Cavern class worth it?

[St.jimmy]

Hey all.
Last month, after me and my dad were doing our Nitrox course, our instructor recommended that we take a cavern course in the fall (for better buoyancy, air consumption, trim, etc). The course would be through TDI, and that's about all I know. So, to those who have taken it, is the course worth it? I got certified in December/March (had an issue with the December class, if ya wanna know, look in my old posts.), and I got nitrox in May (?). I dive a lot in a semi-local quarry,(Alabama Blue Water Adventures)a lot of cold, deep water, but anything I can get is good. My eventual plans are to go into full tech, trimix, rebreather, and possibly cave. (a LONG way away) so is cavern a good choice now?

[ianr33]

Yes! Cavern is absolutely a great class.

But you might want to get a few more dives in first.

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by ianr33

Yes! Cavern is absolutely a great class.

But you might want to get a few more dives in first.

Agreed.

[NitroWill]

I'm not sure how TDI is run but one thing you may want to look into is the prerequisites. A lot of courses require you to be 18 and have AOW. Don't rush anything - just enjoy the fact you are a diver and get some diving in building on your core skills (buoyancy, trim, water comfort, etc) before working on new skills!

[ianr33]

Student Prerequisites TDI cavern:

• Be at least age eighteen (18) or fifteen (15) with parental consent
• Show proof of a minimum certification as a certified diver with a minimum of twenty five (25) dives

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by ianr33

Student Prerequisites TDI cavern:

• Be at least age eighteen (18) or fifteen (15) with parental consent
• Show proof of a minimum certification as a certified diver with a minimum of twenty five (25) dives

I'd feel more comfortable recommending at least twice that min number of dives, but yeah.

[TommyB]

Yes it's worth it.
Here's a couple other's that are the biggies in /overhead training
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NACD prerequisites (National Association for Cave Diving
NACD Training

Cavern Diving The cavern diving course is taught in a minimum of two days and includes classroom lectures, field exercises, open water line drills and a minimum of four cavern dives. This course emphasizes planning, procedures, environment, propulsion techniques, buoyancy skills, problem solving, equipment modification and the focuses on the specialized needs of the cavern diver.

Purpose: To teach the safe exploration of the cavern environment within specified limits. The course develops and establishes minimum skills, knowledge, dive planning abilities, problem solving procedures and the basic abilities to safely cavern dive.

Prerequisites: Advanced open water or equivalent or 15 logged non training open water dives with open water certification.

Minimum Equipment: Mask, fins, 60 cubic foot or greater single cylinder, single hose regulator with an octopus and submersible pressure gauge, exposure suit suitable for diving location, BC with power inflator, slate and tables, knife, timing device, appropriate weight, reel, two battery powered lights.

NSS/CDS
CDS Training Programs Cavern / Cave

For Overhead training I'd go with either the NACD or NSS/CDS

[fireflock]

For what you want to do, I'd look at TDI Intro to Technical Diving first. It will cover kicks, trim, gear, and a bunch of other stuff that will make you better prepared for Cavern or whatever else you decide to do (or better prepared for rec diving if you decide to stick with NDLs for a while).

[ianr33]

Originally Posted by ntburchf

Prerequisites: Advanced open water or equivalent or 15 logged non training open water dives with open water certification.

So it would be within standards to take an NACD cavern course with what,10?? lifetime dives done during OW and AOW class and not a single dive beyond that?

Seems kinda low to me.

[ianr33]

Originally Posted by fireflock

For what you want to do, I'd look at TDI Intro to Technical Diving first. It will cover kicks, trim, gear, and a bunch of other stuff that will make you better prepared for Cavern or whatever else you decide to do (or better prepared for rec diving if you decide to stick with NDLs for a while).

Cavern is not considered a technical class. In fact you might have to argue to be allowed to use technical gear (doubles) in a cavern class.(makes no sense to me either)

I'm sure TDI Intro to tech is a fine course but its really not needed for cavern.