Prep for Cavern
- Thread starter Oside Jimc
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Exactly. The post reads task overloaded and that's just talking about doing it in doubles. The tank(s) on your back are just the vehicle you're using to get somewhere, it/they have nothing to do with skills you use to get there. Instructors should be recommending students use what they are comfortable with, not what is best for future classes that students *think* they will progress in to.
Gator and RJP -- you need to read the whole post, not just part of it. There are two different things being said -- both, I believe, are true:
1. IF the plan is to go on to Full Cave, it would be better to do Cavern in doubles -- that is one part.
The other part:
2. To get the most out of Cavern, do ALL the OW stuff in Open Water BEFORE you take Cavern or any other overhead class.
In other words, the best thing for the OP to do would be to switch over to doubles now, get familiar with the rig he would be using in the overhead and THEN take Cavern -- but that doesn't sound like that is what he will be doing.
OR do both of you think there is no additional advantage in taking Cavern in doubles at all? That you would learn just as much, and be prepared to go on to Intro/Full, if you took Cavern in a single tank and then later learned how to dive the gear you must use for Intro/Full?
Knowing Dennis, I am quite sure that was his intent.
1. IF the plan is to go on to Full Cave, it would be better to do Cavern in doubles -- that is one part.
The other part:
2. To get the most out of Cavern, do ALL the OW stuff in Open Water BEFORE you take Cavern or any other overhead class.
In other words, the best thing for the OP to do would be to switch over to doubles now, get familiar with the rig he would be using in the overhead and THEN take Cavern -- but that doesn't sound like that is what he will be doing.
OR do both of you think there is no additional advantage in taking Cavern in doubles at all? That you would learn just as much, and be prepared to go on to Intro/Full, if you took Cavern in a single tank and then later learned how to dive the gear you must use for Intro/Full?
Knowing Dennis, I am quite sure that was his intent.
No, I don't think there's any straight advantage to taking cavern in doubles. The best advantage is going to be taking cavern in a setup you are most familiar with. As I said before, it is simply a tool go get you where you want to go. If a diver's goal is full cave, I don't think doing cavern first then doubles or vice versa is going to make a bit of difference. In this case it's merely timing, the OP doesn't have the time to do doubles first. I did my cavern class with a single tank and I'm pretty sure every person I've ever dove with except one did the same and I don't think any of us are worse for wear.
OP
Oside Jimc
Contributor
Thanks everyone, I'm not one to do things half-assed, it's full-assed all the way for me. So with that in mind I think I'm going to scale back my plans for March and just do a guided dive (And yes I am aware that is half-assed in itself). So I think a better plan is to move to doubles (I need a 2nd tank anyway), then after I'm comfortable in doubles and my dry suit take Fundies, THEN later next year scdedule another trip to MX to take cavern/intro to cave. This way I have the best building foundation for further training.
About 20 months ago I made the mistake of doing a "couple of days" of Cavern Tours. It was a VERY expensive mistake -- and one I'm sure you will also enjoy.
IF you follow through on your plan, I'm sure you'll find the Cavern Class a total piece of cake -- such a small piece that I'd recommend planning on doing Cavern/Intro which then gets you BEYOND THE SIGN!
IF you follow through on your plan, I'm sure you'll find the Cavern Class a total piece of cake -- such a small piece that I'd recommend planning on doing Cavern/Intro which then gets you BEYOND THE SIGN!
I don't think doing cavern tours is half-assed at all. I think getting to see the environment and be sure you are comfortable there is big, big step up on a class. Being anxious or uncertain about being underground increases the stress of cavern or intro or Cave 1 enormously. By the time I took a class, I knew I loved being in the caves, and that this was something I'd work as hard as I had to to learn.
With good basic skills and a good guide, the tours are not unduly dangerous, and they will either cool or stoke your motivational fires. It won't be wasted time, either from a training standpoint, or from a fun standpoint.
With good basic skills and a good guide, the tours are not unduly dangerous, and they will either cool or stoke your motivational fires. It won't be wasted time, either from a training standpoint, or from a fun standpoint.
OP
Oside Jimc
Contributor
I think you should reconsider postponing your plans, doubles and a drysuit are far from required for cavern. Why not find a cave diver in your area and get his/her opinion, face to face?
Gator -- what's wrong with the idea of doing some tours, getting a sense of "the lay of the land" so to speak, then working on basic skills like trim, buoyancy control, dry suit usage, etc. and THEN taking the course? Why the rush?
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