APPRENTICE & FULL CAVE

Full Cave certification is considered by many to be the pinnacle of diving achievement, and is not a course to be considered lightly. These two certifications are the pathway to being considered a cave diver and realize that while this course is offered over four days, with a minimum of eight dives into various cave systems, it is an extremely mentally and physically challenging course. The prerequisites for this course are the Introduction to Cave/Basic Cave Diver program or it's equivalent.

During the course itself, you'll be exposed to some of North Florida's most exciting cave dives and make a minimum of eight dives within various North Florida systems, ranging from extremely high flow all the way to no flow. The potential Full cave diver will be exposed to decompression procedures, the correct procedures for the use of jump and gap reels combined with the proper use of line arrows and non-directional markers to make both simple and complex navigational decisions within the cave environment. The drills and skills already learned in previous cave diving programs will be reinforced by repetition and refined in more challenging environments than the diver has been exposed to thus far. We will discuss and plan circuits and traverses and  complete both simple and complex circuits plus a traverse. Realize that this is dependent upon cave conditions, as some traditional dives may be unavailable due to seasonal flooding.  

When considering this Apprentice and Full Cave diver program where decompression will be a part of our daily diving, it is recommended that you've taken an Advanced Nitrox/Decompression Procedures, Tech 1 course or its equivalent, in order to give you an insightful look in current decompression theory and a head start in the handling and usage of decompression cylinders.

Here's an equipment list for the combined courses: you'll need a mask and power fins (springs or straps taped), a wet or dry suit, double tanks that hold at least one hundred and forty-two cubic feet of gas, a decompression cylinder with a regulator, two first stages each equipped with one second stage (one with a seven foot hose) and a submersible pressure gauge, a back plate/soft pack and wing, tables/bottom timer or dive computer, a cutting device, wet notes/slate and pencil, one primary light and two back up lights, line arrows and cookies/clothespins, two jump or gap reels/spools, two safety reels/spools and one primary reel per team. For a more detailed look at gear and gear configuration, please check out my equipment page, as there are a wide variety of opinions on the correct way to do things!

As with all cave and technical classes that I offer, please realize that participation in the class does not guarantee certification. Should you not end up with a certification, I will provide you with a list of areas that need more practice and am more than happy to assist you in working with these. As always, if you have any questions regarding equipment, training, scheduling or any other aspect of cavern and cave diving, please feel free to contact me at rich@netcommander.com and generally I will respond back to you within twelve to twenty-four hours.