FAQ ABOUT CAVE DIVING
What is cave diving ?
Cave diving is a thrilling form of penetration diving, similar to wreck, ice, and mine diving. Unlike open water diving, cave divers don't have direct access to the surface; they must manage any issues underwater and navigate back through the cave to reach safety.
A continuous guideline is laid out to mark the way to the exit, ensuring divers can always find their way back. Over the years, cave diving has driven significant advancements in diving gear, techniques, and configurations.
Why is cave diving considered a separate cursus ?
Cave diving stands out as one of the most sophisticated forms of technical diving. It often incorporates various advanced elements such as diving at greater depths, decompression diving, and using breathing mixtures other than air. However, it also involves unique challenges like diving under a ceiling, navigating significant distances to the exit, maneuvering through confined spaces, and diving in complete darkness.
This demanding activity requires divers to be highly skilled and equipped with specialized gear to handle the complexities of the underwater cave environment.
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When did it start and where ?
In its early days, a number of daring explorers across Europe, including the South of France, embraced the challenges of cave diving. The first organized cave diving activities were documented when the Cave Diving Group was founded in England in the late 1930s. This group was established to provide basic safety training to English cavers, marking the beginning of formal cave diving practices.
Who can become a cave diver ?
Students interested in cave diving must demonstrate above-average fundamental skills and the right mindset. Cave diving requires a high level of preparation, knowledge, and technical abilities. Divers must exhibit a safe and conservative attitude, as well as a willingness to learn and improve continuously.
Is it necessary to undergo specific training to cave dive ?
It's true; no amount of open water diving experience can fully prepare you for the unique challenges of the cave environment. The majority of divers who have tragically lost their lives in underwater caves were not specifically trained for cave diving. Alarmingly, many of these individuals were actually experienced open water scuba instructors. Cave diving presents an entirely different set of risks, emphasizing the importance of specialized training and knowledge to safely navigate the complex and unforgiving cave systems. It truly highlights the adage, "you don't know how much you don't know."
Where can I train ?
You can train in many places, but we strongly recommend taking your course in an area with an active cave diving community. This ensures you receive the most modern training available. Mexico is widely recognized as the best place to train, as it is home to some of the greatest cave divers in the world who enjoy and explore the largest cave systems globally.
How do cave divers find their way out ?
Cave divers lay and follow a continuous guideline from the open water to the deepest point of penetration and use it to navigate their way out. They are trained to handle situations such as losing the guideline, getting entangled in it, or finding it broken on their return journey. This training ensures they can safely manage unexpected challenges in the cave environment.
How do cave divers manage their gas supply ?
Cave divers use the “rule of thirds” as a minimum safety measure for gas management. This rule ensures that divers always keep at least two-thirds of their gas supply for exiting the cave. One-third covers the exit distance under normal circumstances, while the remaining third serves as a safety reserve in case of problems or delayed exits. This practice helps ensure divers have enough gas to safely navigate out of the cave even in unexpected situations.
What kind of equipment is used ?
Cave divers utilize redundant life support equipment arranged in a clean, streamlined, and accessible configuration, adhering to a minimalist mindset. They typically employ back-mounted twin cylinders, side-mounted cylinders, or rebreathers. Advanced cave divers often use stage/decompression cylinders and Diver Propulsion Vehicles (DPVs) to enhance their diving experience and safety.
Is it true that cave diving is a dangerous activity ?
For some outsiders, cave diving is perceived as one of the most dangerous sports in the world. However, cave diving actually boasts extraordinarily high safety records among specifically trained cave divers. Modern cave diving instructors and agencies assert that cave diving is safer than recreational open water diving. This is due to the high prerequisites in terms of experience, training, time, and equipment cost.
Accident analysis databases suggest that very few divers have died while following accepted rules and protocols, and using proper equipment configurations recognized by the cave diving community.
What can I expect from my course ?
Cave diving training is rigorous and demanding, requiring extensive knowledge, advanced diving techniques, and mental preparation. Throughout your training, you'll master handling redundant gear configurations, complex dive planning, and meticulous gas management. The program will reinforce your fundamental skills and help you develop the appropriate mindset for cave diving, enhancing your awareness and understanding of the cave environment.
Which hazards are specific to cave diving ?
Cave diving is one of the most challenging forms of diving. Visibility can range from nearly unlimited to non-existent and can change rapidly. Divers must navigate with a ceiling overhead, preventing direct access to the surface in case of problems. The cave systems can be complex, increasing the risk of getting lost, especially given the limited supply of breathing gas. This leaves little room for mistakes or confusion.
Additional hazards include complete darkness, confined spaces, strong currents and siphons, long distances to the exit, silt outs, entanglement, disorientation, varying depths, and yo-yo dive profiles, among others. Cave divers must be highly prepared to handle these extreme conditions safely.