Prep for Cavern

[OneBrightGator]

Well, my issue with "tours" are that they seem like trust-me cavern dives for people with no training. Never done one, so that may not be the case. My issue with Jim doing them is that he's already done that once before and said he was ready to move on, it's dissappointing that a bunch of anonymous posters here on SB have seemed to sway his original decision. So before he throws the baby out with the wastewater, I think he should get an opinion from someone who's actually seen him in the water.

 

[RJP]

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?

Agreed - no reason to postpone. You'll be a better diver at the end of Cavern cert than you were before - whether you do cavern wet or dry, singles or doubles. And you'll be that much more prepared for going beyond cavern, especially since you'll have a real good idea about what skills and such you need to work on in the interim.

As O.B.G says, get together with an instructor or cave diver who's familiar with your diving abilities and skill level and work out what's REALLY the best approach for you.

 

[TSandM]

Honestly, I think it works either way. But I think I would have been really frustrated to have done cavern alone, with no possibility to go on because I couldn't use the appropriate equipment. Although there are some very pretty caverns in Mexico, that "Peligro" sign is a magnet . . .

 

[RJP]

Honestly, I think it works either way. But I think I would have been really frustrated to have done cavern alone, with no possibility to go on because I couldn't use the appropriate equipment. Although there are some very pretty caverns in Mexico, that "Peligro" sign is a magnet . . .

Ughh...

No one's saying "do cavern alone with no possibility to go on" but rather that the OP has the perfectly fine option of doing cavern in singles, wet. Then get OW experience diving dry in doubles, before moving on to diving doubles, dry, in an overhead environment.

 

[TSandM]

Oh, I wasn't very clear, was I? I meant that Peter and I went directly from cavern to Intro, because we were offered the opportunity (the instructor had time, and we wanted to do it) and we couldn't have done that if we'd taken cavern in a single tank. I didn't mean to imply that one would NEVER be able to go on!

 

[Oside Jimc]

Well, my issue with "tours" are that they seem like trust-me cavern dives for people with no training.

That is exactly what they are.

it's dissappointing that a bunch of anonymous posters here on SB have seemed to sway his original decision.

No, I take input from the internet with a grain of salt (OK, about 5lbs of salt). What I did get from the forum is input on what questions to ask, and from whom to ask them. Then I went to a well respected cave instructor and the instructor I have chosen for fundies and got their opinion. And their opinion was to take fundies in doubles to get my skills refined in the equipment I"ll be using for the future. I firmly belive when it comes to training that's going to be used as a foundation for future growth, "DO IT RIGHT".

I think he should get an opinion from someone who's actually seen him in the water.

Easier said than done, but it's all good. I probably will do a guided trip with Dennis and get his opinion about where I;m at and where to go. Lucky for me I have a few hundred thousand American miles so I can get myself to Cancun anytime I feel I'm ready, even better I think I'll leave the wife home so I can just stay in PA and focus on cave diving for 7-10 days later next year to see how far I can get with my training.

that "Peligro" sign is a magnet . . .

Like a moth to the flame, LOL

BTW, Thanks again everybody for you input, I learn a lot from lively discussion like this that illiustrates multiple sides to a situation.

 

[OneBrightGator]

Hmmm... interesting. I've noticed a few people ready to jump into cavern/cave diving, two people I dove with a few times and who certainly were ready, reel back after they brought DIR into mix.

 

[ae3753]

I probably will do a guided trip with Dennis and get his opinion about where I;m at and where to go.

Is this for the March trip or before? Anyways, Dennis will give you an honest assessment.

It's also fine to plan on a Cavern class, and if you're not ready a good instructor will tell you as much. It won't be a lost as you'll probably spend time with a mix of guided tours and working on basic skills. While you will still learn a lot, you just won't end up with a Cavern card. With any "technical" course, there's always a possibility that you won't make the grade.

As I did my cavern in singles, I don't see anything wrong with this approach . At the time, I had only dove in doubles once before, and there was just no way I'd be comfortable learning in a new set-up. Too much going on. And in singles, cavern was already intensive with the amount of new task loading and my team's desire to be the best we could be.

As for cavern in doubles, there are some practical reasons. Probably get more time in the water and you will definitely spend less time swapping out tanks if you're diving doubles vs. a single tank.

Best of luck.

 

[Oside Jimc]

two people I dove with a few times and who certainly were ready, reel back after they brought DIR into mix.

Please do not confuse DIR with my desire to do things right. As an Electrical Engineer I have spent a 30 year career working with the mentality that things have to be perfect or they are a piece of poop, no room for compromise. It's just an occupational disease which also affects me after work. So when I build an engine for my race car do I buy less expensive connecting rods that will probably be fine? Or do I spend $$ to get the best?

Same thing applies to any type of training I take so when I learned how to snowboard I was not satisfied until I was dropping into double black chutes (and living to tell about it). Same thing for diving, but with a double dose since diving without the proper training is a good way to wake up dead and I'm not in a hurry to assume room (or water) temperature.

But again this has given me a lot to think about and I have considered just taking Cavern, in singles, with a less capable instructor (Dennis presents logistical problems due to where I'm staying), just for the experience (look it as a "throw away" card), after all I'll be there for gods sake. Then I can come back this summer, leave the wife at home, stay in PA, start from scratch with Dennis and see just how far I can go with 7-10 days of intense training (and a nice head start).