Difference between wreck and cave diving?

[Deefstes]

Hi all, I'm asking this question here because I know there are cave divers and wreck divers who frequent these forums. I'm not asking because I'm planning on engaging in either any time soon, I'm really just curious so please don't give me the standard "take the course" answer

From some discussions with other divers I got the impression that there is a distinct difference between cave divers and wreck divers. And it seems to be more than just the different techniques used in the different environments (although I'm interested to hear about that too) but some divers are wreck divers and not cave divers while others are cave divers and not wreck divers.

I've always thought of cave and wreck diving as "penetration diving", not recognising that they are different. Enlighten me please?

Are there different courses for the different types of penetration diving? What are the techniques and equipment that one uses and the other doesn't?

 

[Cave Diver]

Both types of diving entail a physical overhead, however they can be quite different.

Some of the things to take into consideration are environmental concerns. Wreck diving generally requires a boat to get to the dive site and weather conditions can play a huge factor. You are dependent on the boat and crew to be there when you surface, in cave diving this is generally not a factor.

When cave diving, you generally exit from the same place you enter. There are some exceptions (these are called a traverse) but this is usually planned in advance, not just a happenstance. Because of this, there is little danger of losing a stage or deco bottle that is placed in a cave.

In wreck diving, it's quite possible that you may exit a different point you enter the wreck. It may be difficult to navigate parts of the wreck with various bottles in tow, and if you leave them outside the wreck, there is no guarantee you'll be exiting close to them.

In a cave, you generally know what type of current you'll be dealing with (called flow). On a wreck dive, it can change substantially during the course of the dive.

Wreck diving *generally* has smaller passageways than a typical cave, unless you're off the beaten path a bit. Additionally, wrecks are in a constant state of deterioration. Quite easy to cut yourself, your BCD, or a hose on sharp corroded metal. Also, things that used to be secured to the walls and ceilings may be hanging down and blocking passages, or reach out and "grab" you as you swim past.

Since the interior of most wrecks is protected from the current, there tends to be more of an accumulation of silt in them. You also get stuff collecting on the ceiling as well, which dislodges from bubbles (called perculation) and can blow out the viz even if you're careful not to stir up silt with your fins. This can happen in caves as well, but is more common in wrecks.

Caves tend to be lined with a permanent guideline along the main tunnel, many wrecks require you run your own lines in them to find your way out.

You're also more likely to find marine life inside a wreck than in a cave, which can be a startling experience when a large grouper wants out!

Basically, both are overhead environments that have some similar challenges, but they just present in different ways. The things I listed are in no way a comprehensive list, they just cover some of the generalities to give you an idea.

The techniques and equipment used is often very similar, because both types of diving do share a common nature. Some of the training is also similar, but each one focuses on the skills that are unique to that discipline.

And just to throw another into the mix, Ice Diving is yet another type of overhead environment that uses some different techniques from cave and wreck.

Training in one type of environment does not automatically qualify you to dive in the other.

 

[Deefstes]

Fascinating. Thanks.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

I do wrecks and began ice diving last season(looking forward to another batch of those dives come first of the year). I do not do caves because my wife says no! She thinks they are way too dangerous. While the pics and stories I've heard of caves interests me, one of the things about wrecks that I don;t see as a big factor in caves, at least for me, is the historical aspects.

Caves do indeed have a geologic history, and those that may have been used as refuges by animals or early peoples, they do not hold the same fascination for me. I've been a student of history since I was very young and being able to actually see and swim thru, what in some cases are, actual time capsules of that history is what gets my heart going. As to actual diving differences caves generally don;t have monofilament line, drift nets, and old ordinance laying around. You also don't see large predators, fire coral, and big morays with attitudes!

Oh and one other reason I don't do caves is I know I'd get addicted and that would cost me a whole bunch more money for training, gear, and entry fees!

 

[Diver0001]

Are there different courses for the different types of penetration diving? What are the techniques and equipment that one uses and the other doesn't?

I'll just pick up on something that Cave Diver said. They're really different diciplines. I dive in wrecks but I'm certainly not qualified to dive in caves. I don't know much about how guidelines are laid out in caves, for example.

The other way around, you'd have a little more hope because in some ways you could treat a wreck like a tiny, silty, cramped, sharp-edged, snaggy little cave that at some point during it's demise will definitely collapse.... hopefully not on the day you're inside of it.

I don't know what it's like in cave diving, but in wreck diving, many wrecks have areas that are difficult to penetrate at all and impossible to pentetrate with a whole buddy team. Caves must have areas like that too but I'm not sure they get as many visitors as they do in wrecks.

Another big difference is the environment outside. When you exit a cave you're out of it. When you exit a wreck in you're in the ocean, where conditions can sometimes be even more challenging outside than they are inside. Most caves, for example, are not near (or in) shipping lanes.

R..

 

[Diver0001]

Oh and one other reason I don't do caves is I know I'd get addicted and that would cost me a whole bunch more money for training, gear, and entry fees!

I don't dive in caves because my wife asked me not to. It's the only thing she ever asked me not to do while diving.

Under ice: be my guest
deco diving: you know what you're doing
wrecks: have fun
caves: tie me down while I freak out

I don't fully understand it but I do respect it.... so no caves for this boy. Either way they don't have a big draw for me. I dive mostly for the critter watching....

R..

 

[ucfdiver]

Horizontal and Vertical trim

 

[Blackwood]

Horizontal and Vertical trim

Also, in caves you can evidently get away with danglies

 

[Walter]

Cave Diver, great post!

You also get stuff collecting on the ceiling as well, which dislodges from bubbles (called perculation) and can blow out the viz even if you're careful not to stir up silt with your fins.

Some of the things bubbles can dislodge do things other than blow the viz. Bubbles often dislodge Bristle Worms, something I never want to touch even with gloves or a wet suit. When I'm not the first one in a wreck, I'm looking up to see if I'm getting visitors invited by my buddy ahead. Bubbles can also bring down the overhead. That can really ruin your day.

 

[Diver0001]

Cave Diver, great post!



Some of the things bubbles can dislodge do things other than blow the viz. Bubbles often dislodge Bristle Worms, something I never want to touch even with gloves or a wet suit. When I'm not the first one in a wreck, I'm looking up to see if I'm getting visitors invited by my buddy ahead. Bubbles can also bring down the overhead. That can really ruin your day.

What's a bristle worm.... ?

for that matter, what's a wetsuit.... ? LOL

Just goes to show you, even when you're talking about wreck diving, you're not necessarily all on the same page in terms of context. Me, I don't worry about bristle worms..... a 70 pound cod with an attitude, yeah, but not bristle worms.

R..