Overhead

Cavern Diver

Are you a serious adventure seeker wishing to explore overhead environments? Sign up for the Cavern Diver course! This course is designed to develop the minimum skills and knowledge for cavern and overhead environment diving within the limits of light penetration, and outline specific hazards associated with cave diving. The cavern diver course in not intended to provide instruction for cave diving environments. The objective of this course is to train divers in the proper planning, procedures, techniques and hazards of cavern diving.

What’s in it for you?

Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may engage in cavern diving activities without direct supervision so long as the following limits are adhered to:

• The diving activities approximate those of training
• Planned dives do not exceed diver’s current certification level
• Penetration is limited to the “rule of thirds,” OR 1/6th if using doubles to a maximum depth of 40 meters/130 feet
• Penetration is limited to 61 linear meters/200 linear feet from the surface
• Proper cavern diving equipment must be used
• Maintain a continuous guideline
• No restrictions or areas that are too small for 2 divers to swim side by side
• Safety stops as appropriate or necessary

Intro to Cave Diver

Are you ready to pick up where you left off in the Cavern Diver Course? Are you looking to expand upon the skills developed in your previous overhead environment training? Sign up for the Intro to Cave Diver Course!

This course is an introduction to the basic principles of cave diving utilizing a single primary guide line.  Introductory cave diving is the second level in the development of proper techniques for cave diving, directly building upon the cavern diver course. This introduction to cave diving is not intended to train divers for all facets of cave diving. The objective of this course is the perfection of skills taught in the cavern diving program, in addition to the adoption of additional techniques and procedures required for elementary cave dives.

What’s in it for you?

Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may engage in single guideline cave diving activities without direct supervision provided the graduates adhere to the following requirements:

• The diving activities approximate those of training
• Planned dives do not exceed diver’s current certification level
• Penetration is limited to the “rule of thirds,” OR 1/6th if using doubles to a maximum depth of 40 meters/130 feet.
• Proper cave diving equipment must be used
• Maintain a continuous guideline
• Upon successful completion of this course, graduates are qualified to progress on to the next level of overhead environment training: the Full Cave Diver course!

Full Cave Diver

Are you a serious adventure seeker wishing to explore overhead environments? Sign up for the Full Cave Diver Course! This course is the third stage of overhead environment training in the series of our Full Cave Diver Development Program. Advanced cave dive planning, practical execution of different types of cave systems and scenarios divers encounter are presented. This cave diving course is not intended to prepare divers for evaluating all facets of cave diving. The objective of this course is to expand and critique previous skills accomplished in our Cavern and Introductory Cave Diving programs. Emphasis is placed upon dive planning and skill perfection through actual cave penetration.

What’s in it for you?

Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may engage in cave diving activities without direct supervision so long as the following limits are adhered to:

• The diving activities approximate those of training
• Planned dives do not exceed diver’s current certification level
• Penetration is limited to the “rule of thirds,” to a maximum depth of 40 meters/130 feet
• Diver must maintain a continuous guideline
• Proper cave diving equipment must be used
• Safety and decompression stops as appropriate or necessary (if trained as a Decompression Diver or equivalent)

Rebreather Full Cave Diver

Are you a Closed-Circuit Rebreather (CCR) diver who is a serious adventure seeker wishing to explore overhead environments? Sign up for the Full Cave Diver Course! Advanced rebreather cave dive planning, the practical execution of different types of cave systems and scenarios divers encounter are presented. This cave diving course is not intended to prepare divers for evaluating all facets of cave diving. The objective of this course is to expand and critique previous skills accomplished in the Rebreather Cavern and Introductory Cave Diving Programs. Emphasis is placed upon dive planning, bailout range requirements, and skill perfection through actual cave penetration.

What’s in it for you?

Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may engage in rebreather cave diving activities without direct supervision provided the graduates adhere to the following requirements:

• Diver carries adequate bailout to safely exit from the furthest point of penetration and complete and decompression stops using a minimum SAC rating of 30 liters per minute / 1 cubic foot per minute OR the students calculated elevated SAC rate to account for a CO2 event, whichever is greater
• The diving activities approximate those of training
• Planned dives do not exceed diver’s current certification level
• Diver must maintain a continuous guideline
• Proper cave diving equipment must be used
• Safety and decompression stops as appropriate or necessary
• No equipment removal in cave

Cave Decompression Diver

This course is intended to train divers in decompression strategies and emergency management for cave diving.

What’s in it for you?

Upon successful completion of this course, graduates will be qualified to conduct decompression dives in the cave environment only, utilizing 100% oxygen to accelerate decompression provided:

• The diving activities approximate those of training
• The areas of activities approximate those of training
• Environmental conditions approximate those of training

Stage Cave Diver

The Stage Cave Diver Course is designed to teach trained cave divers how to extend bottom times and/or penetration distance through the use of stage cylinders. Divers will learn to plan dives that may incorporate longer bottom times, complex dive planning, and multiple methods of gas management.  With respect to depth, gas mixes, and required decompression, course dives will not exceed the student’s current level of certification and experience level.

What’s in it for you?

Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may engage in stage cave diving activities without direct supervision so long as the following limits are adhered to:

• Penetration is limited to the 1/3 air rule, or more conservative air-plan at instructor’s discretion.
• No equipment removal in cave with exception of stage cylinders
• Students are encouraged to gain experience before attempting to plan and execute complex stage cave dives
• Safety and decompression stops are completed as appropriate or necessary

Trimix Cave Diver

On deeper cave dives, using helium-based gas mixtures is essential. There is more to Trimix cave diving, however, than simply taking an open-water Trimix course and trusting it will apply equally to caves. It won’t.

There are aspects of Trimix use which are unique to cave diving. They include the need for more precise dive planning and gas management. Decompressing from a Trimix cave dive may need to begin long before you reach the exit. Are you prepared for this?

Even if you already possess Trimix Diver certification, taking the Trimix Cave Diver course is essential. And, if you are an active cave diver looking to go deeper, this may be the best way to acquire your Trimix training and certification.

Cave DPV Diver

This course is designed to teach trained cave divers how to utilize Diver Propulsion Vehicles (DPVs) in the cave environment. Divers will learn about safe DPV use, DPV components, and care and maintenance. Students will learn to plan dives that may incorporate extended penetration, longer bottom times, complex dive planning, and proper methods of gas management.

What’s in it for you?

Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may engage in DPV cave diving activities without direct supervision so long as the following limits are adhered to:

• If each diver utilizes a single DPV, each diver must turn the dive with no less than twice the amount of gas required to exit the cave while swimming
• If each diver utilizes multiple DPVs, each diver must turn the dive with no less than twice the amount of gas required to exit the cave while utilizing the DPV
• Students are encouraged to gain experience before attempting to plan and execute complex DPV cave dives
• Safety and decompression stops are completed as appropriate or necessary

Cave Mentoring and Guided Diving 

At some point the lines become blurred from what can be taught in a class and what needs to be taught in the form of a mentorship, and just gaining the experience. Often in tech and cave diving having good mentors may be more important than just pounding out more classes.

If you're interested in improving your skills, gaining more experience, and improving your comfort, we can help.

Or, if you're unfamiliar with a certain cave or area, we're happy to help and offer a full complement of guided diving services.