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	CAVERN AND CAVE DIVING COURSES cavern diver  -  introduction to cave  -  apprentice cave  -  full cave  -  combined courses speciality cave  -  cave diving equipment requirements
		CAVERN DIVER The Cavern Diver course develops the minimum skills and knowledge for Cavern diving and describes the dangers involved with Cave diving. Problem solving in Cavern Diving includes, but is not limited to, body positioning (trim), buoyancy control, emergency procedures, line following and propulsion techniques. Accident analysis forms the basis of this learning experience. Special emphasis on the unique environment includes silting, entanglement, and disorientation and equipment modification. Course Duration: - 2 Days Prerequisites: - Open Water Scuba Diver Certification - AOW Scuba Diver Certification recommended - Minimum 50 Logged Dives recommended Course Requirements: - Classroom Lectures and Critiques - Land Drills - Open Water Drills - Minimum of 3 Cavern dives at 2 different sites - Exam Equipment required: - Full Open Water dive equipment. Recommended Texts: - NSSCDS Cavern Diving Manual - NSSCDS Student Workbook Note: Students who are only doing the Cavern course must provide standard open water dive gear. top of page>> cavern diver  -  introduction to cave  -  apprentice cave  -  full cave  -  combined courses speciality cave  -  cave diving equipment requirements INTRODUCTION TO CAVE DIVER The Introduction to Cave Diver course teaches the fundamental principles of Cave diving. It follows the Cavern course as the second step in the development of safe techniques for Cave diving. This course perfects the skills learnt during the Cavern program as well as instructing in additional techniques and procedures required for limited penetration Cave dive. Accident analysis continues to form the basis of the training. Course Duration: - 2 Days Prerequisites: - Cavern Diver Certification. - Minimum AOW Scuba Diver Certification - Minimum 50 Logged Dives recommended Course Requirements: - Classroom Lectures and Critiques - Land Drills - Open Water Drills - Minimum of 4 Cave dives at 2 different sites - Exam Equipment required: - Full Cave Diver Equipment (see below) Recommended Texts: - NSSCDS Student Workbook - Basic Cave Diving - A Blueprint for Survival top of page>> cavern diver  -  introduction to cave  -  apprentice cave  -  full cave  -  combined courses speciality cave  -  cave diving equipment requirements APPRENTICE CAVE DIVER The Apprentice Cave Diver course is the third step in the series of Cave Diver development training courses. Emphasis is upon dive planning and skill perfection through actual cave dives. Techniques learned through the earlier Introduction to Cave Diving and Cavern Diver courses are expanded and critiqued. Exposure to different cave diving scenarios is the foundation of this training. Course Duration: - 2 Days Prerequisites: - Introduction to Cave Diving Certification - Minimum AOW Scuba Diver Certification - Minimum 100 Logged Dives recommended Course Requirements: - Classroom Lectures and Critiques - Minimum of 4 Cave dives at 3 different sites - Exam Equipment required: - Full Cave Diver Equipment (see below) Recommended Texts: - NSSCDS Cave Diving Manual - an Overview - NSSCDS Student Workbook - NSSCDS U/W Communications Manual top of page>> cavern diver  -  introduction to cave  -  apprentice cave  -  full cave  -  combined courses speciality cave  -  cave diving equipment requirements FULL CAVE DIVER The Full Cave Diver course is the fourth in the series of Cave Diver development training courses. Emphasis is on advanced cave dive planning and execution. Techniques learned through the earlier Apprentice Cave Diver, Introduction to Cave Diving and Cavern Diver courses are more closely scrutinised to prepare students for evaluation of their future cave diving needs. Exposures to more sophisticated cave diving scenario's forms the foundation of this training. Course Duration: - 2 Days Prerequisites: - Apprentice Cave Diver - Minimum 100 Logged Dives recommended Course Requirements: - Classroom Lectures and Critiques - Minimum of 4 Cave dives at 3 different sites - Land Drills - Minimum of 4 Cave dives at 3 different sites - Exam Equipment required: - Full Cave Diving Equipment (see below) Recommended Texts: - NSSCDS Cave Diving Manual - an Overview - NSSCDS Student Workbook - NSSCDS U/W Communications Manual top of page>> cavern diver  -  introduction to cave  -  apprentice cave  -  full cave  -  combined courses speciality cave  -  cave diving equipment requirements COMBINED COURSES CAVERN DIVER + INTRODUCTION TO CAVE DIVER Course Duration: - 4 Days Prerequisites: - Open Water Scuba Diver Certification - AOW Scuba Diver Certification recommended - Minimum 50 Logged Dives recommended Course Requirements: - Classroom Lectures and Critiques - Land Drills - 1 O/W Dive with Drills - Minimum of 7 Cavern / Cave dives at 3 sites - Exam Equipment required: - Full Cave Equipment Recommended Texts: - NSSCDS Student Workbook - NSSCDS Cavern Diving Manual - Basic Cave Diving - A Blueprint for Survival - NSSCDS U/W Communications Manual APPRENTICE CAVE DIVER + FULL CAVE DIVER Course Duration: - 4 Days Prerequisites: - Introduction to Cave Diver Certification - AOW Scuba Diver Certification - Minimum 100 Logged Dives recommended Course Requirements: - Classroom Lectures and Critiques - Land Drills - Minimum of 8 Cave dives at 4 different sites - Exam Equipment required: - Full Cave Equipment Recommended Texts: - NSSCDS Cave Diving Manual - an Overview - NSSCDS Student Workbook - NSSCDS U/W Communications Manual CAVERN TO FULL CAVE DIVER This program while being intensive is the most popular choice for people wishing to complete their Cave Diver training as efficiently as possible. Course Duration: - 7 Days Prerequisites: - AOW Scuba Diver Certification - Minimum 100 Logged Dives recommended Course Requirements: - Classroom Lectures and Critiques - Land Drills - 1 O/W Dive with Drills - Minimum of 15 Cave dives at 5 different sites - Exam Equipment required: - Full Cave Equipment (see below) Recommended Texts: - NSSCDS Student Workbook - NSSCDS Cavern Diving Manual - Basic Cave Diving - A Blueprint for Survival - NSSCDS Cave Diving Manual - an Overview - NSSCDS U/W Communications Manual top of page>> cavern diver  -  introduction to cave  -  apprentice cave  -  full cave  -  combined courses speciality cave  -  cave diving equipment requirements SPECIALITY CAVE COURSES STAGE DIVER This course is intended to develop skill and knowledge in extended penetration cave diving with the use of a stage cylinder. Longer decompressions and more complex navigation and dive planning concerns are covered. Course Duration: - 2 Days Prerequisites: - Full Cave Diver - 50 Logged Cave Dives recommended Course Requirements: - Classroom Lectures and Critiques - 1 O/W Dive with Drills - Minimum of 3 Cave dives utilising Stage tank Equipment required: - Full Cave Equipment (see below) - Suitably rigged Stage tank + Reg SIDE-MOUNT DIVER This course is designed to expose the experienced cave diver to alternative cylinder and harness configurations when back mounted cylinders are not appropriate or available. Course Duration: - 2 Days Prerequisites: - Full Cave Diver - 50 Logged Cave Dives recommended Course Requirements: - Classroom Lectures and Critiques - 1 O/W Dive with Drills - Minimum of 3 Cave dives utilising Side-mount Equipment required: - Suitably rigged Side-mount harness + BC - 2 single tanks + Regs rigged for Side-mount - Helmet DIVER PROPULSION VEHICLE (DPV) PILOT This course is designed to teach the fundamentals for safe operation of DPV's in the unique environment of underwater caves. Topics covered include dive planning, conservation, and safety, DPV construction, maintenance and repair, procedures and techniques common to the use of most DPV's, and emergency procedures. Course Duration: - 2 Days Prerequisites: - Full Cave Diver - 50 Logged Cave Dives recommended Course Requirements: - Classroom Lectures and Critiques - 1 O/W Dive with Drills - Minimum of 3 Cave dives utilising DPV Equipment required: - Full Cave Equipment - Suitable Tow Strap and Harness - Suitable DPV - Helmet SURVEY DIVER This course is designed to teach the fundamentals of surveying underwater caves and to promote standardization for all survey projects and encourage the use of cave maps in dive planning. The seven phases of survey from conception to completion are discussed. Topics covered include accuracy standards, composition of the survey team, use and fabrication of special tools, survey techniques and methodology, safety considerations, data manipulation and mathematical calculations, symbology, cartography, copyright and publication. Course Duration: - 2 Days Prerequisites: - Full Cave Diver Course Requirements: - Classroom Lectures and Critiques - Land Drills - Minimum of 2 Cave Survey Dives Equipment required: - Full Cave Equipment - Survey Equipment top of page>> cavern diver  -  introduction to cave  -  apprentice cave  -  full cave  -  combined courses speciality cave  -  cave diving equipment requirements CAVE DIVING EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS Double Aluminum 80cuft Tanks with Dual Orifice Manifold and Isolator Back-plate and Harness with Crotch Strap Pouch or pocket Wing style BCD 2 Regulators (preferably DIN 1st stages) set up as follows Right post: Primary 2nd stage on 7ft long hose & LPI hose Left post: Backup 2nd stage on short hose with necklace & SPG only (no consoles). Primary light (Umbilical light and battery canister with 35 - 50w light head with minimum 2hrs of burn time) 2 Backup lights (eg UK SL4's or similar) 2 small cutting devices (no leg mounted knives) 1 Primary Reel 1 Safety Reel 2 Jump/Gap Reels Slate & Pencil 3 Line Arrows 3 Personal Markers (eg clothes pins) Assorted clips, cable ties, surgical tubing, bungee cord, electrical and duct tape. NOTE: It is advisable that you bring as much of this equipment with you as is possible less tanks and weights of course. That way you will be using equipment you are familiar with and get the opportunity to fine-tune it for use in the cave environment. Anything on this list you do not have can be provided at no extra charge. PERSONAL DIVE GEAR TO BE PROVIDED BY STUDENT: - Mask - Fins - Boots - Full length Wetsuit (5mm minimum recommended) - Hood - Dive computer or USN Tables + timing device + depth gauge NOTE: Students who are only doing the Cavern course must provide standard open water dive gear. top of page>> cavern diver  -  introduction to cave  -  apprentice cave  -  full cave  -  combined courses speciality cave  -  cave diving equipment requirements