TDI STAGE CAVE DIVER
QUICK OVERVIEW
The TDI Cave Stage Diver course is an advanced cave diving program. It is designed for divers who are already certified as Full Cave divers and who want to extend bottom times and/or penetration distance using stage cylinders.
You will learn to plan dives with more complex gas management and longer bottom times, as well as multiple methods of cylinder rigging and staging, according to the environment.
IN A NUTSHELL
Proper mind-set, stress recognition and management as well as developing a high level of awareness are all very important aspects of technical and cave diving. As penetration distances, bottom times, and exposure to cold and fatigue increase, new challenges arise and divers get closer to the physiological and psychological limits.
Equipment will be left behind and “staged” on the guideline which makes conservation of the cave environment a central aspect of this course.
Students will learn how to plan more complex dives, also considering:
- advanced gas management procedures with a third cylinder
- redundancy aspects with a third (or more) cylinder
- proper rigging and configuration of stage cylinders
- proper staging of stage cylinders along the guideline
- retrieving stage cylinders in all conditions (including low-visibility)
- problem solving
SUBJECT AREAS (non exhaustive)
During our TDI Stage Cave Diver Course, we will focus on the following aspect (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… White board 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, in order to minimise 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 clear mindset coupled with sound judgement in stressful situations.
PRE-REQUISITES
Students must be 18 years old, and - certified as a TDI Nitrox diver (or equivalent), as we use Nitrox32 as a standard breathing gas - certified as a TDI Full Cave diver (or equivalent) - have a minimum of 100 logged dives.
COURSE DURATION AND COMBOS
The TDI Stage Cave Diver Course has a duration of 3 days. 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 4 days. If you are a Full Cave diver from a recognized agency: TDI Stage Cave diver + 1 check/review day = 4 days - $1,200 USD