Cavern diver
Why Dive in There?
A hundred different divers will give more than 150 different reasons to take up cavern diving. Diving in some of the most awe-inspiring spots in the world; refining skills like buoyancy and trim to a fine art, earning a certification for a highly respected specialty, or using it as a stepping stone towards the extraordinary challenge of becoming a fully certified cave diver are all on the list.
However, all agree that cavern diver is a special waypoint on their journey. One that pushed them to becoming a better, more comfortable, and more accomplished diver.
But of course, you’ll have your own reasons… All we can guarantee is that earning a Cavern Diver certification with RAID will grow your comfort zone and be more fun on scuba than anything you’ve tried before.
What To Expect?
A unique experience in an environment that relatively few divers have visited. This course is intended primarily to open the excitement and beauty of overhead diving to non-technical divers. Cavern Divers stay close to the entrance of the cave and can get back to open water in a “straight line” and can always see natural light, so that in the case of an emergency, swim towards the light and safety.
A typical Cavern Diver program will consist of an academic review, an equipment configuration workshop and dryland drills (which is a chance to practice skills such as using a cavern reel and spools, etc. on dryland), and skills development dives in a pool or confined water conditions before entering the Cavern Zone—an area in the overhead where the primary light source is daylight. All dives will be conducted in conditions where the starting visibility is a minimum of 10 meters / 30 feet, and primary lights must have a manufacturer’s recommended burn time that is a minimum of one hour more than the duration of planned dives.
As an entry level overhead course, RAID‘s Cavern Diver allows penetration into a cavern up to 60 meters / 200 feet from the surface, and all activities must stay within the light zone.
A typical cavern course will have a minimum of at least three hours of kit configuration, dive briefings, and land drills to show an understanding of the skills that will be demonstrated in the water. And then enough time in confined water to show mastery of those skills.
This is followed by a minimum of four dives in the overhead environment, totalling at least four hours in the cavern zone.
As is the case with ALL RAID programs, students will be asked to evaluate their program and comfort performing the individual skills prior to the earned certs being issued. This step helps RAID maintain the high-quality of its instruction and helps to make sure students leave the class happy with their progress.
* NOTE: Because of the fragile nature of the cavern environment, no student may be allowed to enter the overhead until he/she has demonstrated control of buoyancy (hover within plus or minus 50 centimetres / 20 inches) and mastery of non-silt propulsion techniques and backwards kick. These limitations should present no problems for graduates from RAID OW20 programs, but not all agencies focus on these skills for entry-level divers, and graduates from less comprehensive training programs may benefit
Cave 1 Diver
Cave diving represents the pinnacle of advanced or technical diving. The skills and techniques required to safely plan and execute cave dives have been applied successfully to wreck, deep open water, reef, and research diving. Before technical diving was an option from any agency or equipment manufacturer, cave divers where off in a corner somewhere doing their thing in almost exactly the same way as now.
But things have changed of course. Technology has given us better equipment (no longer have to use a bleach jug on a rope as a buoyancy device or a Department of Florida road sign as a backplate. Another major improvement is that you have options for choosing when agency you earn your accreditation with.
At RAID we believe our Cave programs are second to none. They have been developed by a team of experienced, professional cave divers with the main focus on safety, a nod to the history of cave diving, but a strong understanding of how modern equipment and an up-to-date knowledge of what makes for effective learning.
Most of all, RAID’s Cave Program was developed by men and women who enjoy cave diving, and want you to appreciate the unique environment as much as they do.
Cave 2 Diver
As a graduate from RAID’s Cave1 program, you have already experienced the “RAID difference.” If you’re coming into this program from another training stream, get ready to be challenged.
This program has been developed by professional cave instructors who are also avid cave divers who love diving in cave. And while this program pays homage and gives respect to traditional cave training techniques and limits, it adds additional skills that RAID’s development team believes are required to execute “Full cave dives” safely, comfortably, and enjoyably.
For example, you will build on the entanglement/line repair, and buddy rescue you learned in you RAID Cave1 program. You’ll also learn how to protect yourself by diving with a stage bottle. While some believe the use of a stage bottle equals further penetration, at RAID we feel a stage also gives divers time to learn more about the cave environment and its character.
Most of all, your RAID Cave2 program is intended to build a greater understanding and appreciation of the fragile cave environment. By enrolling in this RAID Cave2 program, you are making a commitment to become an ambassador for the Karst. And for that, we thank you.
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