Cavern Diving Course: Your Gateway to Exploring Underwater Caves
If you are interested in becoming a cave diver, the first step is to complete a cavern course. A cavern course is an advanced scuba diving course that provides divers with the knowledge and skills necessary to safely explore underwater caverns, which are partially or completely enclosed spaces within rock formations that allow natural light to enter. Here is some information on what to expect from a cavern course:
Prerequisites: Before taking a cavern course, you should have completed intro to tech or sidemount diver course and have a minimum of 100 logged dives. You should also be comfortable with diving in currents, have good buoyancy control, and have experience with diving in low visibility conditions.
Course content: The cavern course typically consists of both classroom and in-water training sessions. The classroom sessions cover the principles of cavern diving, including equipment considerations, gas management, navigation, and emergency procedures. The in-water sessions provide an opportunity for divers to practice their skills in a controlled environment, such as a cenote or other open water environment.
Skills covered: During the course, you will learn a variety of skills that are specific to cavern diving. These may include line handling, reel use, buoyancy control, air sharing, and light handling. You will also learn how to navigate in low visibility conditions and how to manage emergency situations that may arise while diving in a cavern.
Certification: Upon completion of the cavern course, you will receive a certification that allows you to explore underwater caverns to a maximum depth of 40 meters (130 feet). However, it is important to note that the cavern course is only a stepping stone to becoming a cave diver. It is recommended that divers gain experience in cavern diving before moving on to more advanced cave diving courses.
Benefits: Completing a cavern course can open up new opportunities for exploration and adventure in the underwater world. Cavern diving can provide a unique and exciting experience for divers who are looking to challenge themselves and expand their diving skills.
In summary, the cavern course is an essential step for divers who want to explore underwater caverns and eventually become cave divers. The course provides divers with the necessary knowledge and skills to safely and confidently navigate these unique underwater environments.