(Full) Cave Diver Course

The final step in the progression from Open Water Diver to Full Cave Diver comes with this course. During your training, you are exposed to more sophisticated cave diving scenarios in more complex cave environments. Techniques learned during the previous levels of training are further refined and complex navigation skills are emphasized. Basics of underwater cave surveys are introduced at this level.

• A primary focus of the Full Cave Diver course is establishing proper procedures for completing traverses and circuits, both simple and complex. In the scenarios presented, you are responsible for dive planning, gas management and dive execution. At this level, your basic skills are expected to be of a high level and that is the principal criteria in determining your successful completion of this course.
• No additional equipment beyond that required for Apprentice Cave Diver is required.

Please review the Equipment Considerations section of this website for further discussion of dive gear.

Please be aware that enrollment in an NSS-CDS or NACD course, at any level, does not assure certification. Due to the risks involved in full cave dives, only those students who meet specific performance criteria will earn their certification. Of key importance as the diver progresses through Full Cave Diver to the cave environment is excellent buoyancy control, a high degree of comfort in the water and a keen awareness of the environment. In-water skills include all those which have been performed at previous levels on an "unannounced" basis and complex navigation skills.

If you hold an NSS-CDS or NACD Apprentice Cave Diver card, the Full Cave Diver course requires two days, four dives with at least one site being different from those utilized for previous training. In the event you wish to proceed from Basic/Intro to Cave certification to Full Cave Diver, a total of four days, eight dives will be required.

Prerequisites: NSS-CDS or NACD Basic/Intro to Cave Diver if a four day course is desired and NSS-CDS or NACD Apprentice Cave Diver or equivalent certification for the two day course.

Certifications Available: NSS-CDS and NACD.

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North Florida Cave
and Technical Divers

PO Box 2920 • High Springs
Florida, 32655-2920

(352) 404-5501

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