Dsat Technical Dive Training- Austin

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Pardon my first post if you've read it-I answered my own question (helps if I really READ it).

Where/how you doing the cavern portion at Travis?

You will run line into the grottos down either below the point at Mansfield or at Windy Point public. You may also swim the keyhole over at Volente, or even the "wave" down the ledge from the grottos at Mansfield (cove side). Make sure and bring the long reel since these overhangs are quite large and overwhelming.
 
In the Caribbean maybe.

In low viz,cold water, a very silty bottom and large trees to get entangled in (e.g.Lake Travis) maybe not..

Someone's never been to Mansfield. Granted, I was cruising around at 140-150 one day, and I was narced fairly good, and I seemed to find the only tree down there when we decided to thumb the dive. POW, right in the head. But that's the only tree I've seen worth anything down near the dam. The rest of it is pretty much a slope down to 50-70, then a good drop to 90-130, then the flood plain out to what's left of the river bed (basically a LOT of silt deposit)
 
You will run line into the grottos down either below the point at Mansfield or at Windy Point public. You may also swim the keyhole over at Volente, or even the "wave" down the ledge from the grottos at Mansfield (cove side). Make sure and bring the long reel since these overhangs are quite large and overwhelming.

Referring to the LT grottos as caverns might be a bit of a stretch, :wink: but after looking at the PADI website (thanks Alan) the Cavern course is a recreational course that doesn't appear to require work in an actual cavern. The focus of the course seems to be on skills...which is acceptable to me. Besides, no one should be caving without technical experience and a cave certification.
 
So you can be a cavern diver without ever having been in a cavern?

Sounds great!

Sure this is all you need...
 

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So you can be a cavern diver without ever having been in a cavern?

Sounds great!

Have you been cavern diving? It's not cave diving. It's a recreational dive. You don't need to be in an overhead environment to practice and learn the required skills. I'm sure Paul has something in mind to simulate it...maybe he even knows where a cavern is. Regardless, you'll come away with the skills.
 
Have you been cavern diving? It's not cave diving. It's a recreational dive. You don't need to be in an overhead environment to practice and learn the required skills. I'm sure Paul has something in mind to simulate it...maybe he even knows where a cavern is. Regardless, you'll come away with the skills.

Understood, but it is still a unique environment that I believe should be explored under supervision first. If for no other reason, to get an understanding of what really constitutes a "cavern" versus a "cave" when under the water.

I've never been a fan of simulation. Considering that this will allow divers to present a cert card to an operator to allow entry into an overhead environment (even if minimally), I think that caution would call for true experience.

Would anyone here consider holding a simulated dry suit session and have it count toward certification?

Just food for thought and my 2 euros (if I could afford them). I'm sure that Paul has the teaching experience to make this call.
 
Understood, but it is still a unique environment that I believe should be explored under supervision first. If for no other reason, to get an understanding of what really constitutes a "cavern" versus a "cave" when under the water.

I've never been a fan of simulation.

I don't disagree...simulation is not always as good as the real deal, but I also think there are certain situations and skills you can do successfully in a similuation. I'd include certain intro classes in that group...PADI Wreck, PADI Cavern, Intro to Tech classes.

I'm not sure how you'd simulate a dry suit dive...lots of ballons maybe? :wink: So, I'm not feeling like that's much of a comparison.

Before we get too far off track maybe we should wait and hear what Paul has to say about where the training will take place. Maybe it'll be something cool like practice skills in LT and finish up the class in the cenotes of the Yucatan. :D
 
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