Cavern dive instructor recommendations

[The Chairman]

I like Rob's style. He's calm, even when the caca hits the fan. I've taken a rebreather class with him and have dove caves with him as well. I also like Rick Murcar, Reggie Ross and Jim Wyatt. They have all contributed to my cave learning over the years.

 

[Imbodie]

This is a timely thread for me. I'll be heading home (to Tallahassee) for a couple of weeks at Thanksgiving. I expect to have just completed TDI AN/DP at that point (using back mount doubles).

I was hoping to make arrangements and take Cavern from Edd while I'm down there.

- If I dive back mount doubles, should I be considering to take the course from someone different? An earlier post implied that Edd was the man for side mount, but left it open as to whether he would be a good go-to for back mount.

- What does Intro get me beyond Cavern? I looked at the course descriptions on CA's training site and it doesn't really detail that. I'm not really planning to start doing much, if any, cave or cavern diving. I really enjoyed the cenote dives I did in MX and would do that again, if I were down there. The course is as much for improving my dive skills as anything. Though I am originally from north FL and expect to continue to visit regularly, so I suppose cave diving could happen...

- Someone mentioned combining Cavern (? or Intro?) with side mount training. What are more details on doing something like that? Would I expect to spend an extra day (or more) doing side mount training? Or would it just be integrated right into Cavern, requiring no extra days of classroom and no additional dives? Basically, just the extra cost of renting a side mount rig and cylinders?

- It sounds like doing Cavern back mount is fine. Is Intro also okay to do in back mount? Or, at what point in the Cave progression would I really NEED to be diving side mount?

I'm not really expecting to switch to side mount, but I do like learning new stuff, so learning how to dive side mount would be cool. At least, if it doesn't cost me a lot of extra time and money.

The biggest issue I had while a cavern diver (3 years before moving to NAUI Cave1) was that I could only dive single tank at Ginnie and diving on the "cave" spring run. IF I was at the Ballroom they did not care. So Cavern + Intro would keep you from that limitation.

TALK to your cavern/cave instructor if you don't get along on the surface, you don't want to take a class with them.

Try Side Mount, you might like it.

Tim

 

[karstdvr]

The biggest issue I had while a cavern diver (3 years before moving to NAUI Cave1) was that I could only dive single tank at Ginnie and diving on the "cave" spring run. IF I was at the Ballroom they did not care. So Cavern + Intro would keep you from that limitation.

That is one cavern, at one of the most expensive,beat up caves there is. Wow, there are so many cool caverns to dive, and many at places that there is no fee, or very marginal.

---------- Post added September 23rd, 2015 at 05:55 AM ----------

your instructor is likely to hold you to a much higher standard including buoyancy, trim and kicks. At this level you will be cave diving and cave instructors that I have met take this very seriously. And if you don't meet their standards they can/will Fail you.

If a cavern class is holding someone to a lesser standard level than an intro class, then there is a serious problem. Plus I would hope that any instructor teaching overhead considers it very important,regardless if it is in the light zone or not. If there is an instructor who has frivolous training at the cavern level, and then adheres to stricter levels at the intro plus level, then I would move along and find another instructor.

 

[tbone1004]

Edd will teach in backmount, but if you're wanting to do it in backmount, I would recommend meandering down to the Peacock/Ginnie area and take the class in backmount, which a backmount instructor. There are still plenty down there that still dive and teach backmount. If you want to learn sidemount, then pick your instructor and go. I would recommend going with Edd because he has a much wider variety of gear available to students that no other instructor I'm aware of has for use. You can try the LTZ/XT from Dive Rite, Hollis SMS75/100, Hog, Halcyon Contour, and a couple others without having to purchase before you show up. I don't know of any other instructors that have this much gear freely available to the students.

 

[The Chairman]

That is one cavern, at one of the most expensive,beat up caves there is.

It's also one of the toughest too! Dive it with a blacklight and you'll see almost every tank impact down there. Staggering!

 

[uncfnp]

If a cavern class is holding someone to a lesser standard level than an intro class, then there is a serious problem. Plus I would hope that any instructor teaching overhead considers it very important,regardless if it is in the light zone or not. If there is an instructor who has frivolous training at the cavern level, and then adheres to stricter levels at the intro plus level, then I would move along and find another instructor.

No one said anything about frivolous training. Your words only.

I am not an instructor and it is not for me to judge appropriateness of standards. But the very differences in written requirements for Cavern and Intro show different standards. Cavern is generally considered still at the recreational level while in my experience and understanding, Into to Cave is considered tech level and as such requires a higher level of competency, gear and fundamental skills.

My personal experience is that at least some instructors will allow trim, buoyancy and kicks that may get you passed in Cavern but will not fly in Intro and even less so in Apprentice, etc.

 

[MikeT73]

If a cavern class is holding someone to a lesser standard level than an intro class, then there is a serious problem. Plus I would hope that any instructor teaching overhead considers it very important,regardless if it is in the light zone or not.

In my training, Cavern was basically "boot camp" in preparation for cave diving. It contained the most academics, and taught probably 2/3 of the necessary overhead survival drills. My instructor's pass/fail rate for taking it the first time was about 60/40. I recommend this class for AOW divers looking to improve their diving even if they never plan to cave dive.

I think what uncfnp was saying is that having a good handle on buoyancy and trim is a prerequisite for completing Cavern, but the bar is set progressively higher as you continue your overhead training. This was my experience, anyway.

 

[Imbodie]

That is one cavern, at one of the most expensive,beat up caves there is. Wow, there are so many cool caverns to dive, and many at places that there is no fee, or very marginal.

I AM ALL ABOUT the state parks... But Ginnie has caverns as well and its not THAT beat up. The point was about the limitations not about the cave. My favorite cavern dive was Little River, thought after making the next jump Peacock is now my fav.

Tim

 

[PfcAJ]

Ginnie has caverns as well and its not THAT beat up.

Wut...

 

[The Chairman]

I think what uncfnp was saying is that having a good handle on buoyancy and trim is a prerequisite for completing Cavern, but the bar is set progressively higher as you continue your overhead training. This was my experience, anyway.

This is as it should be. Your skills should be commensurate with the level you're aspiring to.