TDI Intro to Cave Diving

TDI Intro to Cave Diving Course: Your First Step into the Overhead Environment

Ready to explore the unique world beyond the cavern entrance? The TDI Introductory Cave Diving Course is designed to provide certified cavern divers with the essential foundational skills and knowledge needed to safely conduct cave dives while staying on the main guideline. This course takes a serious look at the procedures and techniques required for this demanding type of diving.

This program serves as the crucial first step into cave exploration. You will learn the proper techniques for managing your equipment, buoyancy, and propulsion within the cave environment, always maintaining contact with the main line. This course can be taken as a standalone certification or as the first part of the TDI Full Cave Diver course.

Course Details:

• Duration: 3 days minimum (An extra day is available for $350 if needed for additional practice).
• Number of Dives: 6 dives minimum.
• Class Size: Maximum 3 divers per instructor.
• Price: $1100 per person (Logistics, gear rentals, park fees, and accommodation are extra).
• Date & Location: To Be Determined - Contact us to express interest and discuss scheduling.

Prerequisites:

• Minimum certification: Cavern Diver (TDI or equivalent).
• Dry Suit diving experience is strongly recommended.

Required Gear Configuration:

This course requires specific equipment configured for cave diving:

• Backplate with harness
• Wing BCD (Appropriate size/shape for cylinders used)
• Regulators (Double Tank Setup):
• 1st Stage #1: 2nd stage on 7 ft (2.1 m) hose + BCD inflator hose.
• 1st Stage #2: 2nd stage on necklace (hose ≤ 24 in / 60 cm) + SPG (hose ≤ 24 in / 60 cm) + Drysuit inflator hose (if applicable).
• Primary Dive Light (Burn time ≥ 2x planned dive time)
• Two (2) Backup Dive Lights (with bolt snaps)
• Exposure Suit (Appropriate for environment; Drysuit preferred)
• Line Markers: Minimum 5 (at least 4 REMs, 1 arrow)
• Line Cutting Device (Minimum 1)
• Backup Mask (Low-volume)
• Fins (Non-split, rigid)
• Underwater Notepad/Wetnotes
• Safety Spool (Minimum 100 ft / 30 m line)
• Backup Spool (Minimum 150 ft / 50 m line)
• Primary Reel (Minimum 400 ft / 120 m line)
• Dive Computer/Bottom Timer (Primary + Backup required)

Take the first serious step into cave diving. Contact us to learn more and schedule your TDI Intro to Cave Course!

Key Topics

• Focuses on skills for safe cave diving on the main line
• Can be standalone course or part of Full Cave Diver path
• Covers proper techniques for cave environment (buoyancy, propulsion, line awareness)
• Duration:
  • 3+ days
• Dives:
  • 6+
• Class Size:
  • Max 3 students
• Prerequisites:
  • Cavern Diver cert (or equiv.)
  • Dry Suit experience recommended
• Extensive Gear Requirements:
  • Specific backplate/wing, double tank regulator setup, multiple lights, line markers, cutting device, backup mask, non-split fins, spools/reel, redundant timing/depth devices
• Outcome:
  • Foundational knowledge and skills for introductory, main line cave diving; preparation for Full Cave Diver course.