CCR Cave - Why take it?

[Germie]

And how did the divers do when they came back?

From what I read the cave knowledge itself was ok. But the problems where some theory and mastering the ccr.
These are the things I see too that are the biggest obstacles in a oc tot ccr cave crossover.
So from the point of the diver seen, they know the cave rules, so they think they can dive a ccr in a cave. But the diver needs a mirror to see that the skills on oc are mastered, but the bouyancy on ccr need a lot of attention.

And I guess sometimes you also have cave divers that come for a crossover and know exactly what they are doing. Then this divers maybe or probably will say it is not usefull. You will never change that. That is the problem in diving, some can do without, but a lot or maybe most not.

But diving ccr is different from diving oc and it takes time to master bouyancy on a ccr. A ccr requires more attention and committment. And by this, some divers get a ccr cert, but are almost never able to do more advanced dives because they miss the feeling, or the willing to practise things. They think what I can do on oc, I can do on ccr. But this last thing is only giving to a few talented to ccr divers.

The ccr is a ^%#^%*^&*^*&(( **** machine, it takes more time to prepare, it requires more attention when diving, it requires a lot of practise and after the dive it requires time too because of cleaning and drying. If you are not willing to do this, then the ccr is maybe not for you.
This is what I always tell to people who think about ccr diving, or who think it is all easy.

 

[BoltSnap]

@Capt Jim Wyatt

Are there any CCR cave diver courses that allow a diver already certified on a specific CCR to start with an "Intro to Cave" course using their CCR setup and progress through the entire cave diver training program with CCR, similar to the structure for OC cave diving? Or is completing the whole cave training program in OC mandatory before transitioning to cave CCR?

 

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

NSS-CDS standards allow it. Most instructors would prefer you do the 1st half of the course on OC.

 

[Germie]

@Capt Jim Wyatt

Are there any CCR cave diver courses that allow a diver already certified on a specific CCR to start with an "Intro to Cave" course using their CCR setup and progress through the entire cave diver training program with CCR, similar to the structure for OC cave diving? Or is completing the whole cave training program in OC mandatory before transitioning to cave CCR?

Most agencies allow intro to cave on ccr.

 

[kensuf]

NSS-CDS, TDI, and IANTD allow for someone to do all of their cave training on CCR. The NSS-CDS allows someone to do the first half on OC then the second half on CCR and earn both certifications. To get both through TDI or IANTD you need to complete full cave on OC then you can go through a CCR Crossover / Upgrade program.

 

[Wibble]

Are there any CCR cave diver courses that allow a diver already certified on a specific CCR to start with an "Intro to Cave" course using their CCR setup and progress through the entire cave diver training program with CCR, similar to the structure for OC cave diving? Or is completing the whole cave training program in OC mandatory before transitioning to cave CCR?

Main issue with CCR in overheads is it requires properly sorted CCR and core skills. Doing Cavern or Intro to Cave on CCR also needs those skills.

CCR cave was very CCR-centric, almost like doing a tough MOD2 plus all the cave skills on top.

One would think that doing Cavern or Intro to Cave would be much more simple if done on OC simply as the CCR skills aren't required -- bailouts, flushes, failures, SCR, etc., etc.

 

[Alekseolsen]

@Capt Jim Wyatt

Are there any CCR cave diver courses that allow a diver already certified on a specific CCR to start with an "Intro to Cave" course using their CCR setup and progress through the entire cave diver training program with CCR, similar to the structure for OC cave diving? Or is completing the whole cave training program in OC mandatory before transitioning to cave CCR?

I did Intro to cave on OC, then full cave on CCR. TDI. At least i were happy with that arrangement!

 

[BoltSnap]

I did Intro to cave on OC, then full cave on CCR. TDI. At least i were happy with that arrangement!

You didn't wish you should have done the training on OC and did the CCR upgrade later? No issues at all with you doing what you did with CCR?

 

[AJ]

You didn't wish you should have done the training on OC and did the CCR upgrade later? No issues at all with you doing what you did with CCR?

I did intro and full cave om ccr. Is it wise to do so? Don't know because I can't undo my training and go an other route.

Speaking for myself, I'am very comfortable with my ccr, but in hindsight doing it OC would have been easier in some ways. Buoyancy is a lot harder with ccr while placing cookies and tying lines. No doubt about it. You have to have your skills set on a high level before attempting a cave diver course with ccr in my opinion. The upside is that a ccr gives you way more options and a lot less 'gas anxiety'. A t least it did for me.

Bottom line is: decide for yourself what's the best route, nobody can answer that question for you.

 

[Alekseolsen]

You didn't wish you should have done the training on OC and did the CCR upgrade later? No issues at all with you doing what you did with CCR?

I dont regret it no, but the time I took full cave I were only diving CCR in open water. I do believe it would be easier in OC, but getting the lessons on CCR were valuable to me. Also lost line drills etc. Felt a lot better on CCR as "one has time".

Guess I'm also of the minority that were approaching 100 cave-hours on intro level.