Cave 1

[Rick Huggins]

Where's the best place to do the course and who would you recommend to instruct in that area?

Whats the rough cost?

How long is the course?

What's involved?

Is it worth doing as a diver in the UK?

TIA

P.S I know I could just call someone, but im sure theres a few on here who would like to know!

[Fraser]

Hi Rick,

Have a look here http://www.tylermoon.com/

Hopefully Bob C will be along soon

Fraser.

[NotDeadYet]

Definitely train in the US or Mexico. France is great diving but not good for training, the are few junctions or complex caves, most tend to be one single passage. I can't give a Cave 1 recommendation as I don't know any of the instructors, but John & Shelley Orlowski of Aquaspeleo are extremely good, they teach NACD.

It's worth doing if you are a UK diver interested in cave diving. If you're interested in UK cave diving then no, it's a waste of time and money as there are about three sites in the UK where that kind of diving is applicable. There are plenty of European sites though, especially in France.

Cheers,

Stuart

[CALLISTO]

Rick , the man with the plan would be Andy Carrol he's departing shortly to Florida to do the very course with Tyler Moon

Andy

[CALLISTO]

When are you looking to go.....? Tech 1 is a priority for me next year...But long term I would like to do it ...The wife really doesn't want me to go on it at all !!!
But hey money Talks.

Andy

[malcolm smith]

Martin Robson of eau2 is an excellent instructor, English too! Well worth looking at his website.I think he does NACD, although when I did it , it was IANTD. Would agree with Stuart about France, I did my training there which was great, but the Florida caves are much easier to get lost in :-)
Whoever you do it with, I suspect you'll love it, it's the instructor that counts, not the ticket.
Cheers, Malcolm

[Brian Donaghy]

Originally Posted by Frogman

Is it worth doing as a diver in the UK?

It is worth doing if you are interested in that sort of cave diving and intend traveling regularly to do it, otherwise you will lose the skills (and the c-card).

Remember Cave 1 is an "Intro." level class, you may not be very satisfied with how far in you can get on 35bar. A more realistic cost for persuing the GUE route for cave diving (assuming a DIR-F pass) would be: Cave 1 + at least one experience trip + Cave 2.

Get excited about the caves, not the qualification.

[NotDeadYet]

The way I did it, did an intro weekend thingie over here then went to Florida and essentially did the NACD full cave twice, I did the course one to one with Shelley Orlowski and then repeated the diving bit on a group course she was running the following week. Hardest two weeks diving I've ever done, we did something like seven 40-60min dives in one day.

I'd agree with Malcolm about the instructor mattering more than the cert. Once you get beyond equipment, there isn't much argument about technique and procedure between the various camps, I'd bet a GUE cave course isn't that much different from NACD or NSSCDS or whatever apart from maybe the admin side.

[Rick Huggins]

Thanks Guys

[And]

Hi

I will post details after I've done it. I'll also try and find out any differences between the agencies. AFAIUI when you get Cave 1 you get Apprentice Cave as well. Cave 2 is then equivalent to Full Cave.

I do know enough to know that trying to do Apprentice Cave and Full cave all at once is very difficult and frowned upon by cave divers in general (at least those on the Deco Stop). My plan is to do Cave 1, and if I enjoy the caves then go on a few pleasure trips to France, a pleasure trip to Florida next year, and then Cave 2 after that.

Andy