Cavern or Cave diving? Where do I start my training?
- Ed Smith
- 4 days ago
- 6 min read
What is a Cavern Diver Course?
Diving into the world of underwater exploration can be thrilling, but it requires proper training to ensure safety and enjoyment. The Cavern Diver Course is one such training program designed to equip aspiring divers with the skills and knowledge they need. If you have ever wondered what this course entails, how it differs from other diving certifications, or whether it is the right choice for you, this post will guide you through everything you need to know.
So what is the difference between Cavern diving and Cave diving? Firstly we need to understand the difference in definition between the two environments, as they both have different requirements for training and equipment, which if not respected can lead the diver into serious and very dangerous territory very quickly. Basically a Cavern or Cavern zone is an area which has a fixed overhead environment usually naturally created, which prevents a diver from swimming directly upwards to the surface as the immediate area above is blocked. It can be any rocky ledge, overhang or outcrop and even the entrance to a larger cave system. It is defined as an area that has easy access, with sun light visible at all times and enough space for 2 divers to remain side by side for the duration of the dive, Anything beyond these limitations mean you have now travelled beyond the cavern zone and entered the Cave zone.
To be able to plan this sort of diving and safely enter the Cavern zone each diver must undergo strict training and preparation, specific to this type of environment highlighting the necessary skills, equipment requirements and discipline needed. This training is also the pre-requiste for any further overhead training such as the Intro to Cave and the Full Cave course.
The Cavern Diver Course starts the same as most diving course, with home study. This is where you can read the theory and knowledge that form the basis of the course. There are many topics including – Cavern formations and composition, Entrances, Hazards, Safety principles, Stress and mindset, Communication, gas planning, Equipment configuration, protocols and skills and emergencies to name just a few topics. This study is then followed up with classroom sessions to emphasize key points and elaborate important safety and technical aspects.
The next part of the course is the equipment workshop which precedes any In-water activity. This is the time where you and your instructor will systematically go through all of the equipment needed to safely dive in the overhead environment and an opportunity to check that all of your own equipment is suitable for the job (those who have dived with Ed will have gone through this process and most likely seen their equipment uncermonialy taken apart with pieces discarded as not suitable!) . You will learn about the need for streamlining your kit, tying lights and accessories to boltsnaps the correct way and also the reasons behind why we like it “tidy” for this type if diving with no Danglies! We look at the need for multiple redundant systems, including the tank set up, preferring the 2 tank set up of either Sidemount or backmounted twins (or doubles). If you are not already diving with either of these configurations we would highly recommend taking a Sidemount or Twinset course and gaining some experience before starting any overhead training,
After the equipment workshop and kit configuration, we then start working on Dry land skills. These skills form the foundation of any in water activity that follows. You will be shown how to operate the primary reel and deploy it in the correct manner to make primary and secondary tie offs, these are essential safety procedures for entering any overhead environment and the single most important rule in overhead diving – A continuous guideline to open water. Team work and communication is also practiced at this point in the dry as we start to plan team dynamics and correct positioning. With some training line laid out, we then practice some safety and emergency drills such as Lost visibility using a Black Out mask, Out of Gas procedures and line management exercises. These skills are practiced in the dry until everyone is confident in the correct procedures with plenty of time to rehearse team positioning, communication and emergency actions.
Next we move into Open water, usually a shallow training site with lots of space and some ideal areas to make a circuit of line to practice the Cavern diver skills learned in the land drills earlier. But before we start practicing any line laying and drills we go back to basics and start with the fundamentals of diving. As an aspiring Cavern diver, basic dive skills must be at a high level before we even think about getting into an overhead environment. Buoyancy control must be achieved without any hesitation, and you must be able to hover without moving, holding a consistent position in the water, no sculling or hand waving allowed. Your body position and trim should stay aligned so you can perform basic skills like regulator recovery, mask removal, and tank valve exercises without shifting position. Finning techniques are also reviewed and practiced including a well defined frog kick, helicopter turn and the very important back kick. It is at this point that we move forward with the specific cavern diver skills. Practicing the line laying skills, primary and secondary tie offs, placements and wraps, team communication and safety drills. Video feedback is often used after this dive to make any suggestions and changes necessary.
The final stage of the course is where it all comes together and we travel to the cave system to enter the caven for the first time. You will walk down into the cavern zone, where you will see the pool area and where the rock face disappears underwater to create an amazing underwater spectacle only visible to those trained to enter. You will be involved in the planning and set up of the three cavern dives to follow. With your instructor you will form part of a dive team where you will plan the dives using a specific gas managent strategy, team positioning, navigation plan and emergency procedures plan. You will then practice the pre dive drills (S-drills, team checks, Air & Gas matching, Route plans and time schedules) before descending into the overhead area, laying line and taking turns at being the dive leader, you will practice the specific disciplines of line laying, communication and emergency procedures all while paying close attention to the environment, your team, the plan, the light zone and importantly the line.
After surfacing and successfully completing all of the required skills and executing the dive plans you will then have a full debrief. This gives all team members a clear understanding of what went well, and what needs to be improved with areas for development and practice for future dives. Certification for this course is never guaranteed and will depend on not only the quality of your skills performance but also your attitude towards this type of diving.
The Cavern Diver certification will take any experienced diver to another level of diving, offering so many opportunities to dive in some of the worlds most amazing spaces such as the Cenotes in Mexico or the caverns and grottos of Florida and even the cave system of Cueva del Agua here in Spain. It will also elevate your diving skills to a new level that you can use in any aspect your diving, making you a more aware and safer diver with a better understanding of dive planning, equipment considerations and control that you never thought possible.
What happens after this course? who knows? Maybe you would like to continue your journey underground and start thinking about the Intro to Cave and ultimately Full cave diver course? Progress requires a patient approach, focusing on quality training and targeted practice instead of rushing. That way you can enjoy what the world of Cavern and Cave diving has to offer while remaining safe and slowing progressing to deeper and darker places.
Click here for some more information on the course or contact us via email - scuba.murcia@outlook.com
Ed Smith is a TDI, PADI & PSAI Technical and recreational diving instructor with over 25 years of experience in the water. The views expressed in these blog posts are personal opinions based on many years of diving experience and teaching, however they may differ from other instructors or professionals. These blog posts are for information only and nothing should replace proper, professional training.
Dive safe.
