TDI INTRO TO CAVE DIVER

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

Who this course is for:

The certified TDI Cavern Diver or equivalent who has interest in moving forward with overhead environment diving and expanding their diving techniques, capabilities, and more!

Course prerequisites

(these requirements must be met prior to commencement of training):

Minimum age 18, 15 with parental consent
Provide proof of TDI Cavern Diver certification or equivalent

What you can expect to learn:

The TDI Intro to Cave Diver Course takes an in-depth look at all of the following and more:

Policy for cave diving
Gas management procedures and management to include dissimilar volumes
Psychological considerations of cave diving
Dive planning
Basic scuba skills including mask and regulator skills, swimming underwater, buoyancy control, basic rescue techniques, and emergency procedures
Equipment considerations including:
Regulator options
Buoyancy compensator/harness options
Proper weighting
Reel options
Equipment configurations
Communication (light and hand signals)
Swimming techniques
Body posture/trim
Buoyancy control
Line following
Propulsion (finning) techniques
Physiology
Breathing techniques
Stress management
Cave environment
Cave conservation
Problem solving
Emergency procedures
Equipment failure
Silting conditions
Accident analysis
Cave diving etiquette
Review of dive tables and decompression theory

Some of the required skills you will have to demonstrate include:

Properly deploy a guideline
Properly use line markers
Properly follow a guideline with eyes open and closed (simulating loss of visibility)
Air share with a buddy with eyes open, following a guideline
Air share with a buddy with lights off and eyes closed, using touch contact while following the guideline
Remove and replace mask while in contact with the guidelineDemonstrate conservation, awareness, and back referencing techniques
Demonstrate light/hand signals and touch contact
Demonstrate anti-silting techniques
Simulate a primary light failure and use back up light to exit
Demonstrate buoyancy control, proper trim, and propulsion techniques

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 metres/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 TDI Full Cave Diver course!

TDI Intro to Cave Diver Minimum Certification Requirements:

Satisfactorily complete the TDI Intro to Cave Diver course written examination with a passing score of 80%, followed by 100% remediation by the instructor
Perform all land drills and cave dive requirements efficiently
Demonstrate mature, sound judgment concerning dive planning and execution
Maintain an appropriate level of awareness and respect for the environment
Log all training dives

How do I take this course?

Take it online. TDI Intro to Cave is available in eLearning
Course Cost: $139.95 USD for eLearning only. Pool and open water training not included.
Practical training including 4 dives $650.00 USD