cave diving courses

[peterdevlin]

Originally Posted by AMW

This is not a requirement of training any qualified diver can act as a mentor. The training officer is of course an advantaged and is responsible for keeping track of trainees progress and the appointment of examiners. Although the section secretary can fulfill this role. Jim is the Derbyshire section training officer.

Andrew.

Andrew,

I take your point.

Thanks also for clarifying the DS training office.

Whether you do the courses with Martyn or get the training through being mentored by a QD, any would-be CDG member needs to be active in the caving club scene, preferably in a club that includes active divers.

I also take your point about the cost of training with Martyn vs spending the money on kit, but this is an individual choice. I am happy with the money I spent on my training with Martyn.

Ciao,
Peter

[base]

hi
thanks for all the info,loads to think about.this forum is bang on never had questions answered this quick even in dive shops.

[AMW]

any would-be CDG member needs to be active in the caving club scene, preferably in a club that includes active divers.

I think this is the big point.

Andrew.

[Bardo]

Personally I'd second a couple of recommendations that others have already made for the following people...

Phil Short - http://www.philshorttechnical.co.uk
Martin Robson - http://www.eau2.co.uk
Martyn Farr - Farrworld - Cave Diving Courses, Lectures, Books and Photography

Personally I'd look into the sort of diving that any potential cave instructor is doing. It seems to me that there are far too many so-called cave instructors out there whos experience seems limited to following the tourist lines in warm Florida caves. Dunno about you but that's not *my* idea of a cave explorer...

[Bardo]

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[peterdevlin]

Originally Posted by AMW

I think this is the big point.

Andrew.

... it took a while, but we actually agreed in the end ;-)

Base: this is a good introduction to the fun world of CDG debate .... Duncan is really the master ... he responds ever so well to the term "pikey" ;-)

Ciao,
Peter

[Duncan Price]

Originally Posted by peterdevlin

Base: this is a good introduction to the fun world of CDG debate .... Duncan is really the master ... he responds ever so well to the term "pikey" ;-)

You called?!

Originally Posted by Bardo

Personally I'd look into the sort of diving that any potential cave instructor is doing.

Exactly - all of the people we both recommend are active cave explorers - a lot of what they teach you comes from personal experience rather than something they were taught en route to becoming an instructor.

Originally Posted by peterdevlin

... yes, but I have a Full Cave cert from Martyn, and am not yet a QD .... and haven't started thinking about a date for being examined ....

I take your point that you could get to QD as quickly as to Full Cave, but this is in part dependent on getting a mentor to take you diving.

To my knowledge Christine is one of the few trainees who is getting the level of mentoring that used to happen in the CDG.

I've mentored over half a dozen CDG divers (some from never having used diving gear) to full CDG Qualification - two of my trainees are now both examiners in their own right. To do the job properly one needs time and an enthusiastic apprentice. It takes at least a year (sometimes two) to go from zero to hero. Realistically, the mentoree needs to be sufficiently self-motivated to learn for themselves in order to develop self-reliance and problem solving skills that are the hallmark of a cave explorer rather than cave tourist. Also there has to be a match between the two as the relationship can be more testing than a simple instructor-trainee one. Basically we're talking about the mentor taking on a permanent dive buddy. No-one likes to invest effort in someone who won't make the grade or who will loose interest quickly. Its not for everyone: mindful of the investment and risk involved the CDG has traditionally appeared stand-offish regarding recruitment - not without good reason.

The CDG offers access to other cave divers of all abilities and experience - from another novice to learn with to the old lags. Many sections also have equipment (cylinders) which can be borrowed. For whatever reason the CDG ticket is extremely highly respected and will get members in a lot of places.

The wider availablity and quality of commercial cave diver training is sadly impacting on the CDG's ability to teach in its time-honoured style. Punters want a quick fix and (not having been mentored ) lack the ability or confidence to pass on the baton.

Now, I'd like to go cave diving this weekend but the weather is sh*te...

[AMW]

I'd like to go cave diving this weekend but the weather is sh*te...

Look like I am going to as I have a German cave diving friend over, silica mines any one

Andrew.

[peterdevlin]

Originally Posted by Duncan Price

Now, I'd like to go cave diving this weekend but the weather is sh*te...

Having arranged a permit to do Craig-a-Ffynnon on Saturday I now can't come out to play ;-(

Instead I get to do an inventory of the first aid gear for expedition to Spain .... give me Silica Mines anyday.

[nigelH]

I got in contact with Martin Farr looking to do the basic intro course but he didn't have any slots open but could offer two days midweek if I could find somebody else to make it worth his while.

I asked at my club but no takers.

Anybody else interested in the first level bit?
TDI Overhead Enviroment Cavern Diving.