Cave Diver Training Print

 

Australian Speleolgical Federation Cave Diving Group (ASF-CDG)

The ASF does not conduct any cave diver training as such. Potential members must be trained prior by another organisation. Assessment of Cave Diving competency is conducted by the ASF-CDG Commissioner and dry caving skill level is assessed by each individual's caving club or by the Cave Diving Commissioner for those members with individual ASF membership. Individual members of the ASF are unable to lead trips and must go caving or cave diving with an ASF Trip Leader in order to utilise the ASF Insurance coverage. More information here.

 


 

Cave Divers Association of Australia (CDAA)

The CDAA is a local cave diver traing organisation. While there are a number of cave sites in Australia where access requires a CDAA certification, divers with alternative qualifications can cross over to a CDAA qualification to gain access. The CDAA offers three levels of cave diver certification:

  • Basic Cave: this certification is the amalgamation of skills and knowledge necessary to safely dive in Cavern and Sinkhole rated sites. Training covers areas that may have zero visibility and the potential for unlimited visibility. A maximum training depth of 40m is recommended. More information here
  • Cave: trains a diver to dive in an enclosed body of water containing overhangs, silt, darkness zones, and passages that are at all times large enough for two divers to swim adjacent to each other and turn around together. Cave sites allow a maximum penetration of 1/3 of a twin cylinder gas supply. More information here
  • Advanced Cave: trains a diver to dive in an enclosed body of water containing silt, darkness zones, and passages that at times are not large enough for two divers to buddy alongside. Advanced Cave sites are of unlimited penetration distance. More information here

 


 

Global Underwater Explorers (GUE)

GUE is an international technical diver training organisation. GUE offers three levels of cave diver training:

  • Cave Diver Level 1: this program introduces divers to the underwater cave environment and to an appreciation of its subtle dangers. The course covers the basic principles of cave diving and is designed to introduce divers to the skills and knowledge required for limited penetration into the underwater cave environment. More information here
  • Cave Diver Level 2: this is the second in a series of three courses designed to develop cave-diving proficiency. This very demanding course seeks to refine the cave-diving techniques of divers who have mastered the requirements of Cave 1. To succeed in this course, students must be practiced in the fundamental aspects of cave diving and comfortable in the use of double tanks/cylinders. More information here
  • Cave Diver Level 3: this course is the culmination of a series of three courses designed to establish cave-diving excellence. Cave 3 schools divers in the techniques necessary to sustain longer-range cave dives. More information here

 


 

tdi

Technical Diving International (TDI) 

TDI is an international technical diver training organisation whose qualifications are recognised throughout the world. TDI offers four levels of caver diver certification:

  • Cavern Diver: This course takes a serious look at the skills needed to conduct safe and enjoyable cavern dives. Although the cavern course is conducted in the light zone you will still be in an overhead environment.  More information here
  • Intro to Cave: the course takes a serious look at the skills needed to conduct safe and enjoyable cave dives. During the cave course your TDI Instructor will teach you the proper techniques for diving in a cave environment while staying on the main line. More information here
  • Full Cave: This course is the highest overhead environment rating offered by TDI. This course is for the serious adventure wanting to explore further into the overhead environment, make jumps off of main lines to adjoining passages. During the cave course your TDI Instructor will teach you the proper techniques for diving in a cave environment while maintaining a constant guideline. More information here
  • Cave DPV Diver: This course is designed to give the trained cave diver the minimum knowledge and basic fundamentals of safely utilizing diver propulsion vehicle (DPV) in the underwater cave environment. Safe techniques, procedures and skill perfection associated with the use of DPV's in cave diving is emphasized. Cave conservation considerations, such as low-impact application, are stressed. More information here
  • Stage Cave Diver: The Stage Cave Diver course is designed to give the trained cave diver the increased knowledge and basic fundamentals in extended bottom times and increased penetration with the use of a stage cylinder. Lengthened bottom times, accumulative decompression obligations and complex dive planning are covered in this course. Safe techniques, procedures and skill perfection associated with stage cave diving is emphasized. More information here
  • Cave Surveying Diver: The Underwater Cave Surveying course is designed to give the trained cave diver the minimum knowledge and basic fundamentals of how to survey in the unique underwater cave environment. The intention of this program is to encourage a standardization of cave surveying on all projects; encourage the use of cave maps in dive planning while increasing the diver's awareness and knowledge of the surroundings in this environment. Safe techniques, procedures and skill perfection associated with surveying in cave diving is emphasized. More information here