OW cert and caverns

[whathedeuce]

I am SSI OW certified and i just wanted some clarity. Can't i technically go into caverns seeing as how they are considered part of "recreational diving?" I know i can't go into caves, but for instance, when i was at ginnie getting certified, after we were done our dive leader/instructor allowed us to go into the small cavern there. So as long as i stay in the "cavern" part, i am within my recreational limits correct?

 

[jimdiverman]

I am SSI OW certified and i just wanted some clarity. Can't i technically go into caverns seeing as how they are considered part of "recreational diving?" I know i can't go into caves, but for instance, when i was at ginnie getting certified, after we were done our dive leader/instructor allowed us to go into the small cavern there. So as long as i stay in the "cavern" part, i am within my recreational limits correct?

As far as I know, cavern training is your first training class toward full cave certification, which is definitely considered technical diving. I have seen instructors being allowed to take a maximum of 4 OW-certified divers at a time into the cavern zone, but that is not a license for you to go there on your own. You are there with supervision. While diving in the cavern zone may be within recreational depths, it is certainly considered an overhead environment.

I think the consensus is going to be that if you are not cavern-certified, that you AVOID the overhead environment unless under the direct supervision of a certified cave instructor.

 

[whathedeuce]

so there are different courses for cavern and cave diving? Or would cavern diving be covered in AOW

 

[Jasonmh]

I am SSI OW certified and i just wanted some clarity. Can't i technically go into caverns seeing as how they are considered part of "recreational diving?" I know i can't go into caves, but for instance, when i was at ginnie getting certified, after we were done our dive leader/instructor allowed us to go into the small cavern there. So as long as i stay in the "cavern" part, i am within my recreational limits correct?

You are going to get alot of opinions on this one, and I don't pretend to be an expert. I generally consider "OW" diving to be a dive where you can make a direct acsent to the surface, so I wouldn't consider a cavern to be an OW dive. Lots of places/instructors have different ideas about what is and isn't considered OW diving.

 

[hudson]

so there are different courses for cavern and cave diving? Or would cavern diving be covered in AOW

There can be up to four courses depending on the agency that lead to cave training: Cavern, Intro to Cave, Apprentice, Full Cave, although they can be combined. AOW has nothing to do with cavern. PADI doesn't offer anything beyond cavern AFAIK.

Stay out of caverns until you have the training or experience/knowledge to judge the risks for yourself. In particular don't follow anyone blindly into one.

 

[jimdiverman]

so there are different courses for cavern and cave diving? Or would cavern diving be covered in AOW

Yes, there are stages of cave diving certification. Cavern, intro and full cave are pretty standard. There may be another level with some agencies. I am using PSAI for my certification. You can check on the agencies' websites for their requirements.

Each level has its own requirements for gear and diving skills and what you can and cannot do in a cavern/cave environment at that level.

In case you didn't know, the cavern zone is that part of the entrance to a cave system that natural light is able to enter. Beyond that, you are in the cave. But even in the cavern zone, there is no direct ascent to the surface.

 

[cinder4320]

so there are different courses for cavern and cave diving? Or would cavern diving be covered in AOW

No cavern and cave diving will NOT be covered in AOW. Cavern diving is a separate certification and cave diving includes additional (more than one) certifications.

PADI does offer a cavern diving certification but their cave training stops there. If you plan on progressing towards full cave certification you might want to look for an instructor that will be able to teach you the entire progression instead of one who will only do cavern. There is lots of information on this in the cave diving forum.

Miranda

 

[petronius]

What's the difference between a cavern and a cave, in terms of diving definitions?

 

[sclakediver]

Yes, you can technically go into a "cavern" with a OW cert. There are several OW friendly caverns and sinks that you can carry a light into.

Many places like Ginnie (Devil's system), will not alow a OW diver to carry a light into the system. I strongly suggest you take a cavern class if you plan on conducting these types of dives.

Cavern will teach you the importance of proper equipment and will give you the basic skills for the environment. It will teach you how to safely dive in this environment, and most importantly, what not to do.

I'm taking cavern next weekend.

 

[cinder4320]

What's the difference between a cavern and a cave, in terms of diving definitions?

The Cavern is the zone where light is visible, the Cave begins where light is no longer visible. This means there are no night cavern dives and in poor conditions all cavern dives turn to cave dives.

As a cavern diver there are additional limitations and restrictions along with recommended additional gear.

Miranda