Cave Diving

[Kate]

<font color='#3BB9FF'>Can anyone tell me...I'm interested in, eventually, doing a cave dive. Do you have to be cave dive trained to do it?!

Thanks.

x x x

[hazey]

Check out the following link - my friend Gordon organised trips to Grotta Giusti in Italy - Cave diving with red carpets, slippers and bath temp water.

http://www.tuscandivers.com/

[Snash]

Well, I guess you don't actually have to be trained but you would be mad not to..... seriously mad and probably with a short life expectancy. &nbsp;

I did my cave diving training in Florida which was fantastic - do a web search on Peacock Springs and Ginnie Springs to get some idea. I thought it was fantastic and I would advise anyone to do it - it has benefited my normal diving techniques amazingly.

Gross generalisation (so flame-suit on) but caving in the UK and US seem to have come from two ends of the spectrum ie

UK - cavers putting scuba gear on to get further
US - scuba divers venturing into caves (or springs)

which has meant a difference in approaches, albiet with convergances (a bit like the 2 rugby codes - oops double-flame suit on).

You can get a taster for cave diving by doing cavern diving.

I am not sure I fancy some of the UK caving ie squeezing yourself through impossibly small holes in zero viz, &nbsp; &nbsp;but the clear stuff in Florida is awesome (IMHO)

Simon

[John Gulliver]

A suitable introduction might be a cavern diving course in Menorca. There are two divecentres that arrange these courses (with British instructors). Menorca is said to have some of the best cavern diving in the world.
http://www.crystalseas-scuba.com
http://www.salgardiving.com

[Bob Cooper]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Kate @ Dec. 31 2003,09:00)]Can anyone tell me...I'm interested in, eventually, doing a cave dive. Do you have to be cave dive trained to do it?!

Thanks.

x x x

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]Can anyone tell me...I'm interested in, eventually, doing a cave dive. Do you have to be cave dive trained to do it?!

Yes, Yes, Yes and Yes!!

Please do not consider venturing into any overhead environment without the proper training. &nbsp;You (and I) don't want another sad statistic.

You can take a cavern or cave class here in UK or overseas. &nbsp;Like Snash said, there really is a big difference between UK sump diving techniques and spring/cenote diving abroad.

If you want to do a cave dive, do it with an instructor during a class.

Bob

[andy2tanx]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (John Gulliver @ Dec. 31 2003,10:45)]A suitable introduction might be a cavern diving course in Menorca. There are two divecentres that arrange these courses (with British instructors). Menorca is said to have some of the best cavern diving in the world.
http://www.crystalseas-scuba.com
http://www.salgardiving.com

Crystal seas went bust last over a year ago. &nbsp;One of them then set up Blue water scuba who took me into some greqt caves last year. &nbsp;check them out.blue water scuba

[Mdemon]

So, what do they teach you on these courses then? &nbsp;What's on the course?

[Noel Johnson]

Training - yes.

This was beautifully illustrated by a lad I did my AOW with, and a couple of dives after that, who had enormous tecchy aspirations. After reading an article about Farr world in 990 magazine he decided he'd go on a little expedition. Now please bear in mind that I have not seen him for about 1 year and that this story was referred to me through one of his other instructors - so it shoud be fairly accurate as she couldn't beleive it either after she was told straight from the horses mouth.

He, apparently, had his usual kit of win 7's back mounted to a custom divers tbk wing, dry suit etc and although the main shaft of the cave was lined was told NOT to go into the cave by the staff at the centre he had decided upon after doing an internet search as he had no buddy, there was nobody to take him and they thought he did not have enough experience for such an undertaking.

Well he decided to go around to the entrance of the cave and was met by a pair of divers exiting the water who also apparently enquired about his lack of buddy and told him not to go in, which he ignored. After going down the main line he picked up a second line into another shaft but kicked up so much crap that he lost his orientation AND that line by a long way. upon fnding the line again there was no way of knowing which was was furter in and which one was out - so he chose, and thankfully he chose the right way and left the water with 5 bar left in his manifolded 7's othrwise it could have been a sad day indeed for all concerned.

Kate, Do the training first.

[John Gulliver]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Mdemon @ Dec. 31 2003,21:57)]So, what do they teach you on these courses then?  What's on the course?

Different agencies, different courses, but here is one example:
http://www.cenotes.com/newsite/pagin...rndetails.html

[Bob Cooper]

The GUE standards and procedures for all classes can be found here:

GUE standards and procedures