TDI FULL CAVE DIVER COURSE
QUICK OVERVIEW
The TDI Full Cave Diver Course is the last of the 3-parts “basic” cave diving curriculum, following the Cavern and Intro to Cave Diver Courses.
It extends the skills and knowledge of Intro to Cave divers to plan and engage into more complex dives, including unlimited penetration distances, complex navigation and swimming through confined spaces and restricted passages.
IN A NUTSHELL
We will help you enhance previously learned skills to technically better fit new and more challenging situations. You’ll learn to consider new physiological and psychological aspects as distance and bottom time increase. Also, you’ll be pushed closer to your stress limits.
Students will learn how to plan more complex dives, also considering:
- the use of the rule of 1/3 and conservatism aspects
- complex navigation (permanent intersections, jumps and gaps)
- complex circuits and traverses
- passing restrictions
SUBJECT AREAS (non exhaustive)
During our TDI Full Cave Diver Course, we will focus on the following aspect (on top of reviewing everything else from previous levels) Underwater: - refining fundamentals skills - advanced and modified propulsion techniques - advanced touch contact communication in low/no visibility - bump-and-go procedure in low/no visibility - passing restrictions properly - pull-and-glide propulsion technique - problem solving from previous levels in low/no visibility (leakages, valves failures, etc) - cutting and repairing the guideline in zero-visibility (blind-folded) On land: Land-drills and simulations of procedures - complex navigation (permanent intersections, jumps and gaps) - lost line in zero-visibility - line cut and repair in zero-visibility - team separation during a complex navigation dive / lost diver in zero-visibility Briefings and de-briefings - pretty much everything… White board presentations and discussions - rule of 1/3 and conservatism - specific dangers and consideration for longer penetration distances and confined spaces - psychological and physiological considerations - mind-control and stress recognition and management - impact and cave conservation
MEET NEW CHALLENGES
Greater distances require a higher level of self-awareness from the divers, as physical and psychological challenges increase. Full Cave divers can pass intersections and place temporary lines to perform jumps, gaps, circuits, and traverses. Complex navigation requires refined diving techniques and advanced referencing methods to avoid disorientation. As divers venture into smaller passages, the risk of being stuck or to be entangled increases exponentially. The TDI Full Cave Diver course provides you with simple, efficient protocols and helps you develop clear mindset coupled with sound judgement in stressful situations.
PRE-REQUISITES
Students must be 18 years old, and - certified as a TDI Intro to Tech diver (or equivalent or proven experience), if training in a backmount configuration - certified as a TDI Sidemount diver (or equivalent or proven experience), if training in a sidemount configuration - certified as a TDI Nitrox diver (or equivalent), as we use Nitrox32 as a standard breathing gas - certified as a TDI Intro to Cave diver (or equivalent) - have a minimum of 50 logged dives
COURSE DURATION AND COMBOS
The TDI Full Cave Diver Course has a duration of 4 days (and a minimum of 8 cave dives), if combined with the TDI Intro to Cave diver course with CDT Mexico directly, and immediately after. An additional day of training for reviews and checks is required for students coming from another instructors/area and who wishes to continue their training with CDT Mexico. In this case the minimal duration is 5 days. If you are an Intro to Cave + Sidemount and/or Intro to Tech diver from a recognized agency: TDI Full Cave diver + 1 check/review day = 5 days If you are a Cavern + Sidemount and/or Intro to Tech diver from a recognized agency: TDI Intro to Cave + TDI Full Cave diver + 1 check/review day = 7 days If you are a Sidemount and/or Intro to Tech diver from a recognized agency: TDI Cavern + TDI Intro to Cave + TDI Full Cave diver + 1 check/review day = 10 days If you start from scratch, and wish to train in Backmount configuration: TDI Intro to Tech + TDI Cavern + TDI Intro to Cave + TDI Full Cave diver = 12 days If you start from scratch, and wish to train in Sidemount configuration: TDI Sidemount + TDI Cavern + TDI Intro to Cave + TDI Full Cave diver = 13 days