Cave Diver Training
While humans have been living in caves for millennia we have developed a strong, sometimes subconscious bond with them. Caves have provided us humans with shelter while providing a safe heaven from the outside environment and has been made home for a long time.
When cave exploration evolved from dry caves to the exploration of water filled caves the first techniques used was breath hold exploration. With the development of the Aqualung divers started to venture into the water filled caves and underwater cave exploration was born. Past cave diving accidents have often been viewed by the public as sensational but if seen over the period since the beginning of underwater cave exploration the number of cave divers who have perished in water filled caves is less then 2 a year.
It falls upon the Cave Diving Instructor to train students to become safe and conservation oriented cave divers not only save for them to enter and venture safely through the marvels of mother nature, but safe for the cave to be visited as well. The need of emergency drills and exercises during training where the student comes to deal with worst-case scenarios in a save and controlled environment with an instructor, most of these drills are either out of air scenarios or sharing air scenarios with backup lights or no lights at all, or even in search for a lost buddy or lost line.
Please click here to read an article I published with the title: Are you ready for diving ?.
In order to enroll into a Cave Diver training program one has to be certified as openwater diver as minimum with a minimum of 100 completed dives under the belt. For the Cave Diver course a minimum of eight full training days must be completed in order to develope the skills nececary to cave dive.
The following training levels can be completed with us:
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Cavern Diver
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Intro to Cave Diver
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Full Cave Diver
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Technical Cave Diver
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Survey and Cartography
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Stage / Multiple Stage Cave Diver
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Sidemount Cave Diver
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DPV / Scooter Cave Diver
Training for cave divers and cave conservation in Mexico
The beautiful and highly decorated underwater caves who are located in the jungle of the Mexican Yucatan peninsula between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, with there shallow average depth, minor flow and a water clarity that one seems to fly through these vast expanses that lay hidden below the ground, with a visibility that is exceeding 200 feet / 60 meter easy are truly considered to be cave divers paradise.
To train these students for the worst-case scenario got me thinking about the fragile cave environment and the damage been done to the cave during training. The cave divers who had the luck to come down here and dive the beautiful underwater caves of Mexico, to enjoy the fragile and highly decorated passages and large rooms are well aware of what I am talking about.
These caves are drawing more and more trained cave divers who come here on vacations, to visit and cruise in cave diver’s heaven, and divers who seeking training and want to become cave divers here in Mexico. During the time I am living here (since the end of 1995) I could see a steady increase in visitors and up-building pressure on the cave environment.
The need for good training
There is no question in my mind about the need of good and sound training, to form a basis and foundation of skills and experiences the student can fall back on to in his or her later live as a cave diver. The need of letting the student experience the worst-case scenarios in the place he or she will encounter them, if at all, will be in the cave.
The task and responsibility to teach safety and conservation oriented divers. It falls upon us, the cave diving instructors not only to teach but to live and breathe cave diving safety and conservation but to lead by good example, which is not easy, but I try. If we don’t do it, nobody will.
It hurts my soul if I see what happens to the caves around here while I watch cavern tours (briefed open water divers visiting the overhead environment), touring cave divers who are maybe from a place where caves are not as beautiful and fragile as here in Mexico and are used to other “environment specific cave diving techniques” and then us teaching Cave Diving Instructors who have the duty and need of conducting skills in the cave that have a potential to be contradicting to cave conservation policies.
The cave sacrifices a bit for the training
The way it could be described is that the cave scarifies an area for the training of safe and conservation oriented cave divers. The way I see it is that while I train an individual to dive safely I have some influence about the attitude this diver will have toward the cave in the future. First of all: if I don’t train him or her he or she maybe ventures into the submerged caves without proper training. Second: while I train him or her in special designated areas that are either bare rock or have sustained a lot of damage from years of diving so this newly trained diver does acquire the skills necessary to be a environmentally and conservation oriented safe cave diver, safe to the fragile cave environment around here and elsewhere in the world.
Impact on the cave while doing zero-vis drills
There is no doubt in my mind about the impact of worst-case scenario drills in the cave. Kicking up big time silt, loosing buoyancy and hitting the ceiling, tanks banging against walls, tie offs breaking off, divers who are crawling along the bottom to find a lost line or a lost buddy. It is unfortunately in the nature of these drills to be in more contact with the cave then usual and appreciated.
Environment here in Mexico
For those of you who haven’t had the chance of diving here let me say that the limestone is very soft, fragile and crumbly. Large areas are highly decorated with lots of stalactites (many soda straws), stalagmites, flow stone, draperies and so on. Due to the little flow if compared to Florida caves there is a lot of silt that lays beautifully, like dark snow if not disturbed and adds to the unique look of these limestone dissolution caves. In some parts one can see large dunes of white calcite like on a beach. Environmental specific diving skills here ask for a high level of buoyancy skills and awareness in order to enjoy the caves to the full and not to damage them.
Designated areas for zero vies drills
During the frequent visits to the caves in this area I see often visiting Cave Instructors who bring their students here to enjoy the beautiful caves while getting the training in at the same time. Great if these Instructors care about the caves, not so great if they don’t care so much. I don’t want to point fingers here but to create awareness about the local designated training areas.
I try to speak for the caves since I have the feeling that they can’t speak for themself. The NSS-CDS, IANTD and GUE training agencies introduced here in Mexico designated zero-viz skill training areas (as in Florida) in various caves with the intention to contain the potential high impact drills to areas where a lot of damage has been done in the past or areas with no decorations and bare rock.
I enjoy the underwater caves of this area very much, so much that I moved here permanently to cave dive every day multiple times. It is beautiful and if I had a wish it would be to preserve these natural resources that can’t be replaced once they are gone.
It is noble to preserve the marvels of nature for future generations, it is necessary to preserve the environment for us now since we can see the impact of our all actions so clearly.
Mental considerations
The overhead environment is depriving us of one factor open water divers are used to in emergency situations, that is the direct access to the surface in case of emergency is possible and a depth reference to the surface can be judged. Water filled Cave's are dark, full of water, might have a restricted passage and definitely have a rock ceiling. Cave divers can survive in this harsh and potential hazardous environment while carrying lights, sufficient breathing gas, stay in large passage and exercise the rule of thirds to get safely in and out of the Cave.
Fact is that in case of an emergency we must exit the Cave with that emergency all the way back we came in before we can get back to the surface and breathe ambient air. It is important that we do understand our equipment, get the proper training, use the proper techniques and procedures in order to dive the overhead environment safely.
A mental conditioning is vital for survival with a positive attitude for survival, with an understanding of the inherent risk associated with Cave diving, the willingness to strife for perfection in the art of Cave diving, the willingness to practice emergency exercises again and again until they become second nature. Cave diving is not for everyone but for experienced divers willing to make an effort and these divers will be rewarded with some of the best diving on this planet, and a truly unique experience.
Commitment
The commitment needed for Cave diving goes beyond the time spend in the water but does include serious challenges to one self physically and mentally. The rewards are great and satisfying. Enrolling in a Cave diving course is a step into a new world.
Long term commitments do not only include the investment for the proper training needed to dive the overhead environment safely. The financial commitment includes the equipment needed for this type of diving, the necessary life support equipment and the Cave diving to come, to continue and practice what was learned during the training program, not to get rusty but to practice and practice again.
Breathing gas
The breathing gas delivery system features a dual outlet valve with two first stages and two second stages. One first stage has to have a seven foot / 2 meter hose. One SPG and one inflator hose are needed and are divided between the two first stages minimizing a situation both ( SPG and inflator ) are lost at the same time if that regulator had to be shut down. Common sense tells us in event of a emergency requiring a regulator shutdown the dive should be terminated. If the divers are adhering to the rule of thirds, there will be enough gas to return to the surface and a extra pressure gauge is not needed.
Configurations vary but easy deployment, easy location and identification has to be of paramount importance. Double tanks with isolator manifold are commonly used. A sufficient quantity of gas must be carried by the diver to allow completion of the planned bottom time, utilizing the gas management rule of thirds. Furthermore, this gas supply must allow for gas matching between divers. In most double tank dual valve manifold systems, the left valve turns off in the direction of travel (counterclockwise) and in case the valve handle is bumped during the dive against the cave ceiling it is possible that the forward momentum could shut the gas supply off.
The first item that needs to be addressed is gas supply, not tank size. Experience has taught that the most logical approach to the question of gas supply can be best summed up by the statement in why is there a need for gas supply requirements ?. The first step in planning a cave penetration involves computing the amount of gas needed for the dive. This includes primary mixes and decompression mixes. Decompression systems should provide a sufficient volume of gas to complete all appropriate stops with a minimum reserve supply of one-third. Each decompression gas cylinder must be appropriately marked as to its use. It’s also suggested that regulators also be color coded or coded for easy identification. Mouthpieces should be protected to prevent from accidentally being used with the wrong mix during your decompression at the wrong depth.
Buoyancy device and harness
A harness is used to attach the tanks to the diver sandwiching the wing between the tanks and the harness. The harness is attached to a back plate made out of ABS plastic, aluminum or stainless steel, or a soft pack which is then attached to the double tanks. A buoyancy compensator has to be worn, attached to it a low pressure power inflator. Back mounted wing style wings are strongly recommended for superior trim characteristics. Openwater style BCD’s are not allowed due to limited lift capabilities and buoyancy characteristics. A crotch strap has to be worn in order to prevent the unit from “riding up”. The lift of the wing depends on equipment weight including scooters and stages if worn. Back up wings are recommended in deep dive applications or a dry suit can be used as a back up buoyancy device.
The inflation hoses coming from your primary gas supply’s first stages to your BC are either routed through loops (made of surgical rubber) on the BC or snapped to the BC. If a dry suit is used, and you are not using a separate inflator bottle, its inflator is attached via a short hose to your primary regulator’s first stage. The shorter hose helps prevent dangling or entanglement.
Dual bagged bladders create added drag and degrade performance, this will in the end may slightly increase in gas consumption. The advantage of a dual bladder in the event of a BC failure is that the diver may still function normally and make a safe ascent. Diving with a single bagged bladder provides less drag and maximizes performance. Given a choice, most divers would prefer a configuration that reduces drag. But, if there’s a chance the single bladder could fail and this failure could be life threatening, it makes good sense to sacrifice being streamlined by increasing redundancy. By opting for greater redundancy, divers need to recognize this will increase their gas consumption. They must also realize it’s going to slow them down a little. Most divers feel that redundant BC bladders cause too much drag and are therefore inefficient. Keep in mind dry suits can be used as a backup buoyancy control device.
Weights and trim
Depending on fresh water or salt water diving including exposure suit selection the amount of weight can vary greatly. Carrying to much weight should be avoided while conducting buoyancy checks before diving activity. Drop weights can be used in stable depth caves and left close to the entrance when maximum depth is reached. V-weights can be used for double tanks used in-between double tanks and kept in place by the wing and harness.
Propulsion
Open heel fins with a stiff wide and not to long blades should be used. The fin straps should be trimmed short or reversed to prevent entanglement in the guideline. Fin straps need to be adjusted to keep your feet from becoming accidentally entangled in a line. This can be done by adjusting your fins and then taping the tabs with waterproof tape. An alternative is to reverse the strap so the tabs are retained by the strap.
Vision
A low volume mask with black silicon is preferred in order to allow for easy mask clearing and prevent light glare from the side. A snorkel has no use in the cave environment and therefore should not be taken with. A spare mask can and should be carried in case the primary mask is lost or breaks during the dive. Many people prefer to store this backup mask in waist pockets or leg pockets. Wearing the your primary mask with the mask strap under the hood prevents loss of this mask.
Lights
Three lights have to be carried into the cave while each light has at least a burn time of the planned dive time, preferably 1 ½ times of the planned dive time. The primary light is usually a canister type light where the batteries and canister is worn on the right hand side of the waist strap and the light head is held in the hand or held on the back of the hand with a Goodman style handle. The primary light usually has a 35 watt output or equivalent ( HID ). The back up lights are usually worn on the left and right hand side of the chest, attached to the harness by d-rings near the collar bone. This allows easy access and control over the lights in the case of an auto activation. Batteries used in backup lights should be of the alkaline type and not rechargeable. Rechargeable batteries have a high output but when they come to the end of their life span the voltage drops very quickly leaving the diver with no light at all while alkaline batteries hold a glow for along time. A second primary light is carried by some explorers to avoid dive abortion due to primary light failure.
Back up lights should be attached to the upper body. These lights may be attached to the shoulder harness via loops and snapped to a “D” ring and attached to the harness with one on each side to avoid them becoming damaged, stuck in a cave crevice or entangled in a line. It also contributes to a lower drag profile. If you are using a rechargeable primary system, you should make sure sufficient light cord is available to allow you to loop the light behind your neck when working with lines or during cave diving.
Knife
Cave divers knifes and parachute cutters are usually small and sharp while worn on locations such as harness straps or the strap of a wrist mounted computer for easy access. A second backup knife should be worn in case the primary knife is lost. They should be kept sharp and clean. Although infrequently used, when needed ones life may depend on them. The primary knife and / or parachute line cutter should be attached to the harness or BC somewhere on the front of the upper body. In this position one can get to it quite easily. Attaching the primary knife to the calf of the leg is not a good idea, if the upper body is caught or entangled, it probably won’t be easy or possible to reach the knife.
Guidelines, reels, and spools
A variety of reels may be carried depending on the complexity of the dive plan.
Safety reel - A safety reel has to be carried by every diver at all times. Usually the safety reel has a capacity of 100 – 150 feet / 30 – 45 meters. Smaller safety reels are carried at times in smaller caves. Safety reels are usually attached to the harness’ waist “D” rings located above the hips or butt mounted on a D ring located on the crotch strap. This keeps them close to the body and minimizes the potential for entanglement.
Primary reel - A primary reel is needed to get from the openwater to the beginning of the cave line which can be at times quite far inside and well outside the daylight zone. Primary reels usually have a 300 – 400 feet / 90 meter – 120 meter capacity.
Jump or gap reels - Jump or gap reels are needed if the dive plan is to include jumps or gaps and the capacity of these reels varies from 50 – 100 foot / 15 – 30 meter.
Spools- Spools do the same job as a real but with less moving parts and fewer places to jam up. Spools can be used as a safety spool, a primary spool, or a jump/gap spool depending on diving plans and personal preferences.
Guideline - Guidelines are usually made out of nylon due to the fact that nylon is negatively buoyant and will sink to the cave floor if cut or to o much line is in the water. The braided type is common on reels and in the cave with number 22 or 24 line predominant. Twisted line is usually used in cave exploratory applications with number 18 line predominant since it is thinner line therefore allowing more linear distance of line to be on the real. Kernmantel line is found in main passages and has a yellow color braided sheath with a twisted white core and a thick diameter. Polypropylene line is not used in caves due to positive buoyancy characteristics. As of 2002 a new version of gold line has started to appear as well, this line is yellow in color, still used as was the Kernmantel but is made of a braided 5ml nylon. This is the same cord that has been used successfully in many climbing applications for years.
Line markers
Triangular line arrows are needed to help cave divers indicate the exit direction when making line jumps, mark locations or distances in the cave. They also help divers navigate around places where navigation errors could occur. At least three line markers have to be carried by the cave diver with a combination of line arrows and personal non-directional line markers, preferably three of each at the each of all dives.
Before you begin cave diving, you must prepare your mind. You must tell yourself, “I am going in. I am going to do everything right. And, I am coming back. There’s nothing in there I can’t handle. I have done my homework”. Being able to say this is important, because your mind must be conditioned to adjust to environmental changes once you enter a cave. When it comes to becoming a good cave diver, we must develop an “I can” belief system. If your mind tells you something can go wrong during your upcoming dive, you may want to consider not doing that cave dive. The more serious the dive profile, the greater the detail you should devote to the visualization. “Believe you can. Believe you can’t. Either way you are right”.
While it’s admirable that a person could devote the last moments of his or her life to those he loved, it also brings up another thought. In his or her perceived moment of tragedy, it appears the diver stopped fighting. Perhaps, the diver died because he simply gave up instead of trying to solve his problems. In this case it is quite possible that had the diver spent the time swimming and thinking, he or she would most likely be alive today!. We must all think, analyze and focus our minds on a positive solution to any and all problems. We must learn to focus our minds.
If all the steps and procedures referenced are incorporated in your habits, you will achieve any goal you set, providing you develop a positive, realistic belief in these processes. Saying, “ I want to do it ” does not accomplish anything. Belief accomplishes all. You must program your mind to believe. You must think and mentally picture the goal continuously.
Using your Mind
Think I can do it !. Most people use less than 5% of their mind’s potential. Our thoughts direct our minds & determine what / who we are. Controlling thoughts allows accomplishments. Positive thoughts yield confidence and self-esteem. Your mind and body must be exercised to realize your full potential. Reject negative beliefs.
Visualization
Get in touch with your inner being. Be quiet and find a moment and location to be relaxed. Concentrate on slow breathing and total body relaxation. Draw a mental image or feel of the upcoming dive. Picture the entire dive including surfacing safely. This develops increased awareness and allows you to rehearse the dive and improve your performance. If you get bad or foreboding feelings, abort the dive. In most accidents, at least one team member has experienced premonitions, so listen to your inner voice. Visualization should be practiced prior to every dive.
Beliefs
Beliefs originate from thoughts and surroundings. Beliefs are reinforced and improved by mental exercises. Attaining goals in increments produces in-depth belief. If we don’t believe we can accomplish a goal, we won’t. If we do, we can. Belief in our abilities and us leads to survival in seemingly impossible situations. Attitude depends on beliefs. Beliefs rely on attitudes, “Believe you can. Believe you can’t. Either way you are right.”
Attitudes
Attitudes determine how we look at an objective. Attitudes shape the quality of our lives. Cause and effect relationships mirror our attitudes Our environments are reflections of our attitudes. Strong positive attitudes will culminate in favorable results. Good attitudes make us expectant, responsible and produce success.
The more successful a person the better the attitude. Success is the result of the attitude not vice versa. Recognition and self-esteem represent the major needs in our lives. To provide this, develop a habit of making all thoughts constructive and positive. Do not waste time discussing or thinking negative thoughts.
Goals
Goals are objectives we want to accomplish. They can also be things we want to acquire. Success is the achievement of goals. Goals must be clearly defined but goal oriented diving should be avoided
Intermediate steps to accomplish the overall goal must also be established. We must believe in the goal and once accomplished, new goals should then be set. Focus your mind on the goal and remain focused, even when faced with adversity. Develop a complete and positive belief system. Constantly work on and evaluate your attitudes.
Buoyancy
Buoyancy is one of the most crucial skills in Cave diving. It provides the diver with a stable position to run lines, do tie off's, work with reel’s and pass easy through the cave and water column.
Neutral buoyancy in a horizontal position with the legs up provides the Cave Diver with a streamlined and balanced profile while that particular position does protect the Cave environment. What looks to us solid may be fragile speleothems or soft silt that can be agitated or broken with one uncontrolled touch of the hand or fin. Divers must be able to turn in a horizontal position, maintaining the horizontal position and depth without touching anything. While this requires practice it requires dedication for Cave preservation as well.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to e-mail us