Prep for Cavern

[jscott099]

Agreed on all the above. My buddy and I did not purchase anything new. The instructor modified what we had to make it work and in the process tought us what we should be looking to buy as we progress into caving. As it turned out, its mostly the same stuff I use for tech diving off the coast of NC.

Perfect buoyancy and trim control are key. You have a few months to get ready. My instructor wouldn't even take us anywhere until we had it down so perfect that you could hang there with your eyes closed and never move a muscle for 10 minutes at 7 ft.

I also agree that it would be good for someone to show you proper kicks ahead of time so you can practice. Then match it up with your trim and buoyancy. A pool works for all this if you have access.

Of course we also read our student manuals a zillion times as well as a couple of other important books. We took the time to learn basic hand signals ahead of time as well as basic signing.

We also spent some time learning about gas management and doing the math calculations.

All these preparations helped to make the Cavern course more fun for us because we were able to remove some of the unknowns before the class.

I also agree that dry suit is not required. But if you get one before the class you better make sure you can do the perfect buoyancy in it. Others and myself included will tell you it takes 30 dives or more before you really start to get good in it. If it isn't second nature by then it will become just one more thing to stress you out.

Have fun, Cavern was one of the coolest things I've ever done.

 

[Scubastud16]

Everyone so far has given you great advice. One thing I want to stress is task loading. Be prepared to be reeling the line in, signaling your buddy, adding gas to your wing, and your instructor to spring an OOA on you all at the same time. You will need to be able to make a primary tie off, secondary tie off, wrap, etc. all without losing trim.

To practice something like this, get in shallow water that is relatively safe and protected. Even a pool would be great. Perform simple tasks while trying to keep trim. At the end of every dive I'll pull my mask off and try and keep trim. Pull your wetnotes out, clip off your light, attach and detach your reel, etc. This will make things much, much easier!

Good luck and have fun. I took and passed cavern in May and had a blast with it.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

If someone can show you the primary and secondary ties offs prior to the class, you can practice them in a quarry. It works really well if there is a wall with suitabel projections. That will let you practice ties offs and line placements - all whiole maintaining buoyancy and trim, and once you get good at doing it all at a constant depth, try changing depth 10 feet or so between placements or tie offs.

If not before, be sure to practice after you take the cavern class. The reality is that 90% of the line work is taught in Cavern and Intro with the bulk of it in Cavern, so if you get it donw pat at that level you can focus on some of the finer points in Intro and Full Cave.

 

[Oside Jimc]

you can practice them in a quarry.

What the heck is a quarry?


OK seriously now I appreciate that advice, but no quarries in SoCal, just open water. Would a wreck class teach line skills that would apply to cave? We have several nice wrecks here so finding someone that teaches wreck should be possible here in SoCal.

 

[OneBrightGator]

I agree with a lot of what has been said in this thread already, stick with a single and wetsuit (esp. for MX) for cavern, no need for doubles or a drysuit really.

As far as lights go, my biggest suggestion is to buy decent backup lights. Buying "cheap" ones will cost you in the long run. Tops on my list are the Rat from Salvo, Photon Torpedo or Scout. Also, as far as a primary goes, buy something that will stay useful, a handheld HID or LED is a great first primary light. It is suitable for night, wreck, cave and excellent size/weight/output for travelling. I have three primary lights in the stable right now, a UK D8, handheld Salvo 10w HID and Salvo 21w cannister. Each has its strong points, what I like best is the D8 is reliable, cheap and easy to bring along on a cave trip and has saved a dive when someone's HID fails to arc.

Good luck with your class!

 

[Oside Jimc]

I agree with a lot of what has been said in this thread already, stick with a single and wetsuit (esp. for MX) for cavern, no need for doubles or a drysuit really.

As far as lights go, my biggest suggestion is to buy decent backup lights. Buying "cheap" ones will cost you in the long run. Tops on my list are the Rat from Salvo, Photon Torpedo or Scout. Also, as far as a primary goes, buy something that will stay useful, a handheld HID or LED is a great first primary light. It is suitable for night, wreck, cave and excellent size/weight/output for travelling. I have three primary lights in the stable right now, a UK D8, handheld Salvo 10w HID and Salvo 21w cannister. Each has its strong points, what I like best is the D8 is reliable, cheap and easy to bring along on a cave trip and has saved a dive when someone's HID fails to arc.

Good luck with your class!

I have a UK C8 eLED+ as a primary (Great night dive light!) and a pair of UK SL4 eLED lights as backups. I'm really a huge fan of LED, just waiting for available products to catch up with the LED technology available today.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

What the heck is a quarry?


OK seriously now I appreciate that advice, but no quarries in SoCal, just open water. Would a wreck class teach line skills that would apply to cave? We have several nice wrecks here so finding someone that teaches wreck should be possible here in SoCal.

I was lured into cave diving by an instructor who suggested I take cavern and intro to cave rather than advanced wreck - which he would throw in for free with the trimix class. I still like wrecks ok, but they pale in comparison to to caves.

The line skills are pretty similar with a primary and secondary tie off, but there are some differences in the placements. And running a reel is pretty much running a reel. You will also use the reel to shoot a lift bag and/or a Jersey upline - something that never gets done in a cave.

 

[TSandM]

I did a wreck workshop as part of my preparation for cavern/Intro, and it was a very good move. We learned line running and following skills, and did some lights-out line following. I practiced some at home before going down to MX. It helped.

OSide Jimc, do you have a cave instructor already picked out?

 

[ligersandtions]

As far as lights go, my biggest suggestion is to buy decent backup lights. Buying "cheap" ones will cost you in the long run. Tops on my list are the Rat from Salvo, Photon Torpedo or Scout. Also, as far as a primary goes, buy something that will stay useful, a handheld HID or LED is a great first primary light. It is suitable for night, wreck, cave and excellent size/weight/output for travelling. I have three primary lights in the stable right now, a UK D8, handheld Salvo 10w HID and Salvo 21w cannister. Each has its strong points, what I like best is the D8 is reliable, cheap and easy to bring along on a cave trip and has saved a dive when someone's HID fails to arc.

While I haven't taken any tech classes (I plan to in the near future), I am doing my best to buy all the right gear the first time around. I bought a Salvo Rat as my primary light....will be a back-up in the future. I couldn't be happier with that decision. I was between the Rat and the Photon Torpedo, but I got a better deal on the Salvo and went in that direction. I'm sure the PT would have been just as good of a light.

BTW, let me know if/when you decide to take the fundies in socal....I may be interested in taking the class at the same time if it will be possible for me.

 

[Oside Jimc]

OSide Jimc, do you have a cave instructor already picked out?

Nothing firm, I was considering using Klaus/Luis @ Playa Scuba. They said that they teach Cavern. I will be in PDC so suggestions are appreciated.