Imported post
[b said:
Quote[/b] (spike jackson @ Nov. 20 2003,12:41)]Hi Duncan.
Please can you tell us more about cave training through the CDG. They seem to have a reputation for being extremely hard to get into and that the training is only offered to those that are willing to be "gophers" for a long period of time. I have not contacted the CDG directly and I have not met any CDG members so I don't know how much, if any, of the above is true.
<font color='#8D38C9'>Broadly speaking the CDG operates a "mentoring" scheme with the prospective diver apprenticing himself (or herself) to a couple of sponsers who propose the trainee for membership and look after their training. It varies around the four regional sections but usually trainee divers end up mixing with a lot of experienced divers en route to qualification and the onus is on the individual to seek knowledge rather have it rammed down their throats - there's also a certain amount of self-teaching.
The CDG recently moved the criterion that the candidate be an experience caver from a joining requirement to one of qualification. Thus it is possible for an open water diver to come into the group but they will be expected to acquire these skills in order to qualify. Being a caver is important for diving in UK conditions (which are more like caving underwater) for safety and also the plain fact that unless you are prepared to go caving then you will soon run out of dive sites.
Training is free and given in the trainers' spare time so the learning process is slow - giving time for the candidate to absorb their knowledge. Most of the UK's active cave divers are committed cave explorers so have to juggle time spent tutoring with their own desire to get out a push stuff. For this reason, someone is more likely to take on a trainee who shows aptitude for being at the sharp end than some cave tourist or badge collector i.e. an apprentice. I have taken people who have never dived to full qualification in 12 months though a lot depends on the vagaries of the Britsih weather and availablity of people to dive with, some people take a lot longer. The rules and requirements can be found on the
CDG website.
I would also refer readers to
this article on the CDG website.
If you don't have time to follow the CDG path, the CDG probably doesn't have time for you - by all means take a commercial course - there are several to choose from and as far as I know, Martyn Farr is the only person who teaches in UK sites.
