CCR Cave Training

[Sharky1948]

Now that CCRs are a lot more prevalent in the caves, I'm wondering how folks went about making the transition from OC to CCR in the caves. For the record, I'm a big fan of training in general. But, still curious as to how things have evolved.

[Slüdge]

I added a fifth option. If you want it removed, PM me.

[Sharky1948]

I like the option. It definitely rounds out the possibilities.

[kwinter]

Not to muddy the water, Mike, but there's a bit of cave crossover in the discussion of trimix crossover on RBW.
http://www.rebreatherworld.com/ccr-a...-training.html

Ken

[Dsix36]

I had no OC cave experience. I just went directly to CCR Cave.

[Line Squirrel]

Several years as an OC full cave diver, took an O/W eCCR course but since all the students were at least cavern certified we were taught CCR in "overhead". All training dives were within the ambient light zone except the dives our cavern diver sat out. Those dives were more "cave" dives.

My first dive after CCR course was a nice slooooow paced dive on my Meg to the well casing in LR. Some people thought that was a bit much but being an experianced and active cave diver and tons of bail out (I had 2 AL80's on me, none of this "shared/team" bail out stuff) I felt was not an issue.

[jpdiver]

I started CCR cave diving before a formal CCR cave class was available. Prior to starting, I had a lot of OC cave experience and open water CCR experience including deep trimix. I do much of my CCR cave solo. The main factor, of course, is planning bailout. I never liked the team concept of bailout anyways and always want my own bailout with me. I almost always use 2 AL80's for bailout and more for deeper penetrations-dropping one on the way in. I sidemount them to reduce drag. I sometimes see solo rebreather divers back in caves with less bailout than I would be comfortable with so I don't know what the courses now teach for bailout planning but am always comfortable with mine.

[harmstrong]

I've been a vocal opponent of requiring previously cave certified divers to take a CCR Cave course, so my comments will come as no surprise. I was a Cave Instructor when I became a CCR diver. Due to a couple of blown out dives, I ended up completing my final CCR training dive at Ginnie while my instructor was co-teaching a CCR Cave course. I listened in to a number of the lectures, given both by my instructor and the instructor he was co-teaching with (both are well known CCR and Cave instructors). My thoughts at the time were "really? Why should I take a CCR Cave course? Not only do I teach this stuff, some of it I teach better then "X"." Later my husband, also a long time cave diver before becoming a CCR diver, had a conversation with John Jones over the CCR Cave course. He was then the Training Director for the CDS. He was unable to give us a satisfactory reason as to why we should take the CCR Cave course, though according to him we needed to take it to be "qualified" to dive CCR's in caves. We declined. I have yet to find a satisfactory reason to take a CCR Cave course.

it should be noted, however, that I have no objection to Cave courses being taught on CCR to those who are CCR divers and wish to become cave divers.

[Tegg]

Heather said it perfectly.

[Attchoum]

Mike!!! long time I haven't ear from you.

Your tinking about putting your revo into a cave? I can tell you already, that's a really nice idea.

I did my experience in cave little by little. Starting by caverne, then cave that I really know. At the beggining I was always when very experience OC diver in cave that was probably crazy boring for them. And then I start going futher and more solo.
After around 50 hours, I when for the ccr cave crossover tought by one of my friend. He gave me the course but not the card as he was not a revo diver at that time.

Did I took a course? yes
Do I have the card? no

at the end what's more important?