Cavern course?

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

I suggest training in at least one cavern that has high flow, such as the Ginnie Springs Ballroom. There are a lot of decent cavern instructors around, there are even some excellent ones.

You can ask members here their opinions, ask them to DM you or call you about various cavern instructors.

The NSS-CDS cavern course is not a prerequisite for nor does it count toward any later cave diver certification but it is an excellent course to give you s taste of the overhead without having to first invest in a lot of equipment. You can take this class in your normal open water gear with minor modifications.

 

[MichaelMc]

You can take this class in your normal open water gear with minor modifications

Is cavern now a single tank only class? For some of us sidemount is our normal open water gear.

 

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

Is cavern now a single tank only class?

Yes, cavern is a single tank course.

 

[tursiops]

Yes, cavern is a single tank course.

But a single is not required, right?

 

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

But a single is not required, right?

Cavern may not be taken in double tanks IAW NSSCDS standards.

 

[tursiops]

Cavern may not be taken in double tanks IAW NSSCDS standards.

And other agencies? I now PADI does not allow doubles. TDI does, but limites the dive to 1/6 rather than thirds. Both agencies are moot on sidemount. If single tanks, don't most agencies require Y/H valves with two first stages?

 

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

If single tanks, don't most agencies require Y/H valves with two first stages?

We are talking cavern classes here, not cave. The following is copied directly from the NSSCDS standards section.
====================================================================
The NSS-CDS Cavern Diver course is a safety and awareness course aimed at open-water sport divers. It is not a prerequisite for, nor does it count toward Cave Diver training and certification.
Students in the Cavern Diver course use standard, single-tank sport diving equipment. They may not use sidemount, backmounted doubles or CCRs.

 

[tursiops]

We are talking cavern classes here, not cave. The following is copied directly from the NSSCDS standards section.
====================================================================
The NSS-CDS Cavern Diver course is a safety and awareness course aimed at open-water sport divers. It is not a prerequisite for, nor does it count toward Cave Diver training and certification.
Students in the Cavern Diver course use standard, single-tank sport diving equipment. They may not use sidemount, backmounted doubles or CCRs.

I am not disputing the NSSCDS standards.
I am mentioning that other agencies also teach Cavern, with different standards.

 

[MichaelMc]

Cavern may not be taken in double tanks IAW NSSCDS standards.

Thanks. I do have a freedom plate.

Some reasons for that are understandable, though part of the 'why take' becomes amusing:
- Improve the functionality of their single-tank, recreational dive gear. (which they donned and dialed in that week for the class...)

 

[rddvet]

Cavern may not be taken in double tanks IAW NSSCDS standards.

That seems like a huge step backwards. In the past it was either/or. Why is not allowing doubles even a thing?
There's alot I haven't agreed with the CDS on, but this one almost takes the cake.