H. One (1) primary cave-diving line reel with minimum 350 feet/110 m of guideline per team.
I. Jump/gap reel with minimum of 50 feet/16 m guideline (100 feet/30 m is recommended).
J. Safety reel with at least 100 feet/30 m of guideline. Two are recommended. (Instructor may dictate line volume in excess of 100 feet/30 m if local conditions dictate).
K. Dive computer or timing device, depth gauge, slate, pencil and submersible dive tables. A backup computer, or bottom timer with tables, is also required.
L. Knife configured so as to minimize entanglement. A small knife or a “Z” knife type line cutter is preferred.
M. At least three (3) line markers (non-directional markers or plastic line arrows).
N. It is required that each team will provide an in-water decompression cylinder properly identified on all dives in which decompression may be a factor. The cylinder will incorporate all necessary support gear including, but not limited to, regulators(s) and submersible-pressure gauge. The cylinder will contain adequate gas for at least 1.5 times the expected decompression needs of the dive team and should be placed in a safe and suitable location. If individual cylinders are carried by team members than each cylinder will contain at least 1.5 times the expected decompression needs of the individual team member.
Cave Diver
This is the final level in a series of cave diver development training courses. Exposure to more sophisticated cave diving scenarios is the foundation of this training. Complex cave dive planning and execution is emphasized. Techniques learned during the previous training levels are refined in more challenging cave diving environments.
Included are techniques and protocols to maintain continuous line and navigational certainty to the exit in more complex cave-diving scenarios than those faced in earlier training, multiple line jumping and gapping and their potential and/or actual application to circuits and traverses (when appropriate). Emphasis on proper gas planning is applied to these specialized navigational techniques.
All individuals entering this program must be Apprentice Cave Diver, or enrolled in consecutively planned classes.
EANx certification is required for enrollment in this course, or must be taken concurrently.
This course takes a minimum of two days to complete. A total of four dives are required with a minimum of 250 minutes of bottom time in the overhead environment. Three different training dive locations are required, with at least one location being new to the student(s).
A written exam score of 80% or better is required for successful completion of this course.
This course is limited to two students for purposes of both classroom and in-water training.
Required Text
(Agency dependent, NACD or NSS-CDS)
Required Equipment
A. Mask and fins (straps taped if required), but no snorkel.
B. Twin-diving cylinders with a minimum starting volume of at least 140 cu.ft./3960 L. Dive cylinder configurations may consist of any back-mounted twin cylinder configuration agreed to by the instructor and student(s).
C. Exposure suit suitable for time and duration at location of training.
D. Two first-stage regulators, each with a single second-stage regulator. One first and second stage regulator shall be equipped with a 7 ft/2.1m long intermediate-pressure hose. Hoses for the submersible pressure gauge, power inflator for buoyancy compensator or other necessary devices can be configured at the student and instructor’s discretion.
E. Buoyancy compensator, “back-mounted/inflation” type.
F. Primary light with appropriate intensity and burn time for the dives planned. The instructor reserves the right to establish minimum intensity and burn time for dives conducted under that instructor’s control.
G. Two battery-powered backup diving lights.
H. One (1) primary cave-diving line reel with minimum 350 feet/110 m of guideline per team.
I. (3) Jump/gap reels with minimum of 50 feet/16 m guideline (100 feet/30 m is recommended).
J. Safety reel with at least 100 feet/30 m of guideline. Two are recommended. (Instructor may dictate line volume in excess of
100 feet/30 m if local conditions dictate).
K. Dive computer or timing device, depth gauge, slate, pencil and submersible dive tables. A backup computer, or bottom timer with tables, is also required.
L. Knife configured so as to minimize entanglement. A small knife or a “Z” knife type line cutter is preferred.
M. At least three (3) line markers (non-directional markers or plastic line arrows).
N. It is required that each team will provide an in-water decompression cylinder properly identified on all dives in which decompression may be a factor. The cylinder will incorporate all necessary support gear including, but not limited to, regulators(s) and submersible-pressure gauge. The cylinder will contain adequate gas for at least 1.5 times the expected decompression needs of the dive team and should be placed in a safe and suitable location. If individual cylinders are carried by team members than each cylinder will contain at least 1.5 times the expected decompression needs of the individual team member.
The purpose of the DPV (Diver Propulsion Vehicle) specialty course is to expose the seasoned cave diver to the fundamentals of safe operation of diver propulsion vehicles in underwater caves. Focus is given to building practical experience in the field under controlled conditions.
Required Text
(Agency dependent, NACD or NSS-CDS)
The DPV specialty requires a minimum of two days. A written exam score of 80% or better is required for successful completion of this course.
This course is limited to two students for purposes of both classroom and in-water training.
Three cave dives in two different cave systems must be performed to complete the class.
Individuals interested in DPV (Cave) MUST be:
1. Be at least 18 years of age.
2. Hold a Full Cave certification.
3. Possess 50 LOGGED cave dives, following training.
Focuses of the class include:
Equipment Requirements
All required equipment used during the Full Cave Diver Course, and:
A. Suitably outfitted diver propulsion vehicle.
- ‘Tow-behind’ designs ONLY (i.e. Silent Submersion, X-Scooter, etc.
- Battery ‘burntime’ equal to approximately 130% of ANY planned dive time.
B. Tow strap or harness
Central Florida Divers, Inc.
PO Box 954
High Springs, FL 32655
(352) 250-7740
divetraining@yahoo.com
