Cavern Cert

[a22shady]

I was wondering i am thingking about heading out to Ginnie Springs in Florida for a long weekend just to do some fun diving after speaking with some people from there i was leaning to actually just taking a cavern course while i am there since it is something that i have interest in along with wreck. Currently i am only OW/Nitrox/Drysuit I had planned to do my AOW but ran out of time this year. My question is if i get Certified as a Cavern Diver does that over ride the AOW / Wreck course? If i am cert as i cavern does that cert. me to go to 100ft. Also planning on doing wrecks eventually. So having this cert. would that allow me to enter Wrecks? From how it seems Cavern Is higer level training course In My mind i can see how yes i may be able to do wrecks but figured i would ask and let the more experinced out there Answer this.

Thanks for the Help

 

[I Dive]

Have you considered an English Composition course?

 

[ucfdiver]

Well, I've had some issues getting on dive boats where their insurance specifically states you need AOW (I'm OW Nitrox & Full cave, no AOW or recreational certs besides nitrox). Anywhere else I would assume they have the common sense to realize cavern is typically harder than AOW. Cavern certifies a max depth of 100ft, or 130ft linear penetration from the surface, whichever is lesser. Cavern class certainly doesn't prepare you for wreck diving, other than the most basic skills dealing with overhead environments.

This is just my opinion, but I think it makes more sense to take cavern & intro together, then apprentice/full together.

 

[willgr1]

AOW is a pre-req for Cavern....for IANTD and NACD at least, NSS-CDS should be the same I would assume.

 

[a22shady]

When i looked for NSS-CDS it was recomended to have AOW didn't say you had to

 

[a22shady]

Have you considered an English Composition course?

Actually i have not, So i guess its a good thing computers have spell check and sentence structure O wait i dont use that either obviously So if you have a problem with it "Dont read my Threads" And if you have nothing pertaining to the topic you dont need to post comments here either. If you want to help someone in writing Go be a teacher.

 

[ucfdiver]

AOW is a pre-req for Cavern....for IANTD and NACD at least, NSS-CDS should be the same I would assume.

No, it's not. My full cave is through NACD and I don't have AOW.

NACD Training

Prerequisites: Advanced open water or equivalent or 15 logged non training open water dives with open water certification.

 

[TSandM]

I don't know what you mean by "override". Cavern is an excellent training course, and will work on your buoyancy control, teach you alternative kicks, and introduce you to line skills.

But caves and wrecks are different animals; although they are both overheads, caves do not tend to have sharp edges or hanging wires or cables, and caves tend to be more stable than wrecks. Caves are relatively static environments -- generally not subject to tides and currents and surface weather conditions. There is no issue of getting back to the anchor line and up to the boat when cave diving!

I think cavern is a good "next step" class for someone who has access to it, but wreck penetration beyond simple swim-throughs really should wait until your skills in open water are very solid, and you have experience with depth and current and limited viz and practice with navigation, IMO.

 

[LiteHedded]

Well, I've had some issues getting on dive boats where their insurance specifically states you need AOW (I'm OW Nitrox & Full cave, no AOW or recreational certs besides nitrox). Anywhere else I would assume they have the common sense to realize cavern is typically harder than AOW. Cavern certifies a max depth of 100ft, or 130ft linear penetration from the surface, whichever is lesser. Cavern class certainly doesn't prepare you for wreck diving, other than the most basic skills dealing with overhead environments.

This is just my opinion, but I think it makes more sense to take cavern & intro together, then apprentice/full together.

my cavern card says 130'

 

[LiteHedded]

AOW is a pre-req for Cavern....for IANTD and NACD at least, NSS-CDS should be the same I would assume.

i never took AOW
I'm IANTD tech. cave.