CDS Board Unanimously Approves Cave Diver Supervisor Program

[syntaxerrorsix]

Well, with all do respect, some folks are not that selfish. Also, the cave diving community is MUCH smaller then the OW community. It can be hard as a new cavern or intro diver to find an experienced buddy who is willing to dive at that level. Most buddies are found by posing on CDF , hey I need a buddy. That can be a very scary task. Who are you diving with!? I dive with lots of Intro divers. I do so because I know how it is to be an intro diver and not be able to find anyone to dive with.

I do not see this as a guide program as much as I see it a mentoring program. I see it as help for those people who want to get to the next level in cave diving and want to do so safely and with a competent buddy that can help teach them the standards they will be expected to dive to at that next level. The people who want a guide to take them on a double stage scooter dive to the Hinkle are not the ones who are going to need this program. The ones who are new and not local and not able to dive a few weekends a month like some of us are and want to work on running a reel, or gear configuration are the ones this will help!

I am 100% behind this program. I myself am going to try to be one of the first to be tested out. It is not about the money to me. It is about helping those who want to seek it in a safe manner.

So is it safe to assume that those offering this Cave Supervisor certification are doing it for free as well?

 

[JamesK]

So is it safe to assume that those offering this Cave Supervisor certification are doing it for free as well?

Absolutely. Those wanting to enter the program will not be charged a fee to enter. This is not a money making endeavor for the CDS.

 

[chrpai]

Well, with all do respect, some folks are not that selfish.

I am not selfish. I've had several divers PM me on this board asking to be shown Lake Travis and I always love doing so. I just don't want to have to pay several hundred dollars a year in professional dues and insurance to be able to donate my time.

 

[JamesK]

I am not selfish. I've had several divers PM me on this board asking to be shown Lake Travis and I always love doing so. I just don't want to have to pay several hundred dollars a year in professional dues and insurance to be able to donate my time.

I only used the word selfish, because you used it first. It was not meant to be disrespectful.

 

[chrpai]

It's clear those in the community think it's a good idea. As an outsider it just seems like there's a few missing pieces to me. Requirement/Availability of insurance and the whole "paid guide" thing are throwing me off.

 

[daniel f aleman]

What? Huh?

Those North Florida people never get it right; a newly elected Board feel-good program that does't cost anything, except to the "mentor". This type of sanctioned program does not work at the agency level, and will have no effect on the current mantra of the CDS attempt of "redefining itself". Many in the CDS feel that their organization is becoming irrelevant to underwater cave issues (eg. the NACD), and that it is also losing instruction market share to TDI, NAUI, and IANTD-- they are completely correct about that. Maybe the intent here is the Board trying to counter those CDS members who advocate eliminating instruction and towards a focus on cave conservation.

(What say you Jim, Joe, and Tony to the elimination of instruction in the CDS?)

Anyway, for years our Texas shop cave instructors have offered free monthly seminars (both academic and in-water) for certified Cavern-Cave divers, who are also encouraged to dive with and mentor each other.

 

[Tortuga68]

This will not be a “cash cow” for anyone. It will be a free service that members of the CDS will provide for all cave divers in the hopes of furthering two of our stated missions, promoting cave safety and conservation...

...Since the CDS is an international organization this will also mean that divers on holiday anywhere in the world will have a standard by which they can judge a guide they might choose to hire

So is it free, or are they hiring them?

Is it open to people certified under any agency, or just CDS (the person being guided/mentored)?

 

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

So is it free, or are they hiring them?

Is it open to people certified under any agency, or just CDS (the person being guided/mentored)?

No one is charging anyone anything. The mentor will be required to pay for their own liability insurance. The mentoring certification program is open to anyone who meets the prerequisites, no matter what internationally recognized cave diver certification card they present.

The purpose is to have a list of folks who are sanctioned by the CDS as mentors. This will help newer cave divers be able to find someone to dive with and to have some assurance that the dive buddy will be competent and diving mainstream/modern techniques.

Daniel Aleman: What is the cause of your hostility? Has someone from the NSS-CDS done something to offend you?

 

[Tortuga68]

No one is charging anyone anything. The mentor will be required to pay for their own liability insurance. The mentoring certification program is open to anyone who meets the prerequisites, no matter what internationally recognized cave diver certification card they present

I mean the people who will be diving with the 'mentors', what agency do they need to be certified with, anyone or CDS?

"Hire" implies some exchange of currency

 

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

I mean the people who will be diving with the 'mentors', what agency do they need to be certified with, anyone or CDS?

"Hire" implies some exchange of currency

The person being mentored can be certified from any agency. There are no agency requirements or limitations.

The thing about "hiring" I think comes from the fact that people do go to places like Mexico and hire guides.

When you hire a guide you can ask them if they are trained as cave supervisors. No where in the program does the idea of "hiring" come up. Hiring is certainly not the intent, nor is it mentioned.

People DO hire guides and this gives them a standard to compare the guides they are considering hiring to.