TDI STAGE CAVE DIVER COURSE
DURATION
4 days
IN A NUTSHELL
The TDI Stage Cave Diver course is designed for divers who want to explore caves further, extending their bottom time while refining their skills in complex gas planning and additional equipment management. You'll learn how to handle stage cylinders efficiently, optimize gas reserves, and execute longer penetrations safely.
With an additional redundant cylinder, divers gain greater versatility in gas management and the possibility for thirds' recalculation, allowing for extra contingency planning and increased safety in case of unexpected situations.
A key focus is cave conservation, ensuring proper cylinder staging techniques to protect the delicate environment. This course is essential preparation for advanced cave training, including Deco Cave and DPV Cave.
Longer bottom times and greater distances introduce new psychological and physiological challenges, requiring strong awareness, stress management, and endurance to maintain peak performance throughout the dive.
PRE-REQUISITES
Students must be 18 years old, and:
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certified as a TDI Nitrox diver (or equivalent), as we use Nitrox32 as a standard breathing gas
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certified as a TDI Full Cave diver (or equivalent)
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have a minimum of 10 logged cave dives
SUBJECT AREAS
During our TDI Stage Cave Diver Course, we will focus on the following aspects (on top of reviewing everything else from previous levels) Underwater: - valve drill with an additional cylinder - bump-and-go procedure in low/no visibility with an additional cylinder - passing restrictions with an additional cylinder - pull-and-glide propulsion technique with an additional cylinder - problem solving on the additional cylinder (leakage, valve failure, rigging failure, etc) - staging on the guideline - retrieving stage cylinder in all conditions (including zero visibility) On land: Gear workshop, land-drills and simulations of procedures - rigging of stage cylinders - regulator configuration - valve drills with an additional cylinder Briefings and de-briefings - pretty much everything… Whiteboard presentations and discussions - advanced gas planning and management with an additional cylinder - specific dangers and consideration for longer penetration distances - 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. Stage Cave divers will use more complex gas planning and management which require a high level of concentration. Also as we leave equipment staged on the guideline, one must have great skills and a good knowledge of the cave environment, especially cave bottoms, to minimize our impact on this very fragile environment. Longer penetrations require stamina and advanced navigational and referencing methods to avoid disorientation. The TDI Stage Cave Diver course provides you with simple, efficient protocols and helps you develop a clear mindset coupled with sound judgment in stressful situations.
DURATION OF THE COURSE
The TDI Stage Cave Diver Course has a duration of 4 days. Divers who have not trained with CDT Mexico at previous levels must complete a day of review for a skills assessment. This also applies if: - You have not dived the previous level in over 3 months. - Your previous course with us was more than 12 months ago.
DURATION OF THE COURSES
PRICE OF TRAINING
MEANING OF "PERFORMANCE-BASED TRAINING"
BEFORE STARTING THE COURSE / BOOKING
HOW TO PREPARE FOR A COURSE